Ever Played Pickleball? Here’s What You Need to Know
People are turning to sports to destress themselves and start living healthy. Sadly, not all sports are ideal for just about anyone. Sports like tennis, basketball, and football are a bit complicated for beginners. So what kinds of sports can novices play that are not too hard to learn? One recommended sport for those looking to learn one is pickleball. Compared to the likes of tennis, this sport is a lot more forgiving to newbies.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is straight-up a combination of the most common racket sports: tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. From the rules down to the equipment, it is safe to say that pickleball took inspiration from the three racket sports aforementioned.
But, of course, pickleball has its own unique twists. Take a look at the paddle used in this sport; it has holes and is larger than ping-pong paddles. Aside from that, this sport’s rules are a lot easier to understand, making them a sport that is suitable for players of varying skill levels.
When was pickleball invented?
In 1965, three men in Seattle unexpectedly invented a brand-new sport. They did not intentionally plan to create a new sport, nor did they initially plan it. So how did they end up inventing pickleball in the first place?
Bill Bell, Joel Pritchard, and Barney McCallum spent their day on Brainbridge Island, where they planned to play some badminton. The equipment at the court was lacking, so what they did was create a makeshift racket and ball.
After realizing that their improvised equipment worked so well, they decided to add some rules soon after. The first-ever court was created in 1967, and five years after that, the three men created a corporation that would soon change the game in racket sports history.
What are the rules?
The rules of pickleball are quite easy to understand, even for those new to the game. The rules are as follows:
- The ball must be kept inside the court at all times.
- The player must perform an underhand serve at the baseline of the court.
- The ball can and must only bounce once per side of the court.
- A serve cannot land in a non-volley zone. A serve can only land on an area enclosed by either the baseline or the sideline.
- A game ends if a player ends up scoring 11 and is leading by two points. In the instance that a game is 10-10, the game will continue until one player wins by two points.
Pickleball rules will vary depending on the situation or type of game that is being played. For instance, in consolation events, a game is limited to only 15 points.
What equipment do you need to play pickleball?
A paddle, a pickleball, and a net are the three pieces of equipment needed to play pickleball. Take note, a net is not really necessary since people can go to pickleball courts instead.
When choosing a paddle, it would require careful attention since not every paddle is the same. There are a variety of paddles based on the material of the core and paddle facing, size, weight, shape, and handle length.
As for the pickleball balls, there are two types that players can use: one for indoors and one for outdoors.
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