When I first picked up a pickleball paddle, my sole focus was ensuring the ball made it over the net. Over time, as I started to feel the rhythm of the ball and the paddle, I grew more confident, learning the rules and refining my reflexes. Gradually, I evolved from a novice player to someone quite proficient. It felt like the game had become second nature to me. And oh, how exhilarating it was to win!
Pickleball for Beginners
8 Common Pickleball Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Pickleball, a blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is steadily gaining traction amongst sports enthusiasts of all ages. Just like any other sport, though, there’s a learning curve that we all must overcome. As I’ve worked to improve my game, I’ve noted some common pitfalls. Here are eight frequent pickleball mistakes and how you can steer clear of them.
Pickleball vs. Wiffle Ball – What Is the Difference?
Why Getting Hit by a Pickleball Hurts More Than a Wiffle Ball
I can still feel the sting.
As I stood on the pickleball court, trying to shake off the shock from a pickleball that had just made a rather painful introduction with my neck, my opponent chuckled and remarked, “Come on, it’s only a wiffle ball!”
That casual dismissal irked me more than the actual hit.
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While wiffle balls and pickleballs might appear like siblings at first glance, they are worlds apart in weight and impact, making them more like distant cousins.
And when you factor in that a pickleball can reach 40mph and be sent in your direction from as close as 7 feet away, don’t tell me getting hit doesn’t hurt. Sadly, pickleball injuries are on the rise, many because players are being struck by the ball.
But I did get my revenge: I spent the rest of the match polishing this dude’s obnoxious Selkirk sneakers.
Let’s look at the differences between wiffle balls and pickleballs and debunk and dive into why getting hit by a pickleball is no laughing matter.
10 Most Important Pickleball Rules to Understand Before Playing
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete looking for a new challenge or a novice just stepping into the realm of racket sports, pickleball is an exciting and accessible game for all skill levels. In this article, we’ll walk you through the ten most fundamental pickleball rules that you need to understand before you step onto the court. These rules provide the basic framework of the game, helping to ensure fair play while maximizing fun. Grab your paddle, and let’s dive into the essentials of pickleball!
The Ultimate Guide to Pickleball Organizations and Associations
With its increasing popularity, various pickleball organizations have sprouted to support and promote the sport, each with unique characteristics and objectives.
Since it’s a mucky landscape, we’ll aim to define the differences between pickleball clubs, national and local pickleball organizations, community groups, and associations. By understanding these differences, you can choose the most suitable group for your needs, whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced player wanting to compete at a higher level.
How to Play Pickleball for Beginners: A Quickstart Guide
Congratulations on deciding to give pickleball a try! This fun and engaging sport is an excellent way to stay active, socialize, and learn new skills. As a beginner, especially if you haven’t played sports before, you might feel overwhelmed or unsure about where to start. Pickleball Rookie has helped many people get started; we’re happy to share advice to help you begin your pickleball journey.
Pickleball Open Play – Playing for the First Time
If you have yet to discover the expanding sport of pickleball, you’re in the right place to open up a whole new world. You may have heard all about pickleball and would love to try it out, but you need to figure out how you join in the fun.
When Do You Switch Sides in Pickleball?
Knowing when to switch sides is one of the most challenging concepts for new pickleball players to grasp. I’ve seen my fair share of confusion on the court when it comes to switching sides, but it gets better with time and practice.
From alternating serves to showing common courtesy when in rec play, this is your guide on when to switch sides when playing pickleball.
Pickleball Terms and Slang
Pickleball terms and terminology don’t differ all that much from tennis and other sports. Well, except for the occasional ‘dink’ or ‘Erne!’ 🙂
The sport known as “ping pong on steroids” brings a vernacular as unique as the game itself. Here is a running list of pickleball terms to help keep you in the know.
Please let us know if we missed one of your favorite pickleball vocabulary words.
Looking for a good time off the court? Use our printable Pickleball Word Search puzzle. And grab the answers here if you get stumped.
Ace – A serve untouched by the receiver, granting a point to the service player.
ATP (Around-the-Post) – Often the result of a super-wide dink, this shot is hit around the net post; the ball may or may not travel over the net.
Backcourt – The part of the pickleball court that lives close to the baseline.
Backspin – A ball struck in a manner that gives it a backward spin. These balls tend to stay low to the ground but tend to float if not executed properly.
Backswing – The extension of the arm before hitting the pickleball.
