98-583: Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players (singles) or four players (doubles) use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. It was invented in 1965 as a children's backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington state . In 2022, pickleball
196-415: A round-the-head forehand overhead (a forehand "on the backhand side") rather than attempt a backhand overhead. Playing a backhand overhead has two main disadvantages. First, the player must turn their back to their opponents, restricting their view of them and the court. Second, backhand overheads cannot be hit with as much power as forehands: the hitting action is limited by the shoulder joint, which permits
294-581: A London toy dealer named Isaac Spratt published a booklet entitled Badminton Battledore – A New Game , but no copy is known to have survived. An 1863 article in The Cornhill Magazine describes badminton as "battledore and shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five feet from the ground". The game originally developed in India among the British expatriates, where it
392-404: A badminton serve the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being hit by the server's racket, the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce and in badminton, the players stand inside their service courts, unlike tennis. When the serving side loses a rally, the server immediately passes to their opponent(s) (this differs from the old system where sometimes
490-445: A direction parallel to the sidelines. 4.4.2 : A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm short of the other back boundary line. Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking materials. Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support . High levels of lateral support are useful for activities where lateral motion
588-415: A full-length, high clear is difficult. When the shuttlecock is well below net height , players have no choice but to hit upwards. Lifts , where the shuttlecock is hit upwards to the back of the opponents' court, can be played from all parts of the court. If a player does not lift, their only remaining option is to push the shuttlecock softly back to the net: in the forecourt, this is called a net shot ; in
686-585: A let. If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the receiver attempts to return the shuttlecock, the receiver shall be judged to have been ready. Badminton rules restrict the design and size of racquets and shuttlecocks. Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70 and 95 grams (2.5 and 3.4 ounces) not including grip or strings. They are composed of many different materials ranging from carbon fibre composite ( graphite reinforced plastic ) to solid steel, which may be augmented by
784-421: A much greater range of movement for a forehand overhead than for a backhand. The backhand clear is considered by most players and coaches to be the most difficult basic stroke in the game, since the precise technique is needed in order to muster enough power for the shuttlecock to travel the full length of the court. For the same reason, backhand smashes tend to be weak. The choice of stroke depends on how near
882-420: A plastic skirt. According to Kathmandu Post the feathers used to make shuttlecocks are plucked from living birds, which causes pain to the birds. Badminton rules also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed: 4.4.1 : To test a shuttlecock, hit a full underhand stroke that makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle and in
980-417: A player to find a good string tension is to experiment. The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of their racquet handle and choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before applying the final layer. Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices are PU synthetic grips or towelling grips. Grip choice
1078-577: A popular sport in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and gradually grew in popularity elsewhere. By 2023 it was estimated to have over 13.6 million players in the United States. For three years in a row, 2021, 2022, and 2023, the sport was named the fastest-growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. The growing popularity of the sport has been attributed to its short learning curve, its appeal to
SECTION 10
#17327801225541176-413: A rectangular indoor court. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the other team's half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or ground, or if a fault has been called by the umpire , service judge, or (in their absence) the opposing side. The shuttlecock
1274-424: A short service line at a distance of 1.98 metres (6 feet 6 inches) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 metres (2 feet 6 inches) from the back boundary. The net is 1.55 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5.00 feet) high in the centre. The net posts are placed over
1372-469: A smooth surface and must have between 26 and 40 evenly spaced circular holes. They must weigh between .78 and .935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5 g) and measure between 2.87 and 2.97 inches (73 and 75 mm) in diameter. Tournaments sanctioned by the USAP and IPF must choose from a list of preapproved balls found on the USAP and IPF websites. Balls with smaller holes are generally used for outdoor play to minimize
1470-407: A table that describes progressively more difficult pickleball skills. The table of skills generally ranges from 1 to 6 in .5 increments. Self-ratings are often used by players who only participate in social play or non-sanctioned leagues and tournaments. Certified pickleball instructors may assist players in determining their self-rating score. DUPR was developed by Steve Kuhn, owner and operator of
