With the exploding growth of our wonderful game, it’s time to get a few basic things straight for all the new players (and some seasoned players as well). It is time to set the basics straight – a Must Read for all players. Please read and share with others.
- Pickleball is played with a PADDLE! Not a racket … A racket has strings, paddles do not.
- In doubles, there are three numbers used to indicate the score. No words, just numbers.
- The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) is the box by the net. It’s also called “the kitchen”. No one knows where that nickname came from, but no matter what you call it, you can be in that area any time you want – unless you hit a volley.
- A point is earned when the server’s side wins the rally. So, every exchange is a rally, which may or may not result in a point. But it’s very common for the rally to be referred to as a point, whether a point was actually scored or not. We know – it’s confusing!
- For tennis players, there is no “ad” or “deuce” side of the court; a pickleball court has left and right sides. There also is no “set” played – only a game.
- Please learn to spell our sport correctly! It is not capitalized (unless at the beginning of a sentence of course), it is not two words, does not have a hyphen – it is spelled “pickleball”. Got it? Please make sure all your written communications and social media accounts spell it correctly; the spelling gods thank you.
- The plastic ball you play with is not the trademarked “WIFFLE ball”, it may look similar but it’s not. We only use pickleballs. It’s simply a plastic ball with holes in it.
- Can you wear your running shoes to play? No! Running shoes are designed for only forward movement. Do yourself a favor and buy “court shoes” which are designed for movement in all four directions (left, right, forward and backwards) to get the support and balance you need.
- Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world – true! And it’s the most fun as well.
Welcome aboard!
♥ Alex Hamner and I had fun creating this list, in fact, we could probably go on and on and on.
Reminder – if you need the perfect gift for your favorite pickleball player, check THIS out!
Thank you for give me detail information. Pickleball Indonesia growing faster and need more information to transfer knowledge for new player..
Thank you ladies! Sitting here watching the snow blowing outdoors, this read was like a ‘touch of spring’! Please do go “…on and on and on” with a followup in the future. Back to winter…haha!
Hi Jennifer,
Loved this Summary of the basics. We teach a lot of players the sport here in Dallas Texas.
I usually send them a summary of rules and some safety pointers. From now they will get this summary of the basics, too.
Great Job
Mike Cooper
Ambassador, Dallas, Texas
This was a very simple but explanation to Pickleball ( but why does my phone capitalize it?) like now.
Hi Jen,
Great to hear from you! I was just looking at some pictures/videos … reminiscing … remember where we were in June 2016…?
Many hugs n kisses,
Ray (the 🇨🇦 from 🇩🇪😉)
Well done!! Couldn’t agree more. 😉
It’s not a wiffle but a pickle
the ball that we all use
so choose your words more wisely
for to not our sport abuse
one plays it with a paddle
it’s not a racket that you choose
and anyone who’s turned an ankle
knows you don’t play in running shoes
and call the score correctly
as you play a game and not a set
and stay out of the kitchen
til it bounces or’ the net
all in all, it’s quite simple
so get out there and play
take pride in knowing your sport
is number 1 in growth today
I love this sport I tell ya
as if didn’t know
so thank you Jen for enlighting us
and now it’s time to go. Greg L
Oh Greg, that’s AWESOME!! Well done! 😃
Amen sisters!
In the next communique, you could share some wisdom on the different kinds of pickleballs available including those approved for sanctioned tourneys. Also, perhaps a word on the new no-let?
I don’t know, I kind of like to use first and second when I’m calling the score. Sometimes people don’t talk very loud and the number at the end is thought to be part of the score.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Drives me crazy to hear someone call a game a set! I would add one more…it’s not no mans land, it’s the transition zone!
Hi Jen & Alex, Glad to be on this Blog site early. I watched your ‘Myths in Kitchen’ Oct.2017 shortly after playing. Also noticed the ‘NVZ’ video and began reffing at our YMCA. You both have answered some ‘what if’ questions not included in the videos. Thank you both for promoting the sport and some occasional commentary in tournaments! P.S. Thanks to Rusty also. “Go Play”!