What is pickleball? Everything you need to know, and then some

It’s hard to go anywhere without hearing someone talk about the sport, so — best Jerry Seinfeld impression at the ready — what’s the deal with pickleball, anyway? Why is it so popular? Believe it or not, pickleball dates all the way back to 1965, when Congressman Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill Bell made it up on the spot when their families had nothing to do in Washington State, according to USA Pickleball. They created a game using improvised sports equipment on a badminton court, and within a few years, a friend installed a pickleball court — the first specifically for pickleball — on his property.

By 1982, pickleball aficionado Sid Williams had organized tournaments around the state, and in 1984, enthusiasts formed the United States Amateur Pickleball Association to help spread the sport nationwide. Here we are 40 years later and it’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. But what is pickleball, exactly? Read on!

In a nutshell

Pickleball, a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, and has been for the past three years.

• A pickleball court is at least one-fourth the size of a tennis court.
• Serving in pickleball is always underhand.
• The game is suitable for virtually all ages old enough to understand it.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that’s essentially a mashup of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It uses a wiffle-style hollow plastic ball that has equally spaced holes over its surface. The paddle looks like an elongated table tennis paddle, and is similar in shape to an old-school racquetball racquet, though a little smaller. Players hit the ball back and forth over a net, much like in tennis, but on a far smaller court. Like tennis, pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, with one or two players on each side of the net, respectively.

Fun fact: Pritchard’s wife Joan came up with the name “pickleball,” basing it on a similar term in rowing in which the nonstarters from various university rowing crews compete in a just-for-fun “pickle boat” race. Since pickleball began with elements borrowed from various sports, Mrs. Pritchard found the “pickleball” term fitting, and it stuck.

Types of pickleball games

Like tennis, pickleball is often played with two players per team for a doubles match or one-on-one for a singles match. Bart Bennett, Always Be Picklin' co-founder, suggests several other creative options.

“If only three players are available, you can play King of the Court, an adapted game in which two players play to a single side of the court with one player hitting to two players on the full court,” Bennett said. “Other games include Dingles, where four players play two balls at once from the nonvolley zone line, or King Pickle, in which several challengers play mini-games to win the right to continue playing.”

How does pickleball scoring work?

Pickleball is scored one point at a time, with only the serving team scoring points. Most pickleball games last until one team or side scores 11 points and is ahead by at least two points. Some tournaments, however, play until 15 or 21 points, still with the two-point-lead requirement.

In singles pickleball, scores are displayed as, for instance, 5-1, with 5 being the point total for the serving team. If the other team is serving, the same score would be listed as 1-5.

In doubles pickleball, a third number is added at the end, designating server one or server two, such as 1-5-2. Serving begins on the right side of the court at the beginning of the game. Even at the beginning of the game, the person on the right on the serving team is called server two, so the beginning score is 0-0-2. The third number is always one or two.

What are the rules of pickleball?

Pickleball rules are similar to other sports that involve hitting a ball back and forth over a net, but the game is, by design, less aggressive than most of those sports.

In pickleball, the server gets one attempt to hit the ball underhand to the diagonally opposite side, and the serve must happen below the waist. The ball has to go over the net (it can touch the net) and bounce on the diagonally opposite court before the opposing side returns it. A serve cannot land in the nonvolley zone or kitchen (the 7-foot space on either side of the net — this includes the lines denoting the kitchen).

The two-bounce rule requires that the ball bounces once after a serve in the receiver’s court, and that when the receiver returns the ball to the serving side, it has to bounce once as well. After that, players on each team are allowed to hit the ball whether it bounces or not.

The goal is rallying back and forth until someone misses the ball or hits it out of bounds or into the net. Only the serving team scores points.

Players aren’t allowed to volley the ball while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. This prevents players from standing at the net to “smash” the ball over to the other side. Breaking this rule is a fault, which would either score a point for the serving team if the opponent did it or cause the serving team to lose the serve if they committed the fault.

In doubles pickleball, the server starts from the right side of the court and, if they score a point, makes the next serve from the left side of the court. With the exception of the very first serving round of the game, this continues until the serving team commits a fault, at which point the other player on the serving team gets to serve until another fault happens. After this, the opposing team gets to serve. (The exception is the very first serving round of a pickleball game, in which the serve goes to the opposing team after the serving team faults, rather than to the next player on the serving team.)

