What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends the best parts of tennis, badminton, and table tennis into something new. It's played on a badminton-sized court with a low net, using lightweight paddles and a plastic ball with holes.
Because the court is small and the rules are simple, anyone can pick it up quickly — but as you improve, it becomes fast, tactical, and very exciting.
A Short History
- Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington (USA).
- A group of families wanted a game everyone — adults and kids — could play together.
- They lowered a badminton net, improvised paddles, and used a perforated plastic ball.
- The sport spread quickly across the U.S., and today it's one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, played in schools, clubs, and professional tournaments.
How It's Played
- Court size: 6.1 × 13.4 m (about a quarter of a tennis court).
- Serving: Always underhand, diagonally into the opponent's service box.
- The "two-bounce rule": The ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley.
- The Kitchen: A 2 m non-volley zone near the net. Players may not smash from here, which keeps rallies longer and more tactical.
- Scoring: Only the serving team scores. Games are usually played to 11, win by 2.
- Formats: Singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2). Doubles is most popular because it's very social.
Why Pickleball is So Popular
- Easy to learn: You can play a real game after 10 minutes of instruction.
- Social and fun: Doubles format encourages teamwork and meeting new people.
- Accessible: Less running than tennis, so it's easier on the joints and suitable for all ages.
- Strategic depth: Placement and soft shots (like "the dink") matter as much as power.
- Quick games: Matches are short, so players rotate often and play with different partners.
👉 In short: Pickleball started as a backyard game in the 1960s and has grown into an international sport. It's easy for beginners, challenging for experts, and one of the most welcoming sports you can try.