1568-416: A textured surface. Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net . Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a casual outdoor activity in a yard or on a beach ; formal games are played on
1666-447: A third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading player's or pair's score reaches 11 points. If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on a court (having been hit there by players playing in adjacent court) or in small halls the shuttle may touch an overhead rail which can be classed as
1764-590: A variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre composite, racquets were made of light metals such as aluminium. Earlier still, racquets were made of wood. Cheap racquets are still often made of metals such as steel, but wooden racquets are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, because of their excessive mass and cost. Nowadays, nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and fullerenes are added to racquets giving them greater durability. There
1862-404: A very thin sole, lower a person's centre of gravity, and therefore result in fewer injuries. The Badminton World Federation and Octagon developed a rule that women badminton players must wear dresses or skirts "to ensure attractive presentation", but although it was included in the official rulebook in 2011, it was dropped before it was supposed to go into effect in 2012. Badminton offers
1960-511: A wide range of ages and fitness levels, and its low startup costs. Two professional tours were established in the United States in 2019 and shortly thereafter two professional leagues were established. Pickleball is also growing in popularity outside the United States with a professional league already operating in Australia, and another being developed in India for the 2025/26 season. The game
2058-421: A wide variety of basic strokes, and players require a high level of skill to perform all of them effectively. All strokes can be played either forehand or backhand . A player's forehand side is the same side as their playing hand: for a right-handed player, the forehand side is their right side and the backhand side is their left side. Forehand strokes are hit with the front of the hand leading (like hitting with
SECTION 20
#17327801225542156-409: Is 36 inches (0.91 m) high on the ends and 34 inches (0.86 m) high at the center. The net posts should be 22 feet (6.7 m) from the inside of one post to the inside of the other post. A Wiffle ball was the original ball used when the game was invented. USA Pickleball (USAP) has since adopted specific ball standards unique to pickleball. Balls must be made of a durable molded material with
2254-412: Is a feathered or (in informal matches) plastic projectile that flies differently from the balls used in many other sports. In particular, the feathers create much higher drag , causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly. Shuttlecocks also have a high top speed compared to the balls in other racquet sports. The flight of the shuttlecock gives the sport its distinctive nature, and in certain languages
2352-402: Is a matter of personal preference. Players often find that sweat becomes a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the grip or hands, sweatbands may be used, the player may choose another grip material or change their grip more frequently. There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips . Replacement grips are thicker and are often used to increase the size of
2450-404: Is a tie at 29–29, in which the game goes to a golden point of 30. Whoever scores this point wins the game. At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and the side towards which the shuttlecock is pointing serves first. Alternatively, a coin may be tossed, with the winners choosing whether to serve or receive first, or choosing which end of the court to occupy first, and their opponents making
2548-477: Is a wide variety of racquet designs, although the laws limit the racquet size and shape. Different racquets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new racquets. Badminton strings for racquets are thin, high-performing strings with thicknesses ranging from about 0.62 to 0.73 mm. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer
2646-420: Is actually 0.7mm but Yonex BG-66 is about 0.72mm. It is often argued that high string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase power. The arguments for this generally rely on crude mechanical reasoning, such as claiming that a lower tension string bed is more bouncy and therefore provides more power. This is, in fact, incorrect, for a higher string tension can cause the shuttle to slide off
2744-417: Is considered reliable. List of racket sports Racket sports (or racquet sports ) are games in which players use a racket or paddle to hit a ball or other object. Rackets consist of a handled frame with an open hoop that supports a network of tightly stretched strings. Paddles have a solid face rather than a network of strings, but may be perforated with a pattern of holes, or be covered with
2842-496: Is undesirable and unexpected. Badminton, however, requires powerful lateral movements. A highly built-up lateral support will not be able to protect the foot in badminton; instead, it will encourage catastrophic collapse at the point where the shoe's support fails, and the player's ankles are not ready for the sudden loading, which can cause sprains. For this reason, players should choose badminton shoes rather than general trainers or running shoes, because proper badminton shoes will have
2940-422: Is why it is best to drop the shuttlecock just over the net in this situation. In the midcourt , a high shuttlecock will usually be met with a powerful smash , also hitting downwards and hoping for an outright winner or a weak reply. Athletic jump smashes , where players jump upwards for a steeper smash angle, are a common and spectacular element of elite men's doubles play. In the rearcourt , players strive to hit