In a singles game, the server stands on the right side if their points are even and on the left if they are odd. The other team gets to serve if the serving player faults.

If the ball lands on the line anywhere around the court, it’s considered in play.

Games are played until one team reaches 11 points, ahead by two or more.

Each match is the best two out of three games, with the third game played to only five points, with the winning team ahead by two points or more.

What is the difference between pickleball and tennis?

Pickleball and tennis games look fairly similar from afar, but there are key differences. Andy Peeke, lead pickleball pro for Life Time’s Sky and PENN 1 locations in New York City, summarizes the differences well.

“A pickleball court is about one-third the size of a tennis court, and a pickleball is made of plastic and much less bouncy than a tennis ball,” says Peeke. “Also, the serve in tennis is quite difficult, whereas the serve in pickleball is much simpler and easier. In summary, pickleball is easier to learn and subjectively more fun to play since the points tend to last longer.”

In a little more depth, a pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, or 20 feet x 44 feet. By comparison, a tennis court is 27 feet x 78 feet for singles and 36 feet x 78 feet for doubles. The pickleball net stands 36 inches high at the posts near the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle, compared to tennis with the net at 42 inches high at the sideline posts and 36 inches high at the center. The lower but similar net height in pickleball makes it fairly easy for tennis players to adapt, at least when it comes to hitting the ball over the net.

“Both sports require skill and technique, but pickleball may be easier to pick up for beginners due to the smaller court and slower pace,” says Bennett. “Tennis tends to be faster-paced and requires more running and agility due to the larger court size and faster ball speed.”

Pickleball uses solid paddles rather than strung racquets. The paddles are significantly smaller than tennis racquets but larger than table tennis paddles. The best pickleball paddles tend to cost quite a bit. All three of the experts featured in this article mentioned Joola as one of the standout quality brands (Peeke is also sponsored by Joola.)

“Our favorites and the paddles we sell the most are the Joola Hyperion and Scorpeus models, and the Diadem Warrior Edge 18k,” says Bennett.

JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16 Pickleball Paddle - Carbon Abrasion Surface with High Grit & Spin, Sure-Grip Elongated Handle, 16mm, with Polypropylene Honeycomb Core, USAPA Approved

amazon

$159.95$115.50

JOOLA Collin Johns Scorpeus Pickleball Paddle w/Charged Surface Technology for Increased Power & Feel - Fully Encased Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle w/Larger Sweet Spot - USAPA Approved. 16mm Core

amazon

$249.95$199.39

“Nowadays, you will need to spend over $100 to find something that will allow you to compete,” says Chris Wolfe, director of operations at Pickle & Social. “Having raw carbon fiber on the surface seems to be the rage right now. Many brands make great paddles, including Joola, Selkirk, Head, Engage, Paddletek, Franklin, Vulcan, Gearbox, Diadem and Gamma. The list could go on and on. You could find a good paddle with any of these brands.”

“Selecting a paddle can be daunting because the market is saturated with paddle brands and the technology continues to advance,” says Bennett. “Better paddles are made with hexagonal poly cores with a fiberglass or carbon fiber face. We at Always Be Picklin’ and the more serious players choose paddles with a carbon fiber face for more power and control.”

Ultimately though, Bennett says the most important factor is a paddle’s feel. “We recommend that people try their friends’ paddles or find a coach or equipment dealer with sample paddles you can try,” he says.

Common pickleball mistakes and how to avoid them

Virtually any sport has its share of common mistakes, and pickleball is no exception. One issue Peeke notices is “people's egos getting in the way. Many players think they are better than they actually are,” he says, noting that people may say they play at a highly skilled level. “But when they play others that are legitimately at that skill level, the truth is shown,” he continues. “My suggestion is to let go of who I think I ‘should’ be and focus on simply doing my best and the results will speak for themselves.”

“One of the most common pickleball mistakes is playing the entire game from the baseline, or hitting every ball as hard as you can,” says Bennett. “This can bring some wins in beginner games, but it can also encourage bad habits. We recommend learning to play closer to the net, controlling your hits and incorporating strategy into your game. Those factors are the key to improvement.”

