What is Pickleball?
This fast-growing sport trend is a game that resembles tennis in which players use solid-faced paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net and can be played indoors or outdoors. The court is only about 1/3 the size of a Tennis Court. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport trend in the USA. You can play this sport among your other what to do in retirement friends or join a local Pickleball League. Pickleball is not just for retirees or senior citizens. However, if you get really serious about Pickleball, you can become a member in the official Pickleball Association and get into tournaments. Pickleball will keep you busy and physically fit and you won’t have to worry about what to do in retirement.
President Ronald Reagan is the first honorary member of the USA Pickleball Association, member number 00001
Pickleball Magazine
No surprise that this sport has their very own magazine.
History of Pickleball and its humble beginnings
Created in 1965 at the summer home of Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA.
Joel and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell are credited with creating the game and its rules.
In 2021 Senator John Lovick proposed a bill to make Pickleball the official sport of Washington state.
Joel and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell are credited with creating the game and its rules.
It went on to become the official Washington state sport on March 28, 2022. The legislation was signed by Washington state Governor Jay inslee on the original Pritchard family court where the game was invented.
How did Pickleball get its name?
The name Pickleball came from Joan Pritchard, the wife of Joel Pritchard. She recalls that its creation by means of leftover equipment from other sports reminded her of the “Pickle Boat“ in the sport of Rowing. The Pickle boat is made up of those oarsmen that were not chosen or selected to be the principal competitors.
The rumor that the game was named after the family dog “Pickles” was Media Hype and debunked by the family, and records show that “Pickles” came along well after the game was invented.
Pickleball Equipment and Accessories – Where to get:
Paddle –
For sanctioned games, USAP and IFP paddle size standards say the combined length and width of the paddle shall not exceed 24 inches (0.61 m); the length cannot exceed 17 inches (0.43 m).
Ball –
Balls must be made of a durable molded material with a smooth surface and must have between 26 and 40 evenly spaced circular holes. They must weigh between .78 and .935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5 g) and measure between 2.87 and 2.97 inches (73 and 75 mm) in diameter.
Net –
The net is 36 inches (0.91 m) high on the ends and 34 inches (0.86 m) high at the center. The net posts should be 22 feet (6.7 m) from the inside of one post to the inside of the other post.
Accessories –
Fun and necessary stuff: Socks, Shirts, Ball Retrievers, Backpacks, Visors, and just about anything Pickleball related and themed.
Pickleball Rules
USA Pickleball Association Official Rulebook 2023 Edition.
Basic rules summary:
(Copy and Paste by Rick Zepp into this blog) Straight from the USA Pickleball Association website.
Basic Rules
- Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common
- The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles
The Serve
- The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.
- Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.
- The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
- A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply.
- At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline.
- The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
- Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.
Serving Sequence
- Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new game).
- The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.
- If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.
- As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed, and the first server loses the serve.
- When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from there correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game*).
- The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
- Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right/even court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until there team commits two faults.
- In singles the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.
*At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team.
Scoring
- Points are scored only by the serving team.
- Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
- Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.
- When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.
Two-Bounce Rule
- When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
- After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
- The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.
Line Calls
- A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
- A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.
Non-Volley Zone
- The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
- Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
- It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
- It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
- A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.
- The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”
Faults
- A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
- A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
- A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.
Determining Serving Team
- Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. (Example: coin flip)
2024 Rulebook Revision Cycle Starts March 1, 2023
Associations
International Federation of Pickleball
Tournament schedule
2023 schedule
Pickleball Equipment and Accessories – Where to get:
Paddle –
For sanctioned games, USAP and IFP paddle size standards say the combined length and width of the paddle shall not exceed 24 inches (0.61 m); the length cannot exceed 17 inches (0.43 m).
Ball –
Balls must be made of a durable molded material with a smooth surface and must have between 26 and 40 evenly spaced circular holes. They must weigh between .78 and .935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5 g) and measure between 2.87 and 2.97 inches (73 and 75 mm) in diameter.
Net –
The net is 36 inches (0.91 m) high on the ends and 34 inches (0.86 m) high at the center. The net posts should be 22 feet (6.7 m) from the inside of one post to the inside of the other post.
Accessories –
Fun and necessary stuff: Socks, Shirts, Ball Retrievers, Backpacks, Visors, and just about anything Pickleball related and themed.
Health and Safety
PICKLEBALL IS FRIENDLIER ON THE BODY THAN MOST OTHER SPORTS. HOWEVER, LIKE ANY OTHER SPORT, THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY THAT COMES ALONG WITH PLAYING THE GAME.
Is this the first you have heard of this trending sport?
Have I sparked an interest to play Pickleball?
Where do you play Pickleball?
Leave your answers below.
See you on the court!
Rick Zepp for Retirement Life – You Ain’t Done Yet!
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