An introduction to pickleball

Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It's played on a court similar to a tennis court, but smaller, and can be played with two or four players (singles or doubles). Here’s a basic rundown on how to play pickleball:

1. The Court

A pickleball court measures 20 feet by 44 feet for both singles and doubles. It’s divided by a net, and there are specific areas on the court, including:

• The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone): A 7-foot area on either side of the net. Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in this zone.
• Service Area: Behind the baseline where players serve from.

2. Equipment

• Paddle: Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis rackets and made of composite materials.
• Ball: A plastic ball with holes in it, similar to a wiffle ball.

3. Basic Rules

• Scoring: Pickleball uses a rally scoring system, but only the serving team can score points. Games are usually played to 11 points, and you need to win by 2 points.
• Serving:
• The serve must be underhand and made diagonally across the court.
• The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball into the opposite diagonal service box.
• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (the "kitchen") on both sides of the net.
• Double Bounce Rule:
• After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley it (hit it in the air without a bounce).
• The receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it, and the serving team must also let the ball bounce once on their side before they can volley.
• Volleying:
• Players can hit the ball in the air, but not while standing inside the "kitchen" (the 7-foot zone on either side of the net).
• Side Out
• When the serving team loses a point, the serve goes to the other team. In doubles, each player on a team gets one chance to serve, except for the first service round where both players on the starting team get a serve.

4. Playing the Game

• Starting the Game: The game begins with one player serving the ball underhand to the diagonal service box.
• Rallying: Once the ball is served, teams take turns hitting the ball back and forth. Players aim to land the ball in the opponent’s court, while avoiding the kitchen or the non-volley zone.
• Winning a Point: A point is scored when:
• The opponent hits the ball out of bounds.
• The opponent fails to return the ball.
• The ball bounces twice on the opponent's side.

5. Strategy

• Placement: Aim for areas where your opponent is not, like the corners or near the net.
• Dinking: A soft shot that lands in the kitchen area is a common strategy to force opponents to move forward and possibly make an error.
• Communication (in doubles): If you're playing doubles, always communicate with your partner about who’s going for the ball.

6. Winning the Game

• Most pickleball games are played to 11 points (win by 2), but you can play to 15 or 21 points depending on the rules you're using.

That's the basic framework! The best way to get better at pickleball is to practice your serves, volleys, and court positioning. You can enjoy pickleball at almost any skill level—it's easy to learn but can get quite competitive!