Pickleball 101

The year 2020 brought many things, and while most of them were unwelcomed, and at times, unfathomable – one thing the year did bring was the resurgence of a beloved sport, Pickleball. People were looking for ways to stay active, busy and engaged with their family and their community in a safe way during an isolating time. Pickleball proved to be a unifier for not just us at Civile, but many people across the nation.

You may have heard your friends, parents – and even grandparents talk about the sport, even may have heard the word “dink” come up in conversation. But what is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a small badminton-sized court that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong. However, unlike any of its similar counterparts, Pickleball utilizes a ball similar to a whiffle ball and a smaller court, which allows for interactive conversation during play and even favors players with limited mobility. In fact, you can fit four Pickleball courts in the space of one tennis court!

What are the rules of Pickleball?

• You can play singles or doubles – and the same rules apply for both!
• The serve is made diagonally across the court and must land within the opposite diagonal court lines. If a ball lands on the line, it is counted as “in,” with the exception of the front line, which is considered part of the “kitchen,” see below. Each team only gets one serve attempt per turn. Teams can only score during their turn. If an error is made during the serve – the serve goes to the opposing team!
• The serving team continues switching back and forth from each side until the serve is lost to the opposing team.
• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
• The non-volley zone, referred to as “The Kitchen,” extends seven feet on both sides of the net. A player can enter “the kitchen” as long as they are not actively volleying.
• A “Dink” is a well-executed volley that lands in the opposing team’s kitchen. This means they’ll have to let the ball bounce once before returning the volley, which can lead to awkward and difficult returns!

Now that you have the basics down, find yourself a few paddles and hit the courts! Create one in your driveway (like we did) or find one locally! And most importantly, look good while doing it. Check out our versatile modern Pickleball apparel that will take you from the court to anywhere the day takes you!