PICKLEBALLThe Origin of Pickleball

Pickleball, the small scaled tennis game was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a quick boat trip from Seattle in Washington State. The original purpose of the game was to provide a sport for the entire family, according to inventors U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum. The name, Pickleball, came from Pickles the family dog. Pickles would chase after stray balls and then hide in the bushes and eventually Pickle’s ball was shortened to Pickleball.

Originally, Pickleball was played in backyards on a hard surface, on driveways, and on vacant streets. Since the 1970’s Pickleball has grown and reached out to a wide variety of our society. The game once labeled a hobby has now evolved into a paddle court sport with structured rules. Twenty years later, Pickleball is played within numerous activity programs such as: thousands of school P.E. programs, correctional facilities, camps, YMCA’s and retirement communities around the nation. This sport is becoming very attractive to the older class citizens, especially in adult living communities. The small Pickleball court lets younger players or those with varying degrees of mobility to join in a way that the larger court of tennis sometimes will not allow. In addition, a rule eliminating volleying (hitting the ball in the air) in the non-volley zone (the space 7 feet from the net) helps to balance play and decreases the overwhelming smashes at the net.

Quick Notes

Pickleball is a sport described as "a combination of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton.”

It uses a simplified combination of tennis rules and strategies.

Rules of PickleballThe Game

Pickleball is a paddle game played with a perforated, slow-moving ball over a tennis-type net on a badminton-sized court. The ball is served underhand without it bouncing off the court first and is served diagonally into the opponent's service court. Points are obtained only by the team serving and only when the opponent faults (fails to return ball, hits ball out of bounds, etc.). The server continues to serve, alternating right and left service courts, until server faults. The first team to score 11 points and/or winning by at least 2-points wins. An example, if two sides are tied at 10 points, play would then continue until one team wins by 2 points. Matches are best out of three games.

The Serve

The serve must be made with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level. The ball must be struck before it hits the ground and also must land cross court (diagonally) into opponent’s service box. The serve must clear the net and non-volley area, landing in the proper service area or on the center, side, or baselines. A service let is when the ball fails to make it over the net without contact. However, for a serve to be called a let, the ball must still make it over to the other side. Service faults result in the loss of serve and some faults include:

Server does not hit ball before it hits ground Service lands inside non-volley zone Ball lands outside of service court, or hits net and lands on

service side

Double Bounce Rule

The double bounce rule is in effect at all times during every opportunity to score a point. The rule states that the serve must bounce into the opponent’s service area before they may return it. Also, the first rally from the serving team back to the opponent must bounce before striking the ball. After each team rallies once with the ball bouncing (double bounce) then all shots may be put into play.

SinglesServes will always start in the right service area and alternate from right to

left, as long as the server still maintains the serve. The service score will always be an even number when the server is serving from the right area, and odd when serving in the left area.

Doubles

The service for double starts in the right service area. The starting service team is only allowed to have the starting server serve for the first set. Once service is lost, it goes over to the opponent’s team. Both players serve moving in alternate courts, the first server will serve until they fault, and then goes to the other. Once both servers fault, the service goes back to first serving team and player who has not yet served. Service play continues with each player on each team serving until they cannot maintain service any longer.

Code of Ethics

Calls can be made by players during matches and in cases of: faults, lets, and in player communication. Player communication is considered only to be talking when the ball is in the air. However, if the communication is made after the ball hits the ground, it can be taken as a call.

Faults

A fault is declared when any of the following occur: hitting ball into net, ball landing out of bounds, failure to hit the ball before it bounces for the second time, player touches net, ball hits players body anywhere except below the wrist of paddle hand. Violation of service rules and volley rules are also used to determine faults.

Dead Ball

A dead ball occurs after any action that stops the course of play. Another dead ball infraction can be a hinder call by the referee.

Non-Volley Zone

The non-volley zone is the seven foot area on both sides of the net. The zone boundaries include the sideline in the seven foot area as well as the non-volley line. A fault is called if any player in the process of volleying the ball touches or crosses the non-volley line. A player is also not allowed to start inside the zone, jump volley the ball and land outside the zone. Players however, may enter and exit the non-volley zone whenever they wish and hit the balls in the zone as long as they hit the ground first.

TerminologyCross-court

The area of the court diagonally opposite from the area you occupy. Dead Ball

Any action that stops the course of play. See also: Fault Dink Shot

A soft shot that is meant to travel just over the net and drop in the non-volley zone.

 Double Bounce

A ball that bounces twice before it is returned. Drop Shot

A groundstroke where the ball lands so that it is short of the opponent.  Fault

A fault is any action that stops play or creates a rule infraction. Groundstroke

Any shot hit after the ball has bounced once of the floor. 

Let A service that hit the net and lands in the opposing service court.

 Lob (clear)

A ball that is hit as high and deep as possible, forcing the opponent back to the baseline.

 Overhead Slam/Smash

A hard, over the top shot occasionally from an opponent’s lob, high return, or high bounce shot.

 Rally

Continuous play that occurs after the service and fault free.  Service Court

Areas on both sides of the centerline, bordered by the non-volley line and the baseline.

 Side Out

When one side loses its service privileges and the other team is awarded service.

 Volley

Hitting the ball in the air, during a rally and after the double bounce rule, Before the ball has a chance to bounce onto the court. May only occur outside the non-volley zone, in the service areas.

CuesForehand

1) Racket back early

2) Firm wrist

3) Swing low to high

Backhand

1) Racket back early

2) Swing low to high

3) Hit ball at knee high

Lob

1) Follow through straight up to hit bicep with face

2) Finish like a statue of liberty

Volley

1) Little or no backswing

2) Meet ball in front of body

3) Limit follow through

Serve

1) One foot in front of baseline other foot behind

2) Drop ball then swing paddle

3) Follow through straight up to hit face with bicep

4) Finish like the statue of liberty

Drop shot

1) Slide racket under the ball

2) Soft touch

3) Open face paddle to give under spin

4) Lift or nudge

Smash shot

1) Contact ball in front of body

2) Paddle face tilted towards the floor

3) Like volleyball spike

4) Recover quickly to ready position