I believe no one should not try to live life without Pickleball unless s/he is already too fit, has too many friends, and or is having just too much fun in life and needs to cut back. I didn’t find out about Pickleball until 2019. That was a big mistake that I want to help you avoid.

What the heck is Pickleball?

It’s a paddleball sport that’s sort of a mash-up of tennis and table tennis. It’s played outdoor or indoors on what looks like a miniature tennis court that’s 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, using a Wiffle ball. Pickleball was “invented” in 1965 by two fathers vacationing with their families on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle) who wanted an activity the whole family could enjoy. The result is a game that people of all ages can learn quickly to play competently in 3 to 12 months (unlike tennis or golf).

Despite its humble beginnings, players now range from a steady stream of beginners to professionals who make their living playing Pickleball.

Why is Pickleball so popular?

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe there are five reasons for its popularity:

1) It’s easy to learn and easy enough on your body (knees, hips, shoulders) so you can play often. I play three to five times a week.

2) The culture that has grown up around Pickleball is welcoming and inclusive. Most play takes place on public courts and is drop-in, meaning that you can show up by yourself and almost always find a game. First-timers are welcomed, and someone will likely help you learn the game right on the spot! As you get more involved with the game, you will likely find yourself compelled to protect and propagate this welcoming and inclusive culture.

3) Pickleball is the most social sport ever! Because there are often more players than the courts will accommodate you’ll often wait at least a few minutes in between games chatting and getting acquainted with the other players. In 2019, my first year of play, I met over 50 people, all of whom I know by name (despite my horrible memory for names). There is a real sense of community and you be welcome almost everywhere you play, both locally and when you’re traveling

4) It’s serious fun! Most players want to win games, but for most Pickleball players, fun is the highest priority. Unlike golf or tennis, you’ll hear constant chatter, joking, and laughter on the courts during the games.

5) It’s great exercise! Even though it’s easier on your body than tennis and other sports, you’ll work up a sweat. I play 3 to 5 times a week, and I’ve never been more fit. Some former self-described “gym rats” tell me they now play PickleBall in lieu of going to the gym.

This 2-page article from the Palo Alto Weekly describes more about how and why the game has become so popular. More than once, people from retirees to pros have told me that Pickleball “changed their lives,” largely because they have made a lot of new friends while becoming more fit, and feel part of a fun/growing community. I feel the same way.

Getting started: how to play
Before heading to the court, I recommend you spend about 20 minutes watching three videos, starting with an introduction to how the pros play. You won’t likely see this level of play on local courts, but I think it’s a great intro to the game. Charlotte (my wife) and I were in the stands watching this November 2019 Women’s Doubles Pro final at the Pickleball Nationals in Indian Wells, CA. It’s an hour long, but I suggest watching only 10 minutes for now and come back to it later if you like. It’s best viewed on a large screen.

Second, here is a 5-minute video that covers the basics of how to play. It goes by pretty quickly, so I recommend watching it twice Next is a 2-minute video on the rules of play, and how to keep score.

Many venues also offer free lessons for beginners, usually taught by volunteer pickleball enthusiasts called Pickleball Ambassadors. As I mentioned above, Pickleball has a welcoming and inclusive culture, and these delightful folks are some of the main keepers of that culture. You can find a nearby ambassador in your area here, but this list is maintained by volunteers and is pretty out of date in some areas. If you live near me (San Francisco northern peninsula) I can help you find an ambassador. I would also be happy to join you on the court to get you started with the game and introduce you to some of the other local players.

What to bring, what to wear

Shoes (e.g. tennis shoes or court shoes), balls and a paddle are all you need to play the game. Depending upon where you play, you may be able to borrow a paddle and ball (see below). Also bring drinking water — more than you think you’ll need — so that you can stay hydrated.

Different balls are used for outdoor play vs. indoor play. Outdoor courts usually have the same surface as a tennis courts, while indoor courts are usually set up in gymnasiums with wooden floors. Indoor balls are made from softer, lighter plastic with larger holes (about 26 of them) that provide a better bounce on indoor surfaces. Most people use Onix Fuse Orange indoor balls. The orange color stands out nicely against the light wood of the gym floor. Outdoor balls are made with harder plastic, are heavier, and have more holes (usually 40 of them) to offer better durability, wind resistance and bounce. Most beginners will find that the Onix Pure 2 ball is a good choice. It’s a “weighted” ball that is easier to use at first, and it will last longer. Intermediate and advanced players generally prefer the Dura Fast 40, in either yellow or “neon” (bright yellow), which is often used at Pickleball tournaments.

How to get hurt or hurt someone else on the court…

Frequently a ball from one court flies or rolls onto another court. This can be dangerous because when someone unexpectedly steps on a ball, s/he can easily twist an ankle or fall. So, the first person who sees a ball appear on a court should shout (yes, loud!) “ball on” or “ball ball ball…” to stop play on the court where the ball lands. Keep shouting until play actually stops. The second way to get hurt playing pickleball is to run onto another court chasing your ball. If encountering an unexpected ball can cause nasty problems, imagine how much worse it can be to run into an unexpected person on the court! In the game of Pickleball, shouting “ball on” or “ball ball ball…” is not only a warning to the people on the receiving court but also a request that they return the ball to you. They’ll happily do this for you, knowing you’ll soon return the favor when their ball heads to your court.

Where and when to play

In most parts of the country, play takes place at outdoor courts in the morning from 8 or 9 a.m. until around noon, and in the evenings, 7 days a week. Most players on weekday mornings are 50 to 80+ years old, and the oldest players are often surprisingly good at the game. All other times they are joined by teens through 40-somethings. There is also plenty of indoor play at local rec centers (at scheduled time blocks, e.g. 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays). You can locate over 8,000 indoor and outdoor Pickleball venues at Places2Play.org, or by downloading the Places2Play app on your iphone or android phone. Most indoor venues charge a small fee (usually $3 to $5) to play and most outdoor venues are free. Many of the indoor venues that charge a fee include the use of paddles and balls with the fee.

How to play nicely with others

Each set of courts will have some convention for how to get yourself into a game. For example, at the Foster City, CA courts where I often play, the convention is to have a paddle queue for each court. When you arrive, take a look at the level of play on each court, and find one that looks like a decent match for your level of play. Then put your paddle down next to the net post on your selected court. If there are already paddles in the queue, put yours on top of the stack (4 paddles max), or start a new stack next to the full stack. The new one should be started further from the court, not closer. When the group currently on the court finishes their game, the players whose paddles are in the next stack (or partial stack) are next on the court. If the stack only has one paddle or three paddles, then one or three of the four players must vacates as needed for the new players. If the stack has two paddles, then generally the two winners from the last game remain to play the new “challengers”.

Many courts (e.g. those at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto) use this same system, but some others have a white board upon which a single queue is used for all courts or for a group of courts. If you see something like this, just ask any of the players and they’ll explain the local custom to you. In some cases where the white boards are used, players are asked to use color-coded markers for their level of play (e.g. beginner, intermediate, advanced). You’ll find that some advanced players will purposely put their names down with groups of beginners to help them learn the game.

Once you are on the court, introduce yourself to the other players and exchange names. You’ll be talking to some of those new friends after the game while you’re waiting for your next game. I hope you enjoy Pickleball as much as I do!

See you on the court!