pickleball beginners

Pickleball Beginners: A Guide to Playing Pickleball

Hey pickleball beginners, this guide is for you! Pickleball is a great game, and the learning curve is not too steep. So even if you are just getting started as a pickleball beginner, you can learn the game and enjoy it right away.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. It is a relatively new sport, but it has quickly become one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Pickleball is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and meet new people.

This guide will teach you the history of the game, the basics of pickleball, including how to hold the paddle, how to serve, how to hit the ball, and how to score. By the end of this guide, you will be ready to hit the pickleball court and start playing.

History of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a 35-year-old congressman from Washington, along with his wife Betty and their neighbor Barney McCallum. The Pritchards were looking for a new game to play with their children, who were too young to play tennis. They combined elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis to create pickleball.

The game quickly became popular in the Pritchards’ neighborhood, and soon pickleball courts were being built all over the Puget Sound area. In 1972, the first pickleball tournament was held in Seattle.

Pickleball continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1984, the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded. The USAPA is the governing body for pickleball in the United States.

Pickleball has continued to grow in popularity in recent years. In 2021, the USAPA had over 400,000 members. Pickleball is now played in over 100 countries around the world.

Benefits of Pickleball

Pickleball is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and meet new people. It is a low-impact sport, so it is easy on the joints. Pickleball is also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and balance.

Here are some of the benefits of playing pickleball:

  • It is a low-impact sport that is easy on the joints.
  • It is a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and balance.
  • It is a fun and social activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
  • It is a great way to get exercise and stay healthy.

Where to Play Pickleball

Pickleball courts can be found at many public parks and recreation centers. There are also many pickleball clubs and associations that offer courts and other pickleball amenities.

If you are looking for a pickleball court near you, you can use the USAPA’s Find a Court tool. This tool will help you find pickleball courts in your area.

How to Get Started with Pickleball

If you are interested in getting started with pickleball, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to get the necessary equipment. This includes a paddle, a ball, and pickleball shoes (more information below).

Once you have the necessary equipment, you need to find a place to play. You can find pickleball courts at many public parks and recreation centers. There are also many pickleball clubs and associations that offer courts and other pickleball amenities.

Once you have found a place to play, you need to learn the basics of the game. You can learn the basics of pickleball by watching videos, reading books, or taking lessons from a certified pickleball instructor.

Once you have learned the basics of the game, you are ready to start playing! Pickleball is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and meet new people.

Equipment

The only equipment a pickleball beginner needs is a paddle, a ball, and a pickleball court.

  • Paddles: Pickleball paddles come in a variety of sizes, weights, and materials. There is no one “best” paddle, so it is important to try out a few different paddles before you buy one (How to Select the Perfect Pickleball Paddle).
  • Balls: Pickleball balls are made of plastic with holes in them. They are smaller and lighter than tennis balls.
  • Courts: Pickleball courts are smaller than tennis courts. They are typically 20 feet wide and 44 feet long.

Basic Rules

The basic rules of pickleball are similar to the rules of tennis. The goal of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into your opponent’s court so that they cannot return it.

  • Serve: The serve is the first hit of the point. To serve, you stand behind the baseline and hit the ball so that it bounces once in your court and then once in your opponent’s court.
  • Rally: After the serve, the players hit the ball back and forth until one player hits the ball out of bounds or into the net.
  • Scoring: Points are scored when a player hits the ball out of bounds or into the net. The first player to reach 11 points and be ahead by 2 points wins the game.

Basic Strokes

There are three basic strokes that pickleball beginners need to know: the forehand, the backhand, and the volley.

  • Forehand: The forehand is hit with the dominant hand. To hit a forehand, you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your dominant hand on the paddle. You then swing the paddle in an arc, hitting the ball in front of your body.
  • Backhand: The backhand is hit with the non-dominant hand. To hit a backhand, you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your non-dominant hand on the paddle. You then swing the paddle in an arc, hitting the ball behind your body.
  • Volley: The volley is hit when the ball is in the air above the net. To hit a volley, you stand with your feet close together and your paddle in front of your body. You then swing the paddle up and hit the ball before it bounces.

Advanced Techniques

As you get more experienced, you can start to learn some advanced techniques in pickleball. These techniques include:

  • Drop shot: The drop shot is a soft hit that lands just over the net. It is a good way to keep your opponent off balance.
  • Lob: The lob is a high hit that goes over your opponent’s head. It is a good way to end a rally.
  • Dink: The dink is a short hit that lands just in front of the net. It is a good way to keep the ball in play and to frustrate your opponent.

Additional Information

Here are some additional tips for pickleball beginners:

  • Have fun! Pickleball is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and meet new people.
  • Be patient. It takes time to learn how to play pickleball well. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win every game.
  • Practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you will become.
  • Find a pickleball community. There are many pickleball communities around the world. Joining a community is a great way to learn more about the sport and meet other players.

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