Lifestyle of a Fashionista

5/3/24

Pickleball was created in 1965 by three dads—Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell—but its popularity has exploded over the past three years.

Have you tried it yet? If not, now is the time to join the estimated 36.5 million pickleball players in the United States. 

What is Pickleball?

Sources: Pickleball statistics and WHAT IS PICKLEBALL, AND HOW DID IT BECOME SO POPULAR?

The sport, which is a cross between table tennis, badminton, and tennis, was invented by three vacationers on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965. Either two or four players hit a perforated hollow plastic ball (that looks like a whiffleball) with a special pickleball paddle. Different balls are used depending on the conditions (such as inside vs. outside), and each can have anywhere from 26 to 40 holes in it.  

You can play pickleball on indoor or outdoor courts. Some clubs have both tennis and pickleball courts. Some people make their own pickleball court on a tennis court.

The Rules

The rules of pickleball are complicated. Please read the link below to learn all the rules; I’m including some basic rules in this post. 

From USA Pickleball, Rules Summary.

Serving rules (Read about the proper serving position in the USA Pickleball rules link):

• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
• Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.
• A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
• A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.
• The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.
• If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.
• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.

The Non-Volley Zone (also called the kitchen):

• The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
• Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
• It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
• It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
• *You can hit in the non-volley zone after a ball bounces in the zone, this shot is called a dink.
• *After the minimum number of bounces, the goal is to get up to the non-volley zone.

Scoring: Points are only scored on the serve, with games generally played to 11 (win by 2).

Watch videos with more tips from USA Pickleball: https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/

My Experience

I heard about this sport in 2021 when its popularity was increasing, and it has been on my list to try since then. I have played a lot of tennis over the years, and I thought pickleball might come easy. Many famous tennis players are now playing pickleball casually and professionally, including John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, and Michael Chang.

I finally picked up a pickleball paddle in March when visiting my parents in Florida. The club in my parent’s neighborhood has a set of pickleball courts, leagues, lessons, and clinics. I played casually with my cousin and dad, took a lesson, and played in a beginner’s clinic. 

When I returned to Boston, I signed up for a four-week program at PKL, a pickleball parlor with a bar and shuffleboards. The program was called Rise and Rally. In the first week, we played with an instructor, and in the next three weeks, we played independently. 

The verdict:

I enjoyed playing pickleball. After several weeks of playing, I still struggled with some returns and serves and keeping track of the score, but overall, I like the sport and will continue playing. It’s a lot of fun when you get long rallies going. 

The Equipment

You will need a pickleball paddle and balls. There are two types of balls.

The paddle:

Paddles can be expensive, make sure you enjoy the game before investing in high-quality paddle.

From Picklehead, Best pickleball paddles 2024

I was able to demo some paddles in Florida, I like this Adidas model with the longer handle.

The balls:

There are indoor and outdoor balls, it is important for you to use the proper balls when playing. The balls bounce differently then tennis balls, making it difficult to return some shots.

From Men’s Health, The 10 Best Pickleball Balls in 2024

What to Wear

The clothes:

Wear your favorite workout outfit, or tennis outfit. Some clubs have a dress code.

Target has partnered with Prince to create a Pickleball line: Prince Sports

The footwear:

From People, The 10 Best Pickleball Shoes of 2024, Tested by Real People. “The reason why I suggest getting court-specific shoes is because you need to have enough stability and support — both of which are essential for pickleball,” says professional pickleball player Tyson McGuffin. “Every sport requires different movements and is played on different surfaces, so it’s important to invest in the appropriate gear to avoid injury.”

From Men’s Health, 6 Best Pickleball Shoes of 2024, Tested by Gear Experts

Where to Play

In Boston:

From BOStoday, Where to play pickleball around Boston

PKL has open play, leagues, and lessons. Pickleball 101 is on Sunday May 12th and May 19th. It cost $65. Learn the basics on how to play Pickleball at this 90-minute. Rules, scoring, and general technique/strategy will be covered followed by the opportunity for players to rotate playing a few games!

I would like to try playing at these outdoor courts:

Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Ave.
Visit Harpoon to take a swing on one of Hub Sports’ four new pickleball courts inside the Pickleball Social Club. The outdoor space can hold up to 400 people and features seating, yard games, and restrooms.
Pricing: Ranging from $50 to $100 to rent a court

The Park at Assembly Row, 350 Assembly Row, Somerville
This 75,000-sqft multi-sport and event space features 12 new pickleball courts. Regular league runs are organized by Volo.
Pricing: Rent a court for $75 or $125. All of the pickups, clinics, tournaments and events are free for Volo Pass members. Find out more, and how you can become a Volo Pass member here! Use Promo Code ” JUNIOR10 ” and pay only $10 for the first 3 months of your Volo Pass membership.