Pickleball BASICS
What is Pickleball?
- Pickleball is a fun sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court using a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Played as doubles or singles.
The Court
A pickleball court measures 20×44 feet. The same court is used for both singles and doubles play. 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 (the “kitchen”).
Equipment
A pickleball paddle is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle. Paddles are made from wood or lightweight composite materials. A pickleball is a hard plastic ball with round holes, similar to a wiffleball. At FPC, we provide paddles and pickleballs to our members and guests.
Rules of Play
Pickleball is played either as doubles or singles. Points are scored only by the serving team. Games are played to 11, win by 2. Click below for the complete rules.
Attire
Players wear just about anything comfortable and appropriate: athletic shorts, sweatpants, wicking apparel, t-shirts, etc. Comfortable court shoes are recommended - non-marking, soft soled shoes are a must.
USA Pickleball
The USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the US and provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials. Click below for their detailed step by step guide to learning the game.