So you want to become one of the 36.5 million pickleball players in the United States, but you don’t know where to start. Let us introduce you to some terminology and basic rules of the fastest-growing sport in the nation so you’re prepared to join the game at Hempfield recCenter this spring.
The Kitchen:
A pickleball court looks like a big ping pong table that you can walk on! The only difference is that pickleball courts have another line parallel to the baseline 7 feet from the net, and the space between that line and the net is called the kitchen. Unless the ball bounces inside the kitchen first, players may not cross the kitchen line when hitting a volley.
Types of Shots:
The most important shots to know about in pickleball are the serve, dink, volley, and groundstroke.
Serve:
This is how the point begins! The server must hit the ball underhand into the box diagonal from them, but past the kitchen line.
Dink:
A dink is a miniature groundstroke done only at the net with the aim of hitting into the opposing kitchen. It is important to keep the ball low to the net, or else your opponent may be able to volley!
Volley:
A volley is any ball hit before it bounces. It is most often done near the net, but never in the kitchen! These shots are the most powerful, especially overheads.
Groundstroke:
These are full swings. Serve returns are groundstrokes because the ball must bounce before being hit.
Moving In:
The easiest way to win points in pickleball is to get to the net (right behind the kitchen line). However, there is a rule designed to prevent volleying too early in the point. The ball must bounce on both the serve AND the return before volleys are allowed, so it is advantageous for some players not to come to the net until after the return has been hit. After that, move in to the net!
Scoring:
Right before the server starts a point, they are responsible for calling out the score. In doubles, they have three numbers to keep track of: their team’s score, their opponent’s score, and the server number. Unlike tennis and ping pong, pickleball teams may only score points on their serve. If they win a point on the first opponent’s serve, it becomes the second opponent’s serve. If they win a point on the second opponent’s serve, it becomes their first server’s serve. For example, if I’m serving after my teammate, we have 6 points, and our opponent has 4, the score would be “6-4-2!” Win the game by being the first team to reach 11 points, win by 2.
Ready to Serve?
Now that you know the basics of pickleball, you’re ready to come give it a try! Hempfield recCenter offers a variety of clinics and game play options in addition to a Pickleball Pass. In preparation for the outdoor season, the courts at Fairview Park will be getting freshly painted lines as well.
For more information about pickleball at the Rec, visit our website at https://hempfieldrec.com/pickleball-programs/