Wolfe also mentions poor serve returns and swinging too hard on a low ball as common issues. “The return of serve is one of the most important shots in the game,” he says. “If you miss it, your opponent gets the point. If you don’t return it deep, you invite them closer to the nonvolley zone (NVZ). You want to return the serve deeper into the court to give you and your partner time to move up to the NVZ and put distance between your team and the ball. The farther away your opponent drives the ball, the easier it will be to volley. Additionally, the serving team can't hit your return until it bounces because of the two-bounce rule, so they have to stay back. You can improve this skill with lots of practice and drilling. Have a friend serve to you, and practice returning the ball deep. Maybe put out some targets and see if you can hit past them.”

The AP Buyline roundup

Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor sport suitable for kids and senior citizens. It uses ping pong-style paddles to hit a wiffle-style ball over a net on a court about one-third to one-fourth the size of a tennis court. Serving is easier than in tennis since it’s underhand, and in doubles games, both players may have a turn to serve. There’s less running around since the court is relatively small, so there’s no need to be extremely athletic to play pickleball.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can pickleball be played indoors and outdoors?

Yes, pickleball is a sport for indoor and outdoor enjoyment. There are a few minor differences at times, including the pickleball itself.

“Playing indoors on a gym floor or similar surface requires an indoor pickleball, which has 26 larger holes and is a bit lighter,” says Bennett. “Playing outdoors on a concrete or asphalt surface — most outdoor courts — requires a heavier pickleball with 40 smaller holes. The weight and the smaller holes resist wind better.”

“When playing outdoors you must consider the elements, which can make outdoor play less enjoyable and even dangerous,” Bennett adds. “Wind can easily affect the flight of pickleballs. Rain can make the court slippery.”

“The newest indoor option features an indoor court with a traditional outdoor surface,” Wolfe adds. “The main difference is that you don't have to worry about the elements. The other type of indoor court, which most pickleball players started on, is a basketball court surface. For this setup, they usually put down tape for lines and use a portable net. While it's still fun to play on this type of court, the ball is not as consistent because the smooth floors cause it to skid more often.”

Peeke says that on indoor courts, ceiling height and other potential factors could make indoor play challenging: “Recently I met a player in southern California who said she’s never played indoors, whereas I played a lady last week who labeled herself an ‘indoor princess’ that rarely plays outside. So play wherever you prefer.”

What age group is pickleball best suited for?

“As long as people are enjoying themselves and their experiences are positive, then they are the right age for pickleball,” opines Peeke. “Personally, I’ve taught 6-year-olds and 90-year-olds. I’ve taught Jeopardy contestants, billionaires and pro sports MVPs, so it’s really about putting stereotypes of age, gender and socioeconomic categories aside and doing something that you enjoy.”

Bennett concurs. “We played against a former Detroit Tigers professional baseball player in his eighties who had some mobility limits, but he mastered the angles of the game so well he was hard to beat,” he says. “We’ve also worked with Special Olympics athletes in our home state of Michigan and taught people with physical as well as cognitive disabilities. The sport is relatively easy to learn compared to many other racquet sports like tennis or badminton. The rules are straightforward and the court is smaller, making it less intimidating for beginners and older players. Pickleball is for anyone who can hold a paddle. In fact, wheelchair pickleball is growing in popularity.”

How can I improve my pickleball skills?

How do you get better at pickleball? Practice, practice, practice! There’s a little more to it, though, according to the experts.

“Taking lessons and clinics is the best way to improve your pickleball skills,” says Peeke. “Many players try to learn by doing and pick up a lot of bad habits along the way. A good coach will quickly recognize strengths and weaknesses and help any player improve their game.”

Wolfe suggests watching YouTube videos to learn. “These can give you ideas on how a shot is hit or a good strategy,” he explains. “However, you will need to get on a court and practice these things. I suggest finding a good coach to learn how to play the right way. That way, when you’re practicing, you are ingraining the correct techniques in your brain.” Wolfe also offers tips on his Instagram account.

“Although the basics of pickleball can be learned quickly, it takes time and repetition to improve,” says Bennett. “Implement drills into your pickleball routine to hit the ball more reliably and with more precision. You can learn the game from a friend who plays, but to truly improve, a certified pickleball professional can provide instruction customized to your strengths and weaknesses and teach you the strategy needed to win more games. Even after a coaching session, you must still drill to make sure the learned skills are ingrained and translate to gameplay.”

Read more: Best golf balls to improve your game for all styles and swings