Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. We are consistently asked for an article on how to play pickleball…and our main group of blog readers are searching the keyword phrase, “Pickleball for Beginners.” We’ll do our best to provide an abundance of information in this blog article.
Pickleball is a paddle sport which combines elements of tennis, ping-pong and badminton. The rules are simple (once you get comfortable with pickleball scoring) and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.
Our pickleball blog is full of incredible videos, links, blog posts and other resources. Here are a few important key pages to help you along your pickleball journey. We created these pages full of relevant content to summarize our experiences for you. Enjoy and reach out to us if you have any questions.
- Pickleball Rules
- Pickleball for Beginners
- Pickleball Serves
- Pickleball Drills
- What is Pickleball
- Pickleball Court Dimensions
5 Rules of Pickleball
- The ball must stay inbounds
- There should be one bounce per side before volleys may occur
- Serving must be done underhand and at the baseline with the ball landing diagonally cross court
- The serve can’t land in the no-volley zone
- The game ends at 11, 15, or 21 points, depending on the framework of the game
7 Tips on How to Play Pickleball
As a pickleball beginner, it’s important to understand the rules and get comfortable on the court. There are more tips (below) which will help improve your pickleball game while also making it much more fun and competitive.
- Always Be In Ready Position
- Learn How To Dink Early On
- Perfect Your “3rd Shot”
- Sync Your Movement With Your Partner
- Communicate With Your Partner
- Simplify Shot Selection
- Keep Out Of “No-Man’s Land”
Elements of Pickleball
There are several elements to become comfortable with. The pickleball paddle, the pickleball ball, the pickleball court, pickleball rules, pickleball serving, pickleball scoring, pickleball shots, the pickleball net and pickleball apparel (pickleball shoes, gloves, googles, etc.).
As with any new sport, it is important to make sure you are in good health before starting a program of physical activity. If you are managing any medical condition, if you are recovering from an injury, or if you have been sedentary for some time, check with your healthcare provider before starting to play.
Also, there is no need to invest in expensive equipment to give the sport a try. There are many local organizations and clubs where you can rent a court and many even rent out equipment. Get out there, take a lesson and have fun!
Once you learn the basics of the game, then seek out a local pickleball organization to learn more about the nuances of the game before you invest in equipment. We suggest demo’ing many different pickleball paddles to figure out which one suits you the best.
AND GET YOURSELF SOME GOOD PICKLEBALL SHOES!
When I first started playing, I used running shoes. Having never played a racket sport, I wasn’t familiar with court shoes. Investing in a great pickleball shoe is highly suggested. Your feet and ankles will thank you for it. I’ve tried many pickleball shoes and love the Adidas Ubersonic 4.