3038-421: The non-volley zone (or the kitchen ); a player standing there may not strike the ball until it has bounced. The hard plastic pickleball produces less bounce than a tennis ball . The limited bounce, non-volley zones, and underhanded stroke, with which all serves must be made, combined with hard drive shots and overhead smash shots, give the game a dynamic pace. After its introduction in 1965, pickleball became
Pickleball - Misplaced Pages Continue
3136-622: The Badminton World Federation . India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The BWF now governs international badminton. Although initiated in England, competitive men's badminton has traditionally been dominated in Europe by Denmark. Worldwide, Asian nations have become dominant in international competition. China , Denmark , Indonesia , Malaysia , India , South Korea , Taiwan (playing as ' Chinese Taipei ') and Japan are
3234-596: The COVID-19 pandemic . Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic was credited with driving more people to the sport as people looked for outdoor activities. Professional tournaments began in 2019 when two professional tours were formed independently. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (now the Association of Pickleball Players) was established and sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The Pickleball Professionals Association
3332-536: The United States . The following information is a simplified summary of badminton rules based on the BWF Statutes publication, Laws of Badminton . The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are usually marked for both singles and doubles play, although badminton rules permit a court to be marked for singles only. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of
3430-534: The baseline marks the outer boundary of the playing area. The area bounded by the non-volley line, the sidelines, and the net, including the lines, is known as the non-volley zone or "kitchen". The area between the non-volley line and the baseline is the service court . A center line divides the service court into left and right sides. Regulated tournaments and games are usually played on a specialized polyurethane sport surface; however, courts are often set up on concrete, Astroturf, and indoor basketball courts. The net
3528-480: The pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats." Similarly, the game of pickleball was created from leftover equipment from several sports; a badminton court, table tennis paddles, a wiffle ball and a net height like that of tennis. Other sources state that the name "pickleball" was derived from the name of the Pritchards' family dog, Pickles . The Pritchards stated that
3626-467: The shuttlecock . Pritchard and Bell challenged their kids to devise their own game. The adults and kids ended up at the badminton court and began experimenting with different balls and rackets, including table tennis paddles . The 5-foot (1.5-metre) badminton net was eventually lowered to hip level to accommodate driving the ball. Initially, a Wiffle ball was used, but later the Cosom Fun Ball
3724-675: The ASO was seen as a significant contributor to the growth of tournaments in the United States. In 2008 the sport was included in the United States Senior Olympics . USA Pickleball held its first U.S. Pickleball National Championships in Buckeye, Arizona , November 2009. It has continued to hold the National Championships each year in various locations, except in 2020, when the games were cancelled due to
3822-717: The Dreamland family amusement center in Austin, Texas , and founder of Major league Pickleball. Originally called the Dreamland Universal Pickleball Rating, now the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, DUPR scores range from 2 to 8 in .001 increments. DUPR includes a reliability rating that ranges from 1% to 100%. The reliability rating increases as more matches are played and recorded. A reliability rating over 60%
3920-428: The attack, rather than choosing to lift the shuttlecock and defend against smashes. After a successful drive or push, the opponents will often be forced to lift the shuttlecock. Balls may be spun to alter their bounce (for example, topspin and backspin in tennis) or trajectory, and players may slice the ball (strike it with an angled racquet face) to produce such spin. The shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce, but slicing
4018-599: The ball in a way that would put his opponent in a pickle. Shortly after the game was invented, some of its inventors and their friends brought pickleball to Hawaii, where the game became known as pukaball . Puka , meaning "hole" in Hawaiian, was at first used to refer to the ball, since pickleballs have numerous holes, and later used to refer to the game itself. When Pritchard and Bell returned from golf one Saturday afternoon in 1965, they found their families bored. They had attempted to set up badminton , but no one could find
Pickleball - Misplaced Pages Continue
4116-431: The ball to the server's side of the net. Once the receiver has returned the ball over the net, the serving side must also allow the ball to bounce once before returning the ball to the non-serving side. This is known as the two-bounce rule . After the first two returns, either side may volley the ball—that is, return it before it bounces. The ball can never bounce more than once before it is returned. No player may volley
4214-428: The ball while standing in the non-volley zone or touching any of the lines around the non-volley zone or "kitchen". A server continues to serve, alternating between the right and left service courts until their team commits a fault. Doubles: At the beginning of a doubles game, the side serving first is only allowed one fault before their side is "out", called a side out , and the serve passes to their opponent. After
