Pickle Ball Overview

(Go to: www.pickleball.com for more info)

(This document available in pdf. See also a photo.)

General comments:

• great social fun

• good exercise

• great for kids and non-tennis players because it is much easier than tennis

• accommodates differences in ability level much better than tennis

• small court to cover which results in longer points, less running and less “down time” than tennis. (by “down time” I mean time spent getting 2 serves, chasing balls, and resting because your tired from the previous point)

Sportsmanship:

Use “The Code” from tennis for unofficiated matches.

1. the ball hitting any part of the line is good.( * exception to this for Pickle Ball: the serve must go over the service line. If it hits that line the serve is not good.)

2. give all benefit of doubt on line calls to your opponents.

3. call against yourself if you are positive one of your shots is out

4. server states score before every serve using 3 numbers.

a) first number is the score for the serving team

b) second number is the score the receiving team

c) third number is whether it is the first player or the second player to be serving.

Example: a score of 5-7-2 means:

1. the serving team has 5 points,

2. the receiving team 7 points

3. it is second player on that team to serve.

Scoring:

1. points are only scored by the serving team

2. first team to 11 wins. (must win by 2 points

Serving:

1. server must serve underhand

2. only 1 serve

3. server may “straddle” base line

4. server number 1 always starts on the right hand side. Server number 2 serves from whatever side they happen to be on when the last point ended.

5. same person serves until they fail to get a point and then their partner serves until they fail to get a point. Then the opposing team does the same. *exception: The initial serving team only has 1 player serve until they fail to get a point.

6. This is the hard part-especially for tennis players: serving team must let the ball bounce on their side 1 time before they can hit a “volley.” (a volley is a ball struck before it bounces as opposed to a “ground stroke” which is struck after it bounces.) Therefore, this means:

1. no serve and volley

2. server’s partner should stand at the baseline so they are not tempted to hit the ball before it bounces 1 time.

Suggestion: enforcing this rule strictly and not allowing exceptions for players who “forget” to let the ball bounce 1 time will facilitate this rule change from tennis to pickle ball.

No volley zone:

1. 7 feet from the net to the service line is called the “no volley zone.” (no volleys allowed-no exceptions for players who “forget.”

2. you are allowed to hit the ball in the “no volley zone” if it bounces first.

Suggestion: enforcing this rule strictly and not allowing exceptions for players who “forget” and hit a volley in the no-volley zone,1 will facilitate this rule change from tennis to pickle ball.

Strategy:

1. players from both teams should be side-by-side at the net as soon as possible.

2. receiving teams does this by:

   1. the receiver making the return and going there (remember-the serving team can not “serve and volley” so you will have plenty of time.

   2. the receiver’s partner taking their initial position there.

3. serving team does this by letting the ball bounce hit 1 time on their side, one player hitting the next shot, and then both players going to the service line together.

4. patience, consistency, and shots that are place “low” are rewarded.

5. shots hit too high above the net can allow your opponent to “put the ball away.”