Beginners Guide to Pickleball

Pickleball, a paddle sport that has witnessed a remarkable rise in popularity among diverse age groups and skill levels, stands out by blending the best aspects of tennis, badminton, and table tennis into a unique and engaging experience. Born out of a desire to create a family-oriented game in the mid-1960s on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, pickleball's inception was rooted in bringing people together. This guide is crafted with a purpose: to simplify the rules and address common questions about pickleball, thereby making it accessible and enjoyable for individuals ranging from novices to experienced players. The YMCA takes pride in fostering a sense of community and shared passion for the game of pickleball.

Introduction to Pickleball
 

Pickleball is played on a court that resembles a badminton court in size, with a net that is slightly lower than a tennis net. It can be played as singles or doubles, and the equipment needed includes pickleball paddles, which are larger than table tennis paddles but smaller than tennis rackets, and a plastic ball with holes, similar to a wiffle ball.

Basic Rules of Pickleball

• Court Dimensions and Setup
  • Court Size: The pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long for both singles and doubles play.
  • Net Height: The net is hung at 36 inches on the ends and 34 inches in the middle.
  • Non-volley Zone (Kitchen): A 7-foot zone on either side of the net where players are not allowed to volley the ball (hit it in the air without letting it bounce).
• Serving
  • Service Sequence: Play begins with a serve made underhand, below the waist, diagonally across to the opponent's service court.
  • Service Position: The server must serve from behind the baseline and alternate between the left and right service courts with each serve.
  • Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.
• Scoring
  • Points: Points can only be scored by the serving team when they win a rally.
  • Games: A game is typically played to 11 points and must be won by at least 2 points. Some tournaments may play to 15 or 21.
  • Side Out: If the serving team loses the rally, the serve passes to the other team (in doubles, service alternates between teammates before passing to the opponents).
• Play
  • Volleys: To volley (hit the ball in the air without letting it bounce) players must be outside the non-volley zone.
  • Faults: A fault occurs on any action that stops play due to a rule violation, such as hitting the ball out of bounds, not clearing the net, or volleying in the non-volley zone.
  • Rallies: A rally is the sequence of play from the serve until a fault is made.

Pickleball at The YMCA

The YMCA recognizes that pickleball creates a unique and engaging experience and welcomes players of every age and skill level. Thanks to its straightforward rules, quick-to-pick-up gameplay, and welcoming atmosphere, pickleball is rapidly emerging as one of the YMCA’s most popular offerings.

Pickleball is offered at the following YMCA locations:

• Rollingwood YMCA: 9373 Winding Oak Drive, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
• Sacramento Central YMCA: 2021 W Street, Sacramento, CA 95818
• Yolo County YMCA (College Street Location): 1300 College Street, Woodland, CA

CLICK HERE for information about YMCA pickleball court schedules, classes, social events, and tournaments. We hope to see you out on the court soon!