The Basic Pickleball Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Intrigued by pickleball? Yeah, same. Luckily, with courts arising across the country, there’s never been a greater time to get into the sport. By learning basic pickleball rules—in addition to just a few other fundamentals—anyone can try their hand at America’s fastest-growing sport and experience what the hype is all about.

A part of pickleball’s allure is that it’s pretty beginner-friendly, Landon Uetz, PT, DPT, physical therapist and licensed pickleball coach in Chandler, Arizona, tells SELF. And also you don’t need experience with other racquet sports (like badminton or ping pong) to present it a go, he says.

In truth, it’s more suited to novices because it’s less intense: In comparison with tennis, the pickleball court is smaller, the ball doesn’t travel as fast, and the paddle is simpler to regulate. In consequence, you don’t need to move around as much, there’s less of a hand-eye coordination challenge, and also you’re often in a position to sustain longer rallies, or the periods where you’re hitting the ball backwards and forwards, Jennie Melin, certified personal trainer and licensed pickleball coach at LifeTime in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, tells SELF.

One other perk? “It’s really quite an inviting community,” says Melin. Most people play doubles, meaning there are 4 people on the court at a time, which may give the game a social vibe. Plus, pickleball is comparatively reasonably priced—it doesn’t require expensive equipment, and tons of community parks have outdoor courts where you’ll be able to play totally free.

Besides, pickleball is an ideal workout, says Melin, because it gets you moving in all directions, challenges your coordination, and sometimes gets your heart rate up. Perhaps most significant, though? “It’s so fun,” she says. And likelihood is, the more you enjoy a workout, the more likely you might be to do it consistently, which implies pickleball could just turn out to be a staple in your fitness routine.

Ahead, all you might want to know to start, including the right way to play pickleball, basic rules and etiquette tricks to consider, what equipment and equipment you would like, and the right way to reduce your injury risk. Consider this your go-to pickleball for beginners guide!

1. Gather your specific essentials.

First up: the paddle. You’ll need to select a pickleball-specific racquet—it’s smaller and more rectangular than what you utilize in tennis—to be certain it’s legal for play. (Principally, its length can’t exceed 17 inches, and the length and width combined can’t be greater than 24 inches.) Yow will discover a pickleball paddle online or at a sporting goods store, says Uetz. You may also rent them at some fitness facilities, says Melin.

Then there are the pickleball balls, which, unlike those in tennis, are made from non-textured material and have holes. There are different variations for indoor versus outdoor games, says Melin—indoor balls have larger holes than outdoor ones. You’ll be able to buy these at the identical retailers that sell the paddles.

2. Dress the part.

There’s no specific clothing you would like for pickleball. “Any sort of workout attire is positive, so long as you’ll be able to move easily and also you’re comfortable,” says Melin. On the footwear front, consider getting a court shoe, that are specifically for pickleball or tennis, says Melin. In comparison with running or walking shoes, that are primarily crafted for forward movement, court shoes support motion in all directions, especially laterally (side to side). That’s especially necessary in pickleball, for the reason that sport can have you moving in all forms of ways.