A key focus of my blog is Athletics/Sports. Many people don’t know about the sport of Pickleball which is gaining popularity across the United States. The following contributed post is entitled, A Quick Introduction To Pickleball – The Sport Growing In Popularity Across The U.S.
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Image credit: Pexels, Free to Use Licence.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that incorporates elements of tennis, badminton, ping-pong, and squash. Played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, the game can be played as singles or doubles by people of all ages and abilities. Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island by three fathers whose children were bored with their usual games, Pickleball has since evolved from a home-made game to a national and international sport, played by more than 2.5 million people in the U.S alone.
How is pickleball played?
Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles and has a very simple set of rules.
1. The ball must always be served diagonally across the net.
2. Players on both sides must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed.
3. Volleys cannot be played from the ‘no volley zone’ which occupies seven feet each side of the net to avoid spiking
4. The player who is serving will continue to do so until a fault is made by the other player or they make a fault themselves. Then the serve moves to the other player or team.
5. The first person, or side, to score eleven points and to lead by at least two points wins.
Pickleball faults
A team, or player, takes a fault whenever:
A. If they enter or touch the non-volley zone during a serve
B. They hit the ball out of bounds
C. They do not clear the net
D. They volley within the non-volley zone
E. Or the ball is volleyed before one bounce has occurred on each side.
What equipment do you need to play pickleball?
Originally, pickleball was played with simple home-made paddles, however as the sport has grown, this has been replaced with more specialist equipment. To play pickleball, all you need is a pickleball paddle, which is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle, and a pickleball, which is unique to the sport and is based on the Wiffle ball. Pickleballs come in a variety of colors and differ slightly depending on whether you are playing indoors or outdoors. Ideally, pickleball will be played on a badminton-sized court with a pickleball net, however, theoretically, it can be played on any modified court.
What do you wear when playing pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport accessible to all, and no specialist attire is required. Generally, it is suggested that players wear athletic wear to allow them a full range of motion and wear some style of court shoes with the correct foot support. Although not essential, committed pickleball players often choose to purchase specific pickleball shoes and also store their equipment in the best pickleball bags to make it easier to transport their equipment and clothing to and from the court.
Where to play pickleball!
Pickleball is growing in popularity across the U.S, Canada and into Europe, and is often played in schools as well as by private clubs. If you want to give pickleball a try where you live, then if you live in the U.S then you can use this link to find an official place to play. If you live abroad, then a simple Google search will usually notify you of any local pickleball clubs.
So there you have it – a brief introduction to the world of pickleball. Have you ever played? maybe it’s a new hobby to try this year?