4312-436: The boundary lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they wish, so long as they do not block the vision of the server or receiver. At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts (see court dimensions ). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis , except that in
4410-613: The corporate name Olla, LLC. A 1976 tournament held at the Southcenter Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington , is credited with being the first formal pickleball tournament. It was billed as "The World's First Pickleball Championship" by Joel Pritchard and received a mention in the July 1976 edition of Tennis magazine. The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.), now known as USA Pickleball or USAP,
4508-432: The current score, the first serve after a side out can be from either the right or left service court. Pickleball is usually played to a score of 11. The winning team must win by two points or play continues until one team wins by two. Tournament games may be played to 11, 15 or 21 points with players rotating sides when either team reaches 6, 8 or 11 points respectively. Pickleball utilizes side out scoring , meaning only
4606-650: The depth of the net was of no consequence, it was preferred that it should reach the ground. The sport was played under the Pune rules until 1887, when J. H. E. Hart of the Bath Badminton Club drew up revised regulations. In 1890, Hart and Bagnel Wild again revised the rules. The Badminton Association of England (BAE) published these rules in 1893 and officially launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on 13 September. The BAE started
4704-404: The dog came along after the game had already been named, and it was the dog that was named for the game of pickleball. They said the confusion arose when a reporter interviewing the Pritchards in the early 1970s decided it would be easier for readers to relate to the dog rather than a pickle boat. Representatives of USA Pickleball claim that research on their part has confirmed that the dog Pickles
4802-517: The doubles sidelines, even when singles is played. The minimum height for the ceiling above the court is not mentioned in the Laws of Badminton. Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high serve. When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents' court or it will count as a fault. The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching
4900-406: The effects of wind, but any sanctioned ball can be used for either indoor or outdoor play. For sanctioned games, USAP and IPF paddle size standards say the combined length and width of the paddle shall not exceed 24 inches (0.61 m); the length cannot exceed 17 inches (0.43 m). There are no requirements regarding thickness or weight. The paddle must be made of a non-compressible material and
4998-462: The feel of thinner strings. String tension is normally in the range of 80 to 160 N (18 to 36 lbf ). Recreational players generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically between 80 and 110 N (18 and 25 lbf). Professionals string between about 110 and 160 N (25 and 36 lbf). Some string manufacturers measure the thickness of their strings under tension so they are actually thicker than specified when slack. Ashaway Micropower
SECTION 50
#17327801225545096-704: The first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships for gentlemen's doubles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles, in 1899. Singles competitions were added in 1900 and an England – Ireland championship match appeared in 1904. England, Scotland , Wales , Canada , Denmark , France , Ireland , the Netherlands , and New Zealand were the founding members of the International Badminton Federation in 1934, now known as
5194-399: The first side out of the game, each team is allowed two faults before a side out is called, allowing each of the players on a doubles team to serve before the serve passes to the other team. A team's second server must continue alternating between the right and left service courts from wherever their partner left off. For example, if their partner's last serve was from the right service court,
5292-503: The handle. Overgrips are thinner (less than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Many players, however, prefer to use replacement grips as the final layer. Towelling grips are always replacement grips. Replacement grips have an adhesive backing, whereas overgrips have only a small patch of adhesive at the start of the tape and must be applied under tension; overgrips are more convenient for players who change grips frequently, because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging
5390-579: The last seven years, with more than 3,000 courts across 100 of the most populated cities in the US. The 2022 SFIA report, released in 2023, estimated that approximately 900 million dollars of court infrastructure investment is needed to keep up with the fast growth of the sport. To illustrate the need for this infrastructure, the SFIA has reported that the Middle Atlantic region (includes NY, NJ, and PA) had
5488-531: The lowest court coverage with 1 dedicated court for 1000 participants. Pickleball participation grew in every region in the United States according to the report by the SFIA. The South Atlantic region (includes DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, and VA) had the most pickleball players with 1.9 million players. The Pacific region was second with 1.5 million players and the East North Central region came in third with 1.4 million players. When Major League Pickleball
