If you love playing tennis, ping-pong, or even badminton you’ll want to learn more about Pickleball! Don’t worry, if you’re wondering “what is pickleball” I’ve got you covered! Let’s dive right in and learn more about this fun sport–which is also a great way to get some good exercise.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is defined as a game similar to tennis where players use paddles to hit a plastic perforated ball over a net. It’s is set up very much like tennis and badminton. There is a court with a low net (34 inches) that spans a badminton size court.
How did pickleball get its name?
That’s a great question and has a funny answer. Pickles was the name of the Pritchard family dog.
While the Pritchards were playing and creating this new game, little Pickles would chase the ball and often run off with it, so naturally when the time came to give this game a name…they thought of Pickles!
What are the general rules of pickleball?
The rules are more similar to tennis than any other sport. Serving begins from the right hand corner and must land on the opposite side of the net in the opposite square.
After the diagonal serve there must be a bounce on each side before any “spiking” can begin!
Traditionally there is a 7 foot “no volley zone” on either side of the net. Much like in tennis, points can only be scored by the serving team. Matches are played to 11 points.
The winning team must win by at least 2 points.
Is pickleball a good workout?
It’s a great choice for anyone who is interested in an aerobic workout without all the joint stress associated with tennis. Because the sport is a cross between badminton and tennis you get the exercise associated with both sports without so much of the intensity and strain.
Some reports suggest that you could burn somewhere near 600 calories while playing pickleball for an hour! Of course this number will vary depending on intensity of game play, weight, height, and a myriad other factors; this estimate should give you a good idea of the level of workout you can expect with this sport.
Is there anywhere to play pickleball in Surprise, AZ?
There are some great places to play in Surprise, Arizona! Here is a list of some of the places you can play pickleball in Surprise. There are multiple courts at each of these locations.
- Surprise City Courts
- Sunflower RV Resort
- Sun City Grand
- Happy Trails Resort
- Sun City West
- Sun City Corta Bella
- Pickleball Club of Sun City
- Mountain View Center
- Arizona Traditions
Did you know there is a pickleball association in Surprise, AZ?
Right here in Surprise we have our very own Pickleball association! You can learn more right here. This means that you can join, take part in tournaments, events, and game play with other pickleball lovers from the area!
There are also leagues (you don’t have to play in the leagues to enjoy the sport here in Surprise) and you can learn more about the schedules and courts right here.
What equipment do I need to play pickleball?
Pickleball equipment is simple. If you are building your own court that might be a little more complex since you’ll need a net, badminton nets are used but lowered to 34 inches.
In terms of equipment, you’ll need some wiffle balls and composite or wooden paddles. Now that pickleball is relatively popular there are many options on Amazon, at Wal-Mart, and of course at sporting good stores across the country. The paddles are about twice the size of those used for ping pong.
There really isn’t much more to it than that! The equipment is simple, the rules are straightforward, and perhaps that is why pickleball has won so many hearts. It’s considered one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and for good reason.
Do you play pickleball? What got you started with this fun and exciting sport?
