Old or young, bad knees or fast feet, unable to move or full of energy, pickleball is an addictive sport where it doesn’t matter what kind of shape your body is in—anyone can play and everyone should play.
What is Pickleball?
If you throw a little bit of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton all in together, the thing you’re left with is pickleball.
It’s a paddle sport, and since the wiffle-like ball does not travel as far as a tennis ball, the court is about ¼ of the size of a tennis court.
This makes it easier to play in your backyard, which is what it was invented for! It’s a fun way to socialize while also getting in a workout.
What is its History?
Invented back in 1965, pickleball was created by Joel Pritchard and two of his friends one summer day after playing a round of golf. It was heavily modeled after badminton, just with a lower net and a wiffle ball.
It was played in high school gym classes back in the 70s, but its popularity jumped tremendously only in recent years.
The onslaught of COVID-19 saw a surge in pickleball enthusiasts, with many picking up their first paddles ever as people discovered socially distanced ways to have fun and be active.
Gear Needed for Pickleball
The first and most important thing you’ll need to make your stand on the courts is a paddle.
The market is saturated with pickleball paddles—it can be very daunting to pick out the right one for you, especially when you’re just starting out and don’t have a solid sense of what kind of player you are.
A great option for all-around beginners might be a starter set from Amazon, but just be sure to stay away from wood. Friday Paddles offers a great deal, two paddles for $99, which are on the higher end of quality beginner paddles, but in truth, you can’t go wrong for your first paddle as long as you stay away from wood and metal.
The most important thing is just playing, a lot. The fancy paddles can come later.
A ball is also a necessity. The go to pickleball most players use are outdoor Franklin balls. They’re a bright lime green color, and if you whip these guys out your first time on the court, you’ll look like one of the pros. Stay away from bringing the dark yellow, indoor balls to outdoor play—odds are you’ll be labeled a newbie within seconds.
Wear good running shoes, preferably shoes built for tennis or pickleball, as the court wears through the soles quickly, and dress in loose clothing that you will feel comfortable moving around in.
Where to Play Pickleball
With how much pickleball has grown in the past few years, there are countless courts spanning the states.
A great website to check out what courts, both public and private, are near you, is Pickle Heads.
Simply type in your location, and this website will give you all the outdoor courts and open play around.
Your nearest indoor YMCA might also offer open play, as well as gyms such as Lifetime Fitness. Up and rising places to play now include indoor pickleball clubs, but these require a monthly fee. They’re a great respite from the fluctuating weather, but if you’re new to the spot, a free, outdoor court might be the best option for you.
How to Play Pickleball
If you’ve ever played tennis, then you know pickleball follows the most basic rule: hit the ball over the next and make sure it lands inside the court’s painted white lines.
But the rest of the game can be a bit more confusing.
The number one rule in pickleball—no volleys from the kitchen!! The kitchen, aka the no-volley zone, is the area of court nearest to the net, separated from the rest of the court by a white line. No matter what, under any circumstances, are you allowed to hit the ball out of the air if any part of your body is touching the kitchen.
If the ball bounces, feel free to step into the kitchen to hit it.
But if it’s on the fly, make sure you keep your feet behind the line, or it’s an automatic point loss.
Points are only scored on your serve. You have the option of either singles (one vs. one) or doubles (two vs. two).
When serving, the ball can either be tossed underhand or bounced, so long at contact is made below the waist.
The ball should land in the diagonal box on the opposite end of the court.
Each team must allow the ball to bounce before hitting one time and then the point is played out from there. First team to 11 wins, and you must win by 2.
Pickleball Tips
Keep your feet wide and your arms and paddle up and out in front of you—something we like to call “ready position.”
New players tend to hang out near the back of the court, but if there’s one tip that will lead you to having the most success in pickleball, it’s try to actively work your way up to the kitchen, that no-volley zone.
This is where dinking takes place, which is the act of hitting the ball low and soft over the net so that it lands within the kitchen lines. Remember, you don’t have to slam the ball as hard as you can.
Sometimes a well-placed dink (especially against the bangers) is more than enough to win you the point.
The Bottom Line: Pickleball for Beginners
You don’t have to come from a background of racquet sports to play pickleball.
While it can seem daunting seeing the ex-tennis players ripping balls across the court, pickleball is a sport/hobby/social activity/fun game that takes only a few tries to get the hang of, and by your second or third time on the court, you’ll find yourself as addicted to the game as we are.
Comments