What is Pickleball?

Pickleball: The Fastest Growing Sport You Never Heard Of

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball, at its core, is a fun and exciting indoor/outdoor sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Pickleball is played on a court the size of a badminton court, with a low net similar to tennis, and with what looks like an oversized ping pong paddle and a wiffleball.

Why is It Called Pickleball?

According to the U.S.A. Pickleball Association, the origins of the name pickleball differs between different accounts.

As the first story goes, Joel Pritchard’s wife, Joan, started to call their newly invented game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” But there’s another story of how it got its name. According to Barney McCallum, the game pickleball was named after Pritchard’s dog, Pickles! Despite the sour taste of actual pickles, the dog was sweet and used to run off with the ball while they were still playing the game!

THE EQUIPMENT

In order to play pickleball only some basic equipment is needed. Players will need a pickleball paddle and one pickleball ball. It is played on a court the size of a badminton court with a low net around the height of tennis court net.

The Pickleball Paddle

The paddles needed to play pickleball are larger than table tennis paddles, but smaller than a normal tennis racket. Pickleball paddles or pickleball racquets can be made from many different materials, from wood and graphite, to aluminum and other composite materials.

How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

Choosing a pickleball paddle or pickleball racquet can be overwhelming. You will likely want to consider a few things when making your choice – Price, Weight and Grip Size.

Price – Pickleball paddles can range anywhere from $40 for a basic beginner pickleball paddle, to a more expensive professional pickleball paddle for $200. For beginners, a wooden pickleball paddle is inexpensive but may be a difficult to control. If you are just starting out, you may opt for something less expensive until you get the hang of it and decide if pickleball isfor you. You may then want to invest in a higher quality pickleball paddle.

Weight – This is the most important aspect of choosing a pickleball paddle. Most paddles weigh between 6-14 ounces. Heavier pickleball paddles will help you drive the ball but can also increase fatigue due to the weight. Lighter pickleball paddles while give you more control, may not provide the drive you might want.

Grip Size – Most pickleball grip sizes are between 4-4.5 inches in circumference. This is an area where you may have to try them out in a retail store. A larger grip may make the pickleball paddle slip in your hand so if you are deciding between 2 sizes you may want to opt for the smaller grip size. Smaller grips allow for better wrist action which provides you with more control.

Shop our extensive selections of pickleball paddles here

Best Beginner Pickleball Paddles

Onix Pickleball Recruit Starter Set

Fusion Pro Pickleball Paddle

Micron 2.0 Pickleball Paddle

THE PICKLEBALLS

Originally, pickleball was played with a spare wiffle ball. Today, pickleball is played with a similar type of ball that’s still lightweight and perforated with holes similar to a wiffleball, but made specifically for pickleball play.

There are pickleballs for indoor play and pickleballs for outdoor play.

Indoor Pickleballs

Indoor pickleballs are made from a softer material and have about 26 holes on the surface. They tend to move a little slower than outdoor pickleballs are good for beginners while they are learning the game. Beginners can also use an indoor pickleball on an outdoor court when they are learning to help them focus on developing their form.

Outdoor Pickleballs

Outdoor pickleballs are made of a firmer material and has approximately 40 smaller holes on the surface. With more holes, the outdoor ball can ‘cut thru the wind and fly a bit faster’ hence they are better for a more seasoned player.

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Make sure you purchase the right pickleball to use depending on indoor or outdoor use. If you’d like to play with an official pickleball ball, check out the USAPA’s guidelines.

The Court

The layout of a pickleball court is essentially the opposite of a tennis court, with a few dimensional variations. The two blocks on either side of the net are called the “no-volley zones,” but they are commonly referred to as the “kitchen.” If you are standing inside this area, you must let the ball bounce before you hit it. This is more of a safety precaution than anything, since it could be dangerous to smash a volley out of the air at such close quarters.

Pickleball APPAREL & FOOTWEAR

While any basic athletic apparel and comfortable tennis shoes will suffice for pickleball, most pickleball players want people to know they are a pickleball player and likely a pickleball enthusiast! Because of just that, many apparel brands have come out with their own apparel designs geared towards the pickleball player!

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