Pickleball is a type of racquet sport first developed in the 1960s. While there are some similarities to tennis, pickleball is a much more accessible game. People of all ages and activity levels can enjoy the game, and converting unused tennis courts into pickleball courts is simple.
A single tennis court can accommodate up to four pickleball courts. The sport has recently gained popularity, and pickleball courts are popping up in community centers, residential complexes, and public parks.
Like many other games, pickleball has standard rules and multiple variations. Standard or classic pickleball is the traditional version of the game. It can be played as a singles game or in teams of two. Players serve the ball diagonally across the court. Players must remain outside the non-volley zone, within 7 feet of the net, unless the ball lands in that area.
The round continues until the ball goes out of play. This can happen in several ways. For example, a player can hit a ball out of the court lines, allow the ball to bounce more than twice, or hit the ball into the net. Each team gets two turns to serve before transferring the ball to the other side.
The first team to gain a specific number of points wins. Depending on the players ‘ decision, this number may be 11, 15, or 21. A pickleball game can only be won by a two-point difference. So if teams are tied, or one side is only up by one, the game will continue until the two-point lead requirement is fulfilled.
Not all versions of pickleball follow the same rules. The gameplay can vary considerably based on the number and experience level of the players. A less formal version of pickleball, known as quickstart, removes the non-volley zone. This allows players to hit the ball from anywhere on the court, making it an easier experience for beginners. To make the game even more accessible, the net goes down from its usual height of 34 inches.
Dinking is another version for people interested in less complicated gameplay. Rather than avoiding the non-volley zone, players purposefully stand close to the net and try to volley the pickleball as fast as possible.
Some types of pickleball allow for more than four players. Up to three players can play per side at the same time. In a 12-person version of pickleball, each team of six takes turns with a single paddle. After a volley, the paddle passes to the next person, and so on, until the ball is no longer in play.
Pickleball doesn’t always take place on an outdoor court. Some versions of the game take place indoors or on the sand. The equipment varies with each setting, as outdoor balls can withstand windy conditions and harder surfaces.
Beach pickleball doesn’t have the same bounce requirement as versions played on hard courts. Instead, players must engage in rapid-fire volleying. The court dimensions are also shortened due to the increased difficulty of running on sand. Beach pickleball restricts plays within the no-volley zone, but this area is much smaller Players can also serve the ball in any style they want. This contrasts with classic pickleball, which requires underhanded serves.
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