What is Pickleball?
If you have ever asked yourself this question, then you have come to the right place!
Pickleball is...
A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes.Played as doubles or singles.Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels
History of Pickleball
Pickleball is a game for the whole family. So it’s only fitting that it was invented by a family, too. The game got its start back in 1965, in Bainbridge Island, just a short ferry ride away from Seattle, WA.
When Congressmen Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum came home from a game of golf one day to find their kids bored and restless, they set out to create a game that would engage them through the lazy days of summer.
They wanted to create a game that would be challenging, but still accessible. They handed the kids table tennis paddles and a wiffle ball, and lowered the net on their badminton court. In the coming days both kids and adults alike fell in love with the game, and as they played the rules evolved (to include the non-volley zone, for instance) and solidified to their present incarnation.
Pickleball Court Layout
A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court and measures 20×44 feet. In pickleball, the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net (referred to as the “kitchen”). Courts can be constructed specifically for pickleball or they can be converted using existing tennis or badminton courts.
Official Rules
The original USAPA organization published the first pickleball rulebook in March, 1984. When the USAPA re-established and re-incorporated as the USA Pickleball Association in 2005, the book was reviewed and amended to resemble the rules used today. Shortly after its formation in 2010, the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) adopted the USA Pickleball Association rulebook, with permission from USA Pickleball Association.
This was an important step for international growth as the adoption of a singular rulebook ensures consistency in game play and regulations wherever pickleball is played. The full IFP member and affiliate member organizations representing their respective countries have all agreed to observe the "USA Pickleball/IFP Official Tournament Rulebook" within their respective countries.
Click below to get the updated 2021 PDF version of the official pickleball rules.