5586-445: The midcourt or rear court, it is often called a push or block . When the shuttlecock is near to net height , players can hit drives , which travel flat and rapidly over the net into the opponents' rear midcourt and rear court. Pushes may also be hit flatter, placing the shuttlecock into the front midcourt. Drives and pushes may be played from the midcourt or forecourt, and are most often used in doubles: they are an attempt to regain
5684-514: The modern game of badminton developed in the mid-19th century among the expatriate officers of British India as a variant of the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock . ("Battledore" was an older term for "racquet".) Its exact origin remains obscure. The name derives from the Duke of Beaufort 's Badminton House in Gloucestershire , but why or when remains unclear. As early as 1860,
5782-400: The most advantageous side of the court, based on each partner's skill set, after each serve and/or service return. Serving from the wrong side of the court, the wrong player serving or the wrong player returning a serve should be avoided. Though not a fault since USA Pickleball changed the rule in 2024, player positions should be corrected as soon as they are noticed. If noticed during a rally,
5880-425: The nations which have consistently produced world-class players in the past few decades, with China being the greatest force in men's and women's competition recently. Great Britain , where the rules of the modern game were codified, is not among the top powers in the sport, but has had significant Olympic and World success in doubles play, especially mixed doubles. The game has also become a popular backyard sport in
5978-422: The non-volley zone. A player may enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that has bounced and may stay there to play other balls that bounce, but the player must re-establish both feet outside the non-volley zone before playing a volley. The non-volley zone is the highlighted area and numbered lines shown in the "Service out" diagram. Unofficially, the non-volley zone is commonly referred to as "The Kitchen". After
SECTION 60
#17327801225546076-508: The number of pickleball players surpassed tennis for the first time in July 2023. The rise of competitive play has also led to more injuries, according to recent analyses by the insurance industry which found treatment costs for pickleball injuries have increased as participation has grown. Common pickleball injuries involve muscles, joints and tendons, especially in the shoulder, elbow and wrist (which proper technique, equipment, warm-up routines and injury prevention can help reduce). Advocates of
6174-404: The opponents win the rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally. A consequence of this system is that each time a side regains the service, the server will be
6272-466: The palm), whereas backhand strokes are hit with the back of the hand leading (like hitting with the knuckles). Players frequently play certain strokes on the forehand side with a backhand hitting action, and vice versa. In the forecourt and midcourt, most strokes can be played equally effectively on either the forehand or backhand side; but in the rear court, players will attempt to play as many strokes as possible on their forehands, often preferring to play
6370-407: The player who did not serve last time. Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point by winning a rally. This differs from the old system in which players may only win a point on their serve and each game is to 15 points. A match is the best of three games. If the score ties at 20–20, then the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead (such as 24–22), except when there
6468-411: The racquet and hence make it harder to hit a shot accurately. An alternative view suggests that the optimum tension for power depends on the player: the faster and more accurately a player can swing their racquet, the higher the tension for maximum power. Neither view has been subjected to a rigorous mechanical analysis, nor is there clear evidence in favour of one or the other. The most effective way for
6566-399: The rally should be stopped and restarted. If noticed after the rally is finished, the rally stands. Singles: In singles, a server's score will always be even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...) when serving from the right service court and odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9...) when serving from the left service court. No player may volley a ball while standing in the non-volley zone or touching any of the lines around
6664-401: The remaining choice. In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of three: a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match. For the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match reaches
6762-400: The same length. The exception, which often causes confusion to newer players, is that the doubles court has a shorter serve-length dimension. The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 feet), and in singles this width is reduced to 5.18 metres (17.0 feet). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 feet). The service courts are marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by
6860-492: The same time they trademarked the name Pickle-ball . The company manufactured wooden paddles and pickleball kits to satisfy the demand for the sport. Interest in pickleball continued to grow, and spread from the Pacific Northwest into warmer areas as " snowbirds " brought the sport south to Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Florida. In 2016, Pickle Ball, Inc. was purchased by PickleballCentral.com, which operates under
6958-435: The score. In doubles: the score has three parts; the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number , a "1" or "2", that indicates whether the server is the serving team's first or second server after a side out. The first server of the game is always considered the serving team's second server. The starting score in doubles is announced as "zero zero two (0 0 2)". In singles: The score has two parts;
