Rules and History of Pickleball

All you need to

know about Pickle Ball

Pickleball: The Whole Story

The Pickleball Story

The mini-tennis game called Pickleball was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island- a short ferryboat ride from Seattle, WA. The original purpose of the game was to provide a sport for the entire family, according to co-inventors U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum. How did Pickleball get its name? Pickles was the family dog that would chase after errant balls and then hide in the bushes, thus Pickle's ball which was shortened to the namesake of Pickleball. Initially, families played Pickleball in their backyards on a hard surface, on driveways, and on residential dead-end streets in the 1970's. Since, the mid-1970's, Pickleball has grown and expanded and from a family activity game to a net court sport with formalized rules. Now, over 20 years later Pickleball is played in thousands of educational institutions, parks and recreation centers, correctional facilities, health clubs, corporate fitness centers, and multi-purpose courts at family residences. It now enjoys a large following in all 50 states, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Western Europe. Lobbing, overhead slams, fast volley exchanges at the net, and passing drive shots from the baseline makes this a fun and exciting game. It's become a competitive sport with local tournaments organized by local players.

The Rules-Brief

When playing Pickle-Ball the serve must be hit underhand and each team must play the first shot off the bounce. After the ball has bounced once on each side then both teams can either volley the ball in the air or play it off the bounce. This eliminates the serve and volley advantage and promotes long rallies. To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce. No volleying is permitted within the seven foot non-volley zone, preventing players from executing smashes from a position within this seven foot zone on both sides of the net. This promotes the drop volley or "dink" shot playing strategies, as Pickle-Ball is a game of shot placement and patience, not brute power or strength. Both players on the serving team are allowed to serve, and a team shall score points only when serving. A game is played to eleven points and a team must win by at least two points. Points are lost by hitting the ball out of bounds, hitting the net, stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball, or by volleying the ball before the ball has bounced on each side of the net.

The suggested court dimensions for a Pickle-Ball court are 20'x44' for singles and doubles play.

The Rules-You Want Them All, Well, Here They Are

1. The Court:

The court dimensions are identical to a doubles badminton court. The court dimensions are 20'X44' for both doubles and singles. The net is hung 36'' on the ends and 34'' in the middle. A non-volley zone extends 7' on each side of the net. There thus remain 15' on each side of the court. On each side, these 20'X15' rectangles are further divided into two equal rectangles measuring 10'X15'. When laying out the court, allow adequate space at each end and sides of the court boundary lines for player movement. (Three to Five feet on ends and one to two feet on sides.)

2. The Serve:

Player must keep one foot behind the back line when serving. The serve is made underhand. The paddle must pass below the waist. The server must hit the ball in the air on the serve; he is not allowed to bounce it, then hit it. The serve is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone. Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve, but lands in the proper service court). Then, the serve may be taken over. At the start of each new game, the 1^st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.

3. The Volley:

To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce. All volleying must be done with the player's feet behind the non-volley zone line.

4. Double Bounce Rule:

Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. After the two bounces have occurred, the ball can be either volleyed or played off the bounce.

5. Faults:

A. Hitting the ball out of bounds B. Not clearing the net C. Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball D. Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side of the net as outlined in point 4.

6. Scoring:

A team shall score a point only when serving. A player who is serving shall continue to do so until such time as a fault is made by his team. The game is played to 11 points; however, a team must win by 2 points.

7. Determining Serving Team:

Players rally the ball until a fault is made. A minimum of three hits must be made for the rally to be valid. The winner of the volley has the option of serving first or of opting to receive first

8. Doubles Play:

The only variation in this type of play pertains to serving. If a fault is made by the receiving team, a point is scored by the serving team. When the serving team wins a point, its players will switch courts and the same player will continue to serve. When the serving team makes it's first fault, players will stay in the same court and the second partner will then serve. When they make their second fault, they will stay in the same courts and turn the ball over to the other team. Players switch courts only after scoring. A ball landing on any line is considered good.

9. Singles Play:

All rules apply. A helpful hint: a player serves from his right hand court when his score is 0 or an even number and from the left hand court when his score is odd numbered.