Banger – A pickleball player who relies on forceful hits as opposed to dinks or soft shots. Think POWER over placement.
Baseline – The 22-foot line furthest from the net.
Block Volley – A volley that is carried out by moving the paddle in the path of the ball and deflecting it back into the opponent’s kitchen.
Carry – A legal paddle strike that occurs in a continuous motion but could see the ball ‘carry’ on the face of the paddle or even double hit.
Centerline – The 15-foot line down the middle of the court dividing the even and odd service courts.
Dead Ball – A ball that can no longer be returned; the point is over.
Dink – A shot often hit from your kitchen line that lands in your opponent’s non-volley zone.
Dink Volley – When you return a dink on a fly and softly volley it back into your opponent’s non-volley zone.
Double Bounce Rule – Exclusive to pickleball, the ball must bounce twice: once on the serve and once on the service return before a player is allowed to hit the ball out of the air.
Double Hit – Hitting the ball twice during the same stroke; the offender does not get the point. See “Carry.”
Drop Shot –A soft shot, often with spin, that lands in your opponent’s kitchen. It is designed to change the pace of play or make your opponent advance towards the net.
Erne – A volley hit close to the net by a player positioned outside the left or right boundary of the non-volley zone. Named after Erne Perry, the shot’s ‘inventor.’
Even Court – When facing your opponent(s), this service area is on the right side of the court.
Fault – A serve being hit out of bounds or into the net; a fault results in a “dead ball.”
First Server – The person on the right during doubles serves first.
Foot Fault – There are two types of foot faults: when the server’s foot is touching the baseline when serving or when a player’s foot touches the non-volley zone during play.
Footwork – How your feet move and react to execute shots and balance.
Forehand – The opposite of the backhand; executed by swinging the paddle across the body with the hand moving palm-first.
Ground Stroke – A ball strike after a single bounce that typically occurs from or near the baseline.
Half Volley – A shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces creating contact well before the ball peaks.
IPTPA (International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association) – One of two sanctioned pickleball certification programs for instructors.
Kitchen – Jargon referring to the Non-Volley Zone.
Lob – A shot hit over your opponent’s head designed to send them back towards the baseline.
Midcourt – The area of the court between the kitchen line and the baseline, aka “transition area” or “no man’s land.”
Mixed Doubles – Male/Female vs. Male/Female
Non-Volley Zone – The 20′ x 7′ area near both sides of the net where the ball cannot be hit on a fly, and you may not purposefully enter– aka the “kitchen.”
Overgrip – Griptape placed over existing grip tape on a paddle’s handle to increase the size, provide an additional cushion, or absorb sweat.
PPA – Professional Pickleball Association; tour consists of professionals competing for payouts
Paddle Tap – Opponents tap the butts of their paddles at the net after a match.
Passing Shot – A groundstroke that passes an opponent positioned at or near the kitchen line
Poach – When a player moves across the court, possibly in front of their partner, to hit a volley
PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) – One of two sanctioned pickleball certification programs for instructors.
Ready Position – Knees bent; feet shoulder-width apart; paddle in front of your body as you wait to hit the ball
Second Server – The person on the left during doubles serves second.
Sidelines – Two 44-foot lines that run down both sides of the court from baseline to baseline.
Side-out – When the serve opportunity shifts to the other person or team.
Singles – One vs. One
Skinny Singles – Pickleball practice or a game that uses only one-half of the court vertically.
Slice – A shot hit with undercut/backspin.
Smash – Overhead shot favored by ‘bangers.’
Stacking – A strategy used where doubles partners position themselves to keep one player on a particular side of the court as opposed to standard positioning.
Third Shot Drop – A shot that arcs upwards and lands softly into the opponent’s non-volley zone.
Topspin – The ball will continue to travel forward when it lands, unlike topspin which can redirect or slow down.
Two Bounce Rule – After the serve, each side must let the ball hit their side of the court first before the first volley is performed.
Unforced Error – Exactly what it sounds like. 🙂
Volley – A ball hit out of the air before it bounces.
Have we missed one of your favorite pickleball terms or sayings? Please let u know if the comments section, and we will continually update this post.
Here Is When to Use a Pickleball Forehand Drive
The drive is an essential shot in pickleball. From catching your opponent off-guard with speed to set up your follow-up shot, a solid pickleball forehand drive is a must in your arsenal. So when is the best time to get aggressive and drive the pickleball?