7056-418: The second server must start serving on the left service court. After a side out, the first serve is always initiated from the right serving area . Singles: A side out is called each time the serving side commits a fault. If the serving player's score is even (including zero), they must serve from the right, or even , service court; otherwise, they must serve from the left, or odd , service court. Depending on
7154-442: The second server), a side out occurs, the other team becomes the new serving team, and the score is stated as "three five one". When serving, the server must be behind the baseline on one side of the center line and serve the ball to the opponent's diagonally opposite service court. Two types of serves are permitted, a volley serve or a drop serve . Besides the server, there are no rules dictating where each player must stand when
7252-448: The serve is initiated, but serve receivers usually start behind the baseline until they know where the serve will bounce. The receiver's partner usually starts near the non-volley line also known as the kitchen line. The server's partner usually stays behind the baseline with the server until they know where the first service return will bounce. Some doubles partners use a strategy called stacking to ensure each partner can quickly move to
7350-401: The serve passes to the doubles partner for what is known as a "second serve"). In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even, and in their left service court when their score is odd. In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he/she changes service courts so that she/he serves to a different opponent each time. If
7448-472: The serve, a rally continues until one side commits a fault resulting in a dead ball . Each team is responsible for making line calls on their side of the net. They may also ask an opponent for assistance; if the opponent saw the ball clearly and does then make a call, it is binding. If there is any doubt about whether the ball is out or in , the call should be made in favor of the opponent. Faults include: Pickleball player ratings are used to differentiate
7546-434: The serving player's score and the receiving player's score. The starting score in singles is always announced as "zero zero". The first serve of the game is made from right side of the serving teams's court or the "even service" court . A serve must land in the diagonally opposite service court on the opponent's side of the net (see "service in" diagram). The serve receiver must allow the ball to bounce once before returning
7644-430: The serving side may score a point. The serving team earns one point each time the non-serving team commits a fault. Neither team earns a point when the serving team commits a fault. Since the score is always called as the serving side's score followed by the receiving side's score, the two scores are reversed whenever a side out occurs. For example, if the serving team faults when the score is "five three two" (two indicating
7742-418: The shuttlecock does have applications in badminton. (See Basic strokes for an explanation of technical terms.) Due to the way that its feathers overlap, a shuttlecock also has a slight natural spin about its axis of rotational symmetry. The spin is in a counter-clockwise direction as seen from above when dropping a shuttlecock. This natural spin affects certain strokes: a tumbling net shot is more effective if
7840-401: The shuttlecock is to the net, whether it is above net height, and where an opponent is currently positioned: players have much better attacking options if they can reach the shuttlecock well above net height, especially if it is also close to the net. In the forecourt , a high shuttlecock will be met with a net kill , hitting it steeply downwards and attempting to win the rally immediately. This
7938-403: The shuttlecock while it is still above them, rather than allowing it to drop lower. This overhead hitting allows them to play smashes, clears (hitting the shuttlecock high and to the back of the opponents' court), and drop shots (hitting the shuttlecock softly so that it falls sharply downwards into the opponents' forecourt). If the shuttlecock has dropped lower, then a smash is impossible and
8036-423: The skill levels of players. This allows tournament directors to group players of similar skills, thereby increasing the competitiveness of brackets and matches. The three most common methods for classifying a pickleball player’s skill level are: self-rating, Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), and UTR-Pickleball (UTR-P). A self-rating is determined when a player evaluates their own playing abilities against
8134-610: The sport is named by reference to this feature (e.g., German Federball , literally feather-ball). The game developed in British India from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock . European play came to be dominated by Denmark but the game has become very popular in Asia , with recent competitions dominated by China . In 1992, badminton debuted as a Summer Olympic sport with four events : men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, and women's doubles; mixed doubles
8232-402: The sport's growth say that pickleball is an activity that can provide exercise and social connections for players of all ages and skill levels. The regulation size of the court is 20 feet (6.1 m) by 44 feet (13 m) for both doubles and singles, the same size as a doubles badminton court. A line seven feet (2.1m) from the net is the non-volley line . Twenty-two feet (6.7 m) from the net,
