WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?
Elbow Beach
Photo by Reilly Durfy
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Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis.
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It is played on a court that is about 1/4 the size of a tennis court.
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The paddle is like an oversized table tennis paddle - made of lightweight composite material, graphite, fiberglass.
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The ball is a perforated, plastic wiffle ball and the game is played over a net.
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Pickleball is primarily enjoyed as a doubles sport but singles pickleball is also played.
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It is a sport that can be played indoors or outdoors by players of all ages.
THE PICKLEBALL COURT & BASIC RULES
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A pickleball court is 20ft x 44ft with a net across the middle.
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The area on each side of the net (7ft deep) is called the Non-Volley Zone or "the Kitchen".
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A player must not volley (take a ball out of the air) when standing in the Kitchen.
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A player must not volley and then fall into the Kitchen.
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Once a ball bounces in the Kitchen, a player may step into the Kitchen to hit the ball.
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Serves are hit diagonally with an underhand shot and must clear the Kitchen.
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Lines are 'in' during the serve (except the Non-Volley Zone line)
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Lines are 'in' during play
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There is a 2-bounce rule - the serve must bounce and the return must bounce.
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Play is to 11 points with a 2-point difference. Sometimes to 15 in a tournament.
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You can only score a point when your team is serving.