The sport of pickleball is a combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis in that you stand at the net to hit the ball back and forth. Pickleball is a great sport for all ages, abilities, and fitness levels. Why? Besides the fact that it’s fun to play it’s because pickleball is often played in smaller spaces making it perfect for parks. Here we will cover everything there is to know about pickleball ranging from how to play, what you need, and more!
The history
Pickleball is a game that has been around since 1965 and was created by a man named Wally Frinds. He was in search of a sport that could be played on a small court and had enough rules to make it competitive, but not so many that it would become overly complicated.
His original idea was to create a tennis-like game that could be played with paddles and a wiffle ball on a smaller court, but he ended up changing his mind when he realised that most people were already familiar with how to play tennis, so he focused instead on making the rules simpler.
The name “pickleball” comes from an edible food called pickles, which have been used as metaphors for being “in the hole” in various sports throughout history. The name is also said to have been inspired by the popular phrase “pick up ball,” which refers to informal games between friends or strangers without any set rules or teams—just whoever shows up gets together for some fun!
Rules and objectives
The server throws the ball up in the air once before they hit it with their paddle and then they try to get it over the net into their opponent’s side of the court. If they succeed in this first shot, then they get another chance to hit it back over with another serve (much like tennis). They can also return any shots that are sent back by their opponent using this same method—either hitting them back over or returning them into play for themselves if they miss them entirely (similar to ping pong). Players must try to keep the ball in play as long as possible without letting it drop to the ground twice or letting it go out of bounds. A point is scored when one player hits their opponent’s serve back over the net or when they hit an opponent’s shot that has gone out of bounds. If a player fails to return the ball within three attempts, they lose a point.
There are no referees in pickleball—players call their own fouls (and make sure to give themselves plenty of time before calling).
The equipment
The equipment you need to play pickleball is pretty simple. All you need is a paddle and a ball, which can be purchased from many sporting goods stores or online.
To play pickleball, you’ll also need a court. Pickleball courts are about half the size of a tennis court and have lines on the floor like those in tennis courts.
