A Quick Guide to Pickleball: Origins, Rules, and Regulations

Pickleball: The World’s Fastest-Growing Sport

Pickleball is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports globally, gaining acceptance at all levels. Combining elements from tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, pickleball is played with solid paddles and a plastic ball.

Basics of Pickleball

• Court Size: Smaller than a tennis court.
• Scoring: Only the serving side can score points.

Key Rules

• Serve: Must be underhand and below the waist, served diagonally. The server must stand behind the baseline.
• Non-Volley Zone: Known as the “Kitchen,” located near the net. Players can only hit the ball in this zone after it bounces. Hitting a volley while standing in the Kitchen is a fault.
• Gameplay: Games are typically played to 11 points, with a two-point winning margin. Both sides must let the ball bounce once before returning it. The server must call out the score before serving; failure to do so requires a replay.

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