Pickleball is the sport everyone’s talking about—and for good reason.

It’s fast, fun, social, and addictive (in a good way).

Whether you’ve just heard about it or you’re thinking of picking up a paddle, this guide will give you the quick lowdown on everything you need to know to get in the game.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three dads trying to entertain their bored kids.

They mixed elements of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton—and boom, pickleball was born.

The sport got its quirky name from either a “pickle boat” (a mashup crew in rowing) or a dog named Pickles (depending on who you ask).

Here are 5 reasons why Pickleball is so popular:

1. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.—especially among adults aged 35+

2. It’s a sport that’s super easy to learn, even if you’ve never played a racket sport before

3. Great for fitness, socializing, and friendly competition

4. Pickleball can be played indoors or outdoors, singles or doubles

5. A welcoming, low-impact workout for all ages

If you are new to Pickleball, the terminology can be quite confusing.

So here are 6 of the most used terms you’ll likely hear on a Pickleball court or clubhouse chat!

• The Kitchen: The non-volley zone, 7 feet from the net on both sides.

• Dink: A soft shot that lands in the “kitchen”. Master the dink = master the game.

• Volley: Hitting the ball out of the air without letting it bounce.

• Fault: A rules violation (like stepping into the kitchen while volleying).

• Side Out: When the serve passes to the other team.

• Erne: A class move where you jump outside the court to smash a shot near the net.

While pickleball started in the U.S., it’s now growing worldwide.

Here are the top 10 countries with the most registered Pickleball players:

• USA 🇺🇸 (especially Florida, California, and Arizona)

• Canada 🇨🇦

• Australia 🇦🇺

• United Kingdom 🇬🇧

• Malaysia 🇲🇾

• Puerto Rico🇵🇷

• Vietnam🇻🇳

• Philippines🇵🇭

• Mexico 🇲🇽

• China🇨🇳

More and more courts, clubs, and tournaments are appearing globally every year.

India is leading the way as the fastest-growing pickleball scene, followed closely by Thailand and Venezuela.

Pickleball is also growing in new destination not previously well-known for racket sports including Sri Lanka, Brunei, Rwanda and Djibouti.

The simplicity and accessibility of Pickleball is helping the global growth of the sport and finding fans all over the World.

A pickleball court is the same size for singles and doubles.

Here are some of the key features of a Pickleball court you need to know:

• A Pickleball court is 20 feet wide x 44 feet long

• This makes a Pickleball court the same size as a doubles Badminton court

• Non-volley zone (“Kitchen”): 7 feet from the net on both sides

• A Pickleball net height: 36 inches at the sides, 34 inches in the middle

• You can play Pickleball on concrete, asphalt, Astroturf, clay, wood (indoor courts), or even grass
• Pickleball courts are the same size for singles and doubles games. This differs from Tennis courts which are wider for doubles matches than singles.

One of the advantages of playing Pickleball is you don’t need a whole bag of specialist equipment and clothing to get started.

As a beginner, you can probably kit yourself out with everything you need for about $40.

Here’s a list of what you need to get on court:

• Paddle: Bigger than a table tennis paddle, smaller than a tennis racket (composite, wood, or graphite).  Like tennis you can buy a range of rackets ranging from an entry level paddle at $25 or a top brand pro level paddle for $300.

• Pickleball: A plastic ball with holes (indoor and outdoor versions vary).  Like paddles Pickleballs come in different qualities such as speed and spin levels. they range in price between $7 to $12 for a top brand ball.

• Shoes: Court or tennis shoes with good grip and support

• Optional: Wristbands, gloves, ball holders, hat/visor for outdoor play

You don’t need expensive gear to start your Pickleball adventure, but once you’re hooked, you might want to upgrade your equipment to help improve your game.

• Pickleball games are usually played to 11 points, win by 2

• Only the serving team can score points

• Points are scored when the other team “faults” (hits out, into the net, or into the kitchen on a volley)

• In doubles, each player gets a turn to serve per rotation, except at the start of a game

• Servers must call the score before each serve: “server score – receiver score – server number”

Example: “6–4–2” means 6 points for server team, 4 for opponents, server is second in the pair.

Pickleball uses a rating system from 1.0 to 5.0+:

• 1.0–2.0: Beginner, still learning rules and strokes

• 2.5–3.0: Recreational players with decent rallies

• 3.5–4.0: Competitive players who control shot placement

• 4.5–5.0+: Advanced players, tournament-ready

You’ll often hear players describe themselves by their rating: “I’m a 3.5,” for example.

The best way to learn Pickleball…?

….Just hit the court.

You’ll pick it up quickly, meet awesome people, get a great workout and have a whole heap of fun while you do it!

Welcome to the World of Pickleball!

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