*Featured Photo by Kacey O'Brien
With hundreds of people in the area already regulars at nearby courts, pickleball is a trending sport that has seen tremendous growth in recent years. You could say it’s causing quite a…racket!
Before going too far ahead, some of you may not know how to play or, furthermore, what pickleball even is. To get you more acquainted with this accessible game, here’s a helpful guide on the fundamentals of pickleball, plus check out below for a list of available pickleball courts in the Lake George Area.
Introducing… Pickleball!
No, there are no actual pickles involved (the name may actually be a little misleading). Created in 1965 by 3 dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum – in Bainbridge Island, Washington, it is a conglomeration of three other sports: Tennis, Ping-Pong (or Table Tennis), and Badminton. Having been bored with the 'typical' summertime sports and activities, pickleball's initial purpose, to provide an innovative and exciting game that the whole family could enjoy, remains stronger than ever.
The game uses paddles (similar to ping-pong) and plastic outdoor balls, the ones with holes all around. You play on a court similar to tennis, though a pickleball court is actually around 3 times smaller. Pickleball can either be played with 2 people (Singles) or with 4 (Doubles), a trait shared with tennis and badminton.
The rules of the game will be discussed in greater detail momentarily, but the basic objective is to serve the ball across the court, aiming to get points by winning a rally (in other words, successfully serving the ball back and forth until the opposing side fails).
Since pickleball is often compared to the likes of tennis and ping-pong, it is an accommodating sport for beginners to pick up while also offering opportunities for strategic play for more seasoned players, making it a popular recreational activity for all ages.
Understanding the Basics
As mentioned before, the goal of pickleball is to serve and win a rally to earn points. Typically, a game is played until a team scores 11 points to win (win by 2). However, it is crucial to note that points can only be won by the serving team. This means that only the serving team’s rallies can earn points. Much like tennis, the ball is served in an underhand motion across the net to the other end of the court in a diagonal formation.
Those cover the very basic fundamentals of pickleball, but if you’d like to learn more, please feel free to check out the official rules summary on the official USA Pickleball site.
There are also some standard variations between singles and doubles matches that will help you become a pickleball pro.
Singles
- The server earns a point when they win a rally.
- When the server receives a point, the server will then switch sides to serve (left-right).
- If the server loses the rally, no points are served, and the other player now serves.
- Only 2 numbers are called for scoring: the server’s and the opponent's score.
Doubles
- Both partners on a team get a chance to serve before the opposing team.
- If Partner 1 loses a rally, Partner 2 serves. Only when Partner 2 loses a rally does the opposing team get to serve.
- The player on the right begins a serve.
- The partners swap serving sides after a point is won.
- 3 numbers are called for scoring: the server’s score, the opponent’s score, and the server number (server 1 or 2).
The rulesets may appear slightly intimidating at first, but rest assured that, much like any sport, practice makes perfect. Pickleball has been known by many to be a great introductory sport, one that gets easier after a few rounds. Sometimes there’s nothing like a little applied learning after all.
Pickleball’s Praiseworthy Popularity
Over the last decade or so, pickleball has been categorized as one of the fastest-growing sports in America. In fact, a participant report done by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) shows that there are over “8.9 million (and growing) players in the United States.” But why is this sport suddenly trending like it is? Well, here are a few thoughts to consider.
Accessibility
Because of its simplistic rules, practically anyone can learn to play pickleball. Chances are, if you can play a similar sport like ping-pong, you can quickly learn this one. Alternatively, there’s an invitation for more experienced players to perfect strategy, as well as enter more competitive outlets like leagues and tournaments.
Exercise
Moving back and forth across a pickleball court makes for terrific physical activity. Players are constantly working on balance, agility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination, all without having to worry about the risk of excessive strain from more physically demanding sports like basketball or soccer. Pickleball has also been shown to be a wonderful alternative for previous tennis players with physical limitations.
Flexibility
As mentioned earlier, the size of a pickleball court is around 3 times smaller than that of a tennis court. Because of this, many parks and recreational facilities are building pickleball courts both outside and inside. Not only do players not have to worry about inclement weather conditions, but this also allows pickleball to be a year-round sport, furthering the opportunities for people to participate (and can also help generate revenue for parks and facilities).
Socialization
Did you know you can convert the area of 1 tennis court into 4 pickleball courts? With closer proximity to each other, players are easily able to hold conversations both in-between and out of play. This allows for a fantastic bonding opportunity between family or friends, combined with an invigorating and addicting workout.
Of course, these are just a few points to consider. There may be more ideas and possibilities for why the game of pickleball has become so beloved, but the most obvious one? It’s fun!
Time to Serve!
Now that you’ve grown more familiar with the concept of pickleball, why not get out there and play a few rounds? But where exactly can you play? Check out below for a list of local parks and facilities offering pickleball courts (and don’t forget to click on the listings for more information).