8330-480: The summer Pritchard, Bell and McCallum worked together to refine and document the rules. In 1967, the first dedicated outdoor Pickleball court was constructed at the residence of Pritchard's friend, Bob O'Brian. Soon after its creation, pickleball became popular with local neighbors and relatives of the inventors. In 1968, Pritchard, along with McCallum's son David and two other friends, formed Pickle Ball, Inc. The company filed its first annual report in 1972, around
8428-404: The surface of the paddle must be smooth. Paddles used in sanctioned tournaments must be on the list of preapproved paddles found on the USAP and IPF websites. Any fair way of determining who will serve first and from which side is acceptable. The score must be announced before each serve. If a referee is officiating the game, the referee announces the score, otherwise the serving player announces
8526-521: The underlying material. A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle ; also called a birdie ) is a high-drag projectile , with an open conical shape : the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material. Synthetic shuttles are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as feathered shuttles break easily. These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either natural cork or synthetic foam base and
8624-460: Was added four years later. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina , agility , strength , speed, and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements involving much greater flexibility in the wrist than some other racquet sports. Games employing shuttlecocks have been played for centuries across Eurasia , but
8722-488: Was also established, but did not seek sanctioning by the USAP. State Senator John Lovick proposed a bill making pickleball the official sport of Washington state in 2021, and it was named the official state sport of Washington in 2022 by the Washington State Legislature . On March 28, 2022, the legislation was signed by Governor Jay Inslee on the original Pritchard family court where the sport
8820-402: Was born after the game had already been named. Jennifer Lucore and Beverly Youngren, authors of the book History of Pickleball: More than 50 Years of Fun! , say that they could not conclusively determine whether the game was named for the dog or the dog was named for the game. They did, however, discover a third possibility: Bill Bell claimed that he had named the game because he enjoyed hitting
8918-516: Was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington , at the summer home of Joel Pritchard , who later served in the United States Congress and as Washington's lieutenant governor . Pritchard and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, are credited with devising the game and establishing the rules. According to Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard's wife, "The name of the game became Pickle Ball after I said it reminded me of
9016-513: Was established in 2021, offering league franchise opportunities, it attracted investors such as NBA player LeBron James , retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees , and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk . This increased visibility further raised the sport's popularity. The Apple Heart and Movement Study , a collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the American Heart Association, and Apple, found that among Apple Watch users
9114-772: Was formed in 1984. In the same year they published the first official rulebook for the sport and held the first National Doubles Championships in Tacoma, Washington . By 1990, the sport was being played in all 50 states. In 2001, pickleball was included as a demonstration sport in the Arizona Senior Olympics (ASO) with 100 participants. The pickleball tournament was held at the Happy Trails RV Resort in Surprise, Arizona , and within five years included 275 participants. The inclusion of pickleball in
9212-411: Was found to be more durable and provided a better playing experience. The table tennis paddles were quickly replaced with larger, more durable plywood paddles fabricated in a nearby shed. McCallum continued to experiment with various paddle designs in his father's Seattle basement workshop. One paddle, he called the "M2", or McCallum 2, became the paddle of choice for most early players of the game. Over
9310-519: Was invented. The 2023 report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), released in February 2024, states that pickleball grew 223.5% over three years in the United States. The report also states that 13.6 million people played pickleball in 2023. In May 2024, CNBC noted, citing a report from the Trust for Public Land, the number of outdoor pickleball courts in major cities went up 650% in
9408-400: Was named the official state sport of Washington. Aspects of the sport resemble tennis and table tennis , but pickleball has specific rules, paddles and court dimensions. The court is 44 feet (13.4 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, and the combined length and width of the paddle cannot exceed 24 inches (61.0 cm) . On each side of the net is a 7-foot area (2.1 m) known as
9506-503: Was particularly popular and where the first rules for the game were drawn up in 1873. By 1875, officers returning home had started a badminton club in Folkestone . Initially, the sport was played with sides ranging from 1 to 4 players, but it was quickly established that games between two or four competitors worked the best. The shuttlecocks were coated with India rubber and, in outdoor play, sometimes weighted with lead . Although
9604-471: Was very popular by the 1870s. Ball badminton , a form of the game played with a wool ball instead of a shuttlecock, was being played in Thanjavur as early as the 1850s and was at first played interchangeably with badminton by the British, the woollen ball being preferred in windy or wet weather. Early on, the game was also known as Poona or Poonah after the garrison town of Poona (Pune), where it
#553446