Pickleball
Study Guide
What is pickle ball?
It’s a hybrid of Badminton, Tennis, and Table Tennis. It’s a three in one game, played with wooden paddles
and a perforated plastic ball in a normal Badminton court with the net lowered to 3 feet.
How was it invented?
Pickleball was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island – a short ferry ride from Seattle, WA.
The original purpose of the game was to provide a sport for the entire family, according to co-inventors U.S.
Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum.
Pickles was the family dog that would chase after the errant balls and then hide in the bushes, thus Pickle’s
ball which was later shortened to the namesake of Pickleball. Initially, families played Pickleball in their
backyards on a hard surface, on driveways, and on residential dead-end streets. Since the 1970′s, Pickleball
has grown and expanded from a family activity game to a paddle court sport with formalized rules. Now,
over 20 years later, Pickleball is played in thousands of school P.E. programs, parks and recreation centers,
correctional facilities, camps, YMCAs and retirement communities. This sport is becoming very popular
among active senior adults at community centers and is growing in popularity on high school and college
campuses.
The Basic Rules
1) The serve must be hit underhand, below the waist, and each team must play their first shot off the bounce.
After the ball has bounced once on each side then both teams can either volley the ball in the air or play it off
the bounce.
2) No volleying is permitted within the seven foot non-volley zone.
3) Pickleball is a game of shot placement and patience, not brute power or strength.
4) Both players on the serving team are allowed to serve, and a team shall score points only when serving.
5) A game is played to eleven points and a team must win by two points. Points are lost by hitting the ball out
of bounds; hitting the net; stepping into the non-volley zone; or by volleying the ball before the ball has
bounced once on each side of the net.
6) Players change sides at six points.
Specific Rules
The Serve
Players must keep one foot behind the back line when serving. The serve is made underhand. The paddle
must pass below the waist. The serve is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone. Only
one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve, and lands on
the proper service court). Then, the serve may be taken over. At the start of each new game, the 1st serving
team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each
team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins
the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.
The Volley
To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce. All volleying must be done with the
player’s feet behind the non-volley zone line.
Double Bounce Rule
Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. That is, the first receiving team must let the served ball
bounce, and the serving team must let the return of serve bounce before playing it. After the two bounces
have occurred, the ball can be either volleyed or played off the bounce.
Faults
•Hitting the ball out of bounds
•Not clearing the net
•Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball
The Court
The court dimensions are identical to a doubles badminton court. The court dimensions are 20′ x 44′ for both
doubles and singles. The net is hung 36” on each end of the net and 34” in the middle. A non-volley zone
extends 7′ on each side of the net. There remains 15′ on each side of the court. On each side, these 20′ x 15′
rectangles are further divided onto two equal rectangles measuring 10′ x 15′. When laying out the court,
allow adequate space at each end and sides of the court boundary lines for player movement.
Sample Quiz:
1) Circle the correct answer. The area which you can’t enter unless the ball bounces in it is called?
Double Bounce Zone
Non-Volley Zone
Fault Zone
2) Fill-in. The rule that explains after two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or
played off the bounce. This is called the _____________ _____________rule.
3) Multiple choice How many faults can a serving team make before giving up the ball to the serving
team?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
4) Fill in. You only score when your team is ____________________
5) Games are scored to how many points? a) 15 b) 11 c) 10 d) 6
6) Circle the correct answer. To win a game you must win by ______________points.
A) 2
B) 3
C) 1
6) Fill in. To ensure a fair game. Players must change sides at ____________ points.
8) Circle the Correct answer. When you serve the ball you always serve to the person who is
_______________ to you
Behind
Diagonal
Next
9) Multiple choice. If you hit the ball out of bounds, into the net, or step into the non-volley zone; these are
called _________________
A) Faults
B) Errors
C) Points
10) Fill in. To________________a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce.
Extra Credit- The pickle ball court is the same dimension of what other court.