Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played indoors or outdoors on a small court with a low net, two or four players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball.
Know the court
Pickleball courts are smaller than tennis courts – at 20 feet wide × 44 feet long – they’re almost half the size. There’s a non-volley zone (the “kitchen”) close to the net – no volleys allowed inside it. Also the net height is lower in pickleball, especially at the centre.
Gear and rules
A pickleball paddle is solid and lightweight, bigger than a table tennis paddle – smaller than a tennis racket. You play with a perforated and light plastic ball – like a wiffle ball you might have used to play racket sports on a beach or in a pool with.
- Underhand serve only – this shot must be hit diagonally cross-court, below the waist. The serve must land beyond the kitchen line.
- Two Bounce Rule – the serve must bounce once on each side before either player volleys. (This promotes longer rallies and fairness.)
Key shots to master:
- Dink: Soft shot just over the net into the kitchen.
- Drive: Hard, flat groundstroke.
- Lob: High shot to push opponents back.
- Volley: Hit in the air – but not in the kitchen
When it comes to scoring, games usually go to 11 points (win by 2). Only the serving team can score.
