Pickleball
(Adapted from Wikipedia and USA Pickleball Association)
What is the game of Pickleball ?
Pickleball is a racquet sport which combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table
tennis. The sport is played on a court with the same dimensions as a doubles badminton
court. The net is similar to a tennis net, but is mounted two inches lower. The game is
played with a hard paddle and a polymer wiffle ball.
Although pickleball appears to be very similar to tennis, there are key differences that
make pickleball more accessible to a wider range of players, particularly children and
seniors. Chief among these differences is the speed of the pickleball ball which typically
moves at one-third of the average speed of a tennis ball. Equally important, however, is
the size of the court which is just under one-third of the total area of a tennis court. This
smaller area combined with the slower moving ball makes pickleball much easier to play
than tennis.
Originally invented as a backyard pastime, pickleball is now an organized sport
represented by national and international governing bodies. Since its inception in 1965,
pickleball has spread across the United States and into Canada. It is now beginning to
spread around the world. The United States Pickleball Association estimates there are
more than 100,000 active pickleball players in that country alone. In Canada, where the
game is still relatively new, there are already more than 5,000 players in just four
provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario. Meanwhile new
organizations like the Singapore Pickleball Association and the All India Pickleball
Association are bringing the game to Asia and beyond.
What is the history of Pickleball?
The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island at the home of Joel
Pritchard, US House of Representatives for the State of Washington. He and two of his
friends, William Bell, Barney McCallum, returned from golf and found the kids bored.
They attempted to set up badminton but no one could find the shuttlecock. They
improvised with a whiffle ball, lowered the badminton net, and cut paddles from
plywood.
There are differing views as to how pickleball got its’ name. One theory is that it
originated with Joan Pritchard, who said it reminded her of the "Pickle Boat in crew
where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats." The second and more
popular story told today is that it was named after the family dog. As the story is told, the
whiffle ball belonged to the dog. Whenever an errant shot happened, Pickles would run
and try to get the ball and hide it. They named the game for their dog’s ball, “Pickles’
Ball”, and then it became Pickleball.
What is the object of Pickleball?
In a game: Be the player or doubles team to reach 11 points first. Points are worth 1.
The winning team must win by 2 points. Only the serving side may score points.
*We will play for time in our class. Whoever is ahead at the end of the time, wins the
game.
PICKLEBALL COURT DIAGRAM
Court is 20x44 ft for both
singles and doubles
How do you play Pickleball?
Basics:
A coin toss determines who will serve first. The ball is served underhand starting from
the right-hand side of the court and is served diagonally to the opponent’s service zone.
Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. After the ball has bounced once on
each side, then both teams can either volley the ball in the air or play it off the bounce.
This is called the "double bounce rule" because the ball must hit twice (once on each
side) before it can be volleyed. This eliminates the serve and volley advantage and
prolongs the rallies. To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it
bounce.
The non-volley zone is the 7-foot zone on both sides of the net. No volleying is
permitted within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes
from a position within the zone. When volleying the ball, the player may not step on or
over the line. It is a fault if the player's momentum causes the player or anything the
player is wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone. It is a fault even if the ball is
declared dead before the player touches the zone. A player may be in the non-volley zone
at any other time. The non-volley zone is sometimes referred to as the kitchen.
Both players on the serving team are allowed to serve, and a team shall score points only
when serving. A game is played to eleven points and a team must win by two points.
Rallies are lost by failing to return the ball in bounds to the opponent's court before the
second bounce, stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball, or by violating
the double-bounce rule. The hand is considered an extension of the paddle. The player
loses the rally if the ball hits any other part of his body or clothing.
The server must keep both feet behind the baseline during the serve with at least one foot
on the court surface at the time the ball is struck. The serve is made underhand. The
paddle must contact the ball below the waist. The serve is made diagonally cross court
and must clear the non-volley zone. The non-volley line is a short line for the serve (the
serve is a fault if it hits the line). All other lines are good at all times. Only one serve
attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve, and
lands on the proper service court). Let serves are replayed. At the start of each new game,
only one player on the first serving team is permitted to serve and fault before giving up
the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault
before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the
serve, the player in the right hand court will always serve first.
When the serving team wins a point, the server moves to the other side of the serving
team's court. Note that if the serve rotation is done properly, the serving team's score will
always be even when the player that started the game on the right side is on the right side
and odd when that player is on the left side.
When the receiving team wins a service turn, the player on the right serves first and
continues to serve and alternates sides each time that a point is won. When the first server
loses the serve, the serve goes to the second server on the side. When the second server
loses the serve, the serve goes to the other team and the player on the right serves first.
That pattern continues throughout the game.
Call the score in the order of server’s score, receiver's score, then the server number. For
example if the score of the serving team is 3 and the score of the receiving team is 6, and
the second server on the side is serving, the score would be announced as 3-6-2. Some
players might say "first" or "second" for the server number, for example 3-6-second.
Either way is correct. Note that the server number is for that service turn only. Whoever
is on the right when the team gets the serve back is the first server for that service turn
only. The next time that the team gets the serve back, it might be the other player that is
on the right and is the first server for that service turn only. Beginning players often
mistakenly assume that the player keeps the same server number throughout the game.
To minimize the advantage of being the first team to serve in the game, only one player
gets a service turn on the first service turn of the game. To help everyone remember that
the serve goes to the other side when that player loses the serve, it is customary to say
that the player is the last server or second server. Therefore, at the start of the game, it is
customary to say that the score is 0-0-2. The "2" means that the serve goes to the other
side when the serve is lost.
Singles Play: The server serves from the right side when his score is even and from the
left side when his score is odd.
Rule exception: Games are usually won by two points. In some situations, event
directors may choose to win by one to speed up play.
Faults:
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Hitting the ball out of bounds
A ball not clearing the net
Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball
Volleying the ball before the double-bounce rule
Opponent fails to hit the pickleball
Details:

Baseline — The line at the back of the pickleball court (22 feet from the net).

Centerline — The line bisecting the service courts that extends from one side to
the other.
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Crosscourt — The opponent's court diagonally opposite yours.
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Dink — A dink is a soft shot, made with the paddle face open, and hit so that it
just clears the net and drops into the non-volley zone.[1]

Fault — An event that ends with the server giving up his serve to the other side.

Foot fault — When ones foot enters into the non-volley zone.

Half-volley - A type of hit where the player hits the ball immediately after it has
bounced in an almost scoop-like fashion.

Let serve — A serve that touches the top of the net and lands in the proper
service court (it is replayed without penalty).

Non-volley zone — A seven-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may
not volley the ball. The non-volley zone usually includes all lines around it.

Poach — In doubles, to cross over into your partner's area to play a ball.

Rally — Hitting the ball back and forth between opposite teams.

Serve (Service) — An underhand lob or drive stroke used to put a ball into play
at the beginning of a point.

Server number — When playing doubles, either “1” or “2,” depending on
whether you are the first or second server for your side. This number is appended
to the score when it is called. As in, the score is now 4 - 2 - second server.

Sideline — The line at the side of the court denoting in- and out-of-bounds.

Volley — To hit the ball before it bounces.

Players - 2 or 4
Important and Helpful Links
USA Pickleball Association