Are you wondering how pickleball is played? Well let’s start first by defining what is pickleball.
Pickleball is a racket sport played with a perforated plastic ball and
paddles. It is similar to tennis, but the court is smaller and the net is
lower.
The pickleball court is about the same size as a doubles badminton court, with a net in the middle similar to a tennis net but is mounted two inches lower.
How Is The Game Played?
The ball must be served diagonally from behind the baseline to the opponent’s service court. The serve must be underhand and must bounce before it crosses the net.
After the serve, players must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before hitting it back over the net.
The objective of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s side of the court in such a way that the opponent is unable to return the ball or make a legal return.
Points are scored when the opponent is unable to return the ball or commits a fault, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.
Points are scored only when a team is serving, and the first team to reach 11 points and lead by at least two points wins the game.
If the score is tied at 10-10, the game continues until one team leads by two points.
Pickleball is an enjoyable, fast-paced game that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels.
Pickleball Court Dimensions
Pickleball courts are typically 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. This is the standard size for doubles play, which is the most common form of pickleball.
For singles play, the court is the same width but only 20 feet long. The service line is 7 feet from the back of the court, and the non-volley zone is 7 feet from the net on either side.
The net is hung at a height of 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center of the court. The non-volley zone is also known as the “kitchen” or “no volley zone” (NVZ) and is demarcated by lines running parallel to the net 7 feet from the net on either side.
The dimensions of a pickleball court are as follows:
- Length: 20 feet
- Width: 44 feet
- Height of net at center: 36 inches
The court is divided into two equal halves by a center line and each half is further divided into two quarter courts by a right service line and a left service line.
The area between the service lines is known as the service zone. The right service line is marked 7 feet from the right sideline and the left service line is marked 7 feet from the left sideline.
In addition to the dimensions of the court, there are also dimensions for the playing area around the court. The minimum recommended dimensions for the playing area around the court are:
- Length: 60 feet
- Width: 50 feet
This allows for players to have enough space to chase down balls and move around the court comfortably.
Pickleball Rules
Pickleball is a popular paddleball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis so you’ll find some aspects of those games in pickleball.
Here are some of pickleball’s basic rules:
1. The game is played with two or four players, with the players on opposite sides of the net.
2. The serve is made from behind the baseline, and the ball must be served diagonally to the opponent’s service court.
3. The ball must be served underhand and hit the ground before crossing the net.
4. Players must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before hitting it back over the net.
5. Players can only score points when they are serving.
6. The first team to reach 11 points and leading by at least two points wins the game.
7. If the score reaches 10-10, the game continues until one team leads by two points.
8. The ball must be returned to the other team’s court, either by hitting it over the net or by the ball bouncing off the opponent’s paddle or body.
9. If the ball goes out of bounds or hits the net and does not go over, it is a point for the other team.
10. Paddles must be made of wood, composite, or other approved materials and must not have any rough or abrasive surfaces.