What is Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddleball sport that incorporates elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It may be played both indoors and out. Two or four players hit a perforated polymer ball with 26-40 round holes over a net with solid paddles made of wood or composite materials.
A non-volley zone (or kitchen) prohibits close-to-the-net volleys, and the serving team is unable to volley the return of serve. These one-of-a-kind pickleball regulations favor players with limited mobility and enable seniors to compete successfully against younger opponents.
It’s a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability levels. Pickleball has basic rules, making it an ideal beginner sport. When participants gain more experience playing, it can become a hard, fast-paced, and competitive game.
What is the Brief History of Pickleball?
Pickleball is not a new sport, despite its recent popularity. Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum created it in 1965. These residents of Bainbridge Island, Washington, developed the activity to keep their children entertained during the summer months when they were bored with their normal summer activities.
Why is It Called Pickleball?
There are two versions of how pickleball came to be known.
Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard’s wife, is credited with naming the sport after the pickle boat – a rowing crew made up of available rowers – since the sport was a jumble of rules thrown together.
There have also been rumors that the sport was called after Pickles, the Pritchards’ pet dog. Since the dog was born in 1968, three years after the sport was founded, this has been proven to be inaccurate.
What Makes Pickleball Famous?
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with 4.8 million players. The sport has expanded 39.3 percent in the last two years, according to the US Pickleball Association.
In 2020, the United States Sports and Fitness Industry Association estimated 1,193,000 college graduate pickleball players. From 2019 to 2020, the sport rose by 21.3 percent.
What are the Equipment Used in Pickleball?
Pickleball, like most sports, does not require much equipment. All that is required is a court, a net, a paddle, and a ball. This makes the sports so much more accessible to everyone.
The Pickleball Court
Pickleball courts are 20 feet wide and 40 feet long, meaning about four courts can fit in the same space as a standard tennis court. A modified tennis net stands at 34 inches tall in the center, separating the two halves of the court.
Pickleball’s small court allows younger players or those with varying degrees of mobility to participate in a way that the larger court of tennis sometimes prohibits. Additionally, a rule prohibiting volleying, or hitting the ball in the air, in the non-volley zone (the space 7 feet from the net) helps to equalize play and reduce overpowering smashes at the net.
The Pickleball Ball
A pickleball is similar to a whiffle ball, however it lasts longer. During a game of pickleball, common whiffle balls will split apart.
Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis racquets but larger than ping-pong paddles, with lengths ranging from eight to fifteen inches. Paddles were originally constructed of wood, but modern paddles are made of lightweight composite materials such as aluminum or graphite.
Pickleballs are plastic balls with 26 to 40 holes punctured in them. If you’re playing pickleball outside, you’ll most likely be using outdoor balls. Because it is slightly heavier, harder, and has fewer holes, the “outdoor” ball goes far faster than the indoor ball.
There are currently no rules controlling whether pickleball should be played indoors or outdoors, or what color the ball should be. Ball selection is a personal preference. Pickleball players acquire a preference for a specific ball brand and color.
The Pickleball Paddles
Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis racquets but larger than ping-pong paddles, with lengths ranging from eight to fifteen inches. Paddles were originally constructed of wood, but modern paddles are made of lightweight composite materials such as aluminum or graphite.
Pickleball paddles come in a variety of weights, forms, grip sizes, material compositions, and pricing. Because everyone has different preferences in a paddle, there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution. A paddle that works for you might not work for me. Before buying a paddle, test out a few different kinds to see which one is the most comfortable for you.
What to Wear When Playing Pickleball?
Pickleball players dress in whatever is most comfortable and appropriate for the weather: athletic shorts, wicking clothing, sweatpants, t-shirts, and so on. Females frequently wear tennis-style dresses and skirts. We have listed a few gift ideas for pickleball lovers about what to wear when playing pickleball.
Pickleball requires comfortable court shoes; sneakers or running shoes do not provide the necessary support for the side-to-side action.
It is strongly advised that you wear eye protection. For cold outdoor play, players should wear helmets, visors, sweatbands, and light coats or sweatshirts.