The Basics

Pickleball is a paddle sport you can learn in minutes and play for a lifetime. It brings together elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis to create a sport that’s fun for all ages and skill levels.

Pickleball is played:

·       indoors or outdoors as long as it is a hard surface to ensure the ball can bounce

·       as both doubles and singles

·       using a solid paddle to hit a plastic “whiffle” ball over a net (3 inches lower than a tennis net)

The Game

A game usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes but players usually participate in recreational playing sessions for and average of 2 hours.
Each game starts with the serving team sending the ball over the net.  The ball must bounce once on each side of the court before volleying can occur – that is the serve and the return of serve must bounce. BUT.. after this, both teams aim to be at the net where the game is centred around short sharp volleys and strategic soft drop shots to outplay and out position your opponents.

If the serving team faults or misses the ball, they lose their serve. But if the receiving team faults or misses the ball, the serving team scores a point. The first team to reach 11 points (as long as they’re 2 points ahead) wins the game.

Read the full official rules here.

How is pickleball different from other net sports?

Pickleball is easier than many other net sports.

• The game is a low impact activity, so it’s easier on the body.
• The serve is a simple underarm hit over the net.
• Gameplay focuses on reflexes, reactions, and smart positioning of the ball, rather than overpowering the opposition with smashes, powerful serves, and speed.

These differences open pickleball up to a greater range of players. Whether you’ve been playing tennis your whole life, or you’re walking onto a court for the first time; whether you’re young, old, or in between; whether you’re strategic and competitive, or just want to get involved in something fun, social, or active… Pickleball is for you!