Sport
How to Play Pickleball
A badminton-sized court, a plastic ball with holes and a handful of simple rules: everything a UK beginner needs before a first game.
General information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or notice chest pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness, speak to a GP or health professional before you start or carry on.
In this guide
Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a badminton-sized court, usually in doubles, with an underhand serve, a two-bounce rule and a no-volley zone by the net called "the kitchen". Games are normally played to 11 points, and you must win by 2.
Pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three fathers: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. According to the Bainbridge History Museum, when their children complained of boredom, they improvised a game with a badminton net and court, table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball, then spent months settling the rules so that players of all ages and abilities could join in. It has since spread worldwide, including to the UK.
The Basic Rules That Matter First
For newcomers, pickleball's key rules revolve around serving, the two-bounce rule and the non-volley zone. The summary below follows the official USA Pickleball rules.
- The serve: hit underhand with an upward arc, with contact below the waist, and at least one foot behind the baseline. It goes diagonally and must land in the opposite service court. A "drop serve", where you let the ball bounce first, is also allowed.
- Two-bounce rule: the receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning it, and the serving team must then let the return bounce. After that, players may volley or play off the bounce.
- The kitchen: the non-volley zone is the area within 7 feet (2.13 m) of the net on each side. You cannot volley while standing in it or touching its line, but you may step in to play a ball that has bounced.
- Scoring: in traditional scoring only the serving side wins points. Games are normally played to 11, win by 2; some events use rally scoring instead, where every rally scores.
The court measures 20 by 44 feet (about 6.1 by 13.4 m), the same as a doubles badminton court, and the net is 36 inches (91 cm) high at the sidelines and 34 inches (86 cm) at the centre. Many UK venues simply tape pickleball lines onto a badminton court and use a portable net.
What You Need Before Your First Game
To start playing, you need a paddle, a ball and access to a court. Paddles are solid, larger than a table tennis bat and smaller than a tennis racket, and are made from materials such as wood, composites and graphite. The ball is a light plastic ball perforated with round holes; indoor and outdoor versions differ slightly. Clubs and taster sessions usually lend paddles to beginners.
Wear comfortable sports clothing and court shoes with good grip; running shoes are not designed for quick sideways steps. Warm up before playing and drink water. If you have a health condition, heart or joint problems, are pregnant, or get pain, chest pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness, stop and speak to a GP or health professional.
Where UK Beginners Should Start
Pickleball England runs a club locator on its website for finding clubs, sessions and taster events across England, and Pickleball Scotland, the national governing body in Scotland, has a where-to-play section for clubs and venues. Local leisure centres, sports halls and community clubs increasingly run pickleball sessions, so check your council or leisure centre timetable. Session times and costs vary, so confirm them with the venue before you go.
