Pickleball Bug

Author: rrhoy58

  • Pickleball Glossary

    pickleball glossary

    Pickleball Glossary of Terms

    This is a comprehensive listing of Pickleball terms. Please note some similarity to Tennis terminology.

    Ace: A serve that your opponent is unable to hit back, resulting in a point won on your serve.

    Approach Shot: Hitting the ball while moving toward the net.

    Around the Post (ATP): A legal shot where the ball is hit around the side of the post (net) rather than directly over it.

    Backcourt: The area near the baseline, a few feet inside the court from the baseline.

    Backspin (Slice or Chop): Applying spin to the ball by striking it with a high-to-low motion, causing it to spin in the opposite direction of its flight.

    Centerline: The line that extends from the Non-Volley Zone (NV-Zone) to the Baseline, dividing the service court into two equal halves.

    Dink Shot: A soft shot that arcs over the net and falls into the opposing NV-Zone.

    Double Bounce: A ball that bounces more than once on one side of the net before being returned, resulting in a lost point.

    Drive: A forehand shot hit straight and low, deep into the opposing backcourt.

    Drop Shot: A soft shot that clears the pickleball net and then falls short of the opposing players.

    Doubles: A pickleball game played between 4 people (2 on each team). Teams can be men, women, or mixed doubles.

    Dillball: A shot that is inbounds and has bounced once—a live ball.

    ERNE: A term pronounce  as the name “Ernie”.  A shot in the air as  you jump around or over the  Kitchen.

    Kitchen: same as the Non-Volley Zone.

    Non-Volley Zone (NV-Zone): The area near the net where players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air).

    Pickleball: A delightful sport combining elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton.

    Serve: The underhand shot that starts the point.

    Volley: Hitting the ball in the air without letting it bounce.

  • Pickleball History

    Pickleball History

    Pickleball History

    Pickleball on Bainbridge Island, Washington

    The fascinating history of pickleball traces back to the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. Let’s dive into the origins of this unique sport:

    1. Joel Pritchard, a congressman, and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum were the creative minds behind pickleball.
    2. One sunny Saturday, after a game of golf, they returned to Pritchard’s home to find their families with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court.
    3. Unable to find a complete set of badminton rackets, they improvised by using ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.
    4. Initially, they set the net at the badminton height of 60 inches and volleyed the ball over the net.
    5. As the weekend progressed, they discovered that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface, leading them to lower the net to 36 inches.
    6. The following weekend, Barney McCallum joined the game, and together, the three men created rules, drawing inspiration from badminton.
    7. Their original purpose was to provide a game that the whole family could enjoy together.
    8. In 1967, the first permanent pickleball court was constructed in the backyard of Joel Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, Bob O’Brian.
    9. 1972 marked the formation of a corporation to protect this new sport.
    10. 1975: The National Observer published an article about pickleball, followed by a feature in Tennis magazine, dubbing it “America’s newest racquet sport.”
    11. 1976: The world’s first known pickleball tournament took place at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. Participants included college tennis players who practiced with large wood paddles and a softball-sized plastic ball.
    12. 1982: Pickleball pioneer Sid Williams organized tournaments in Washington state.
    13. 1984: The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) was established to promote pickleball nationally. The first rulebook was published, and Arlen Paranto created the first composite paddle using fiberglass/nomex honeycomb panels.
    14. By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states.
    15. 1992: Pickle-Ball, Inc. began manufacturing pickleballs in-house with a custom drilling machine.
    16. Sadly, in 1997, Joel Pritchard passed away at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy forever tied to the birth of pickleball

  • Pickleball Rules

    AI referee pickleball court
      Pickleball Rules

    General Rules

    Pickleball can be played indoors or outdoors and with Singles (one player against another like in Tennis) or Doubles ( 2 players on either side with a total of 4 players)

    1. The Serve

      • Service is always underhanded and contact the ball at a level below the waist
      • Service must be behind the baseline
      • The serve must be to the court diagonally on the opposing side

      2.  The Two Bounce Rule

      • After the serve, the receiving team must let it bounce before the return
      • the serving team must let it bounce before returning

      • *TIP – this is why the serving team player(s) must stay back at the baseline so they can allow a deep return to bounce

      3. Kitchen or Non-Volley (NV) Zone Faults

      • The Kitchen is a rectangle that extends  7 feet  from the net on both sides.
      • Players cannot step on the NV-line or into the Kitchen when making a volley shot (hitting the ball in the air).
      • Even if the ball is missed on the other side, forward momentum cannot take a player into the Kitchen after hitting the ball.
      • No article of clothing, jewelry, or paddle can fall into the Kitchen during a volley—it’s considered a fault.

      3.  Faults and Let Serves

      • Common faults include

      – serve is not into the diagonal  zone

      – stepping into the Kitchen during a volley

      – serving out of turn 

      – hitting the ball into the net.

      • A let serve occurs when the ball touches the net during the serve but still lands in the correct service court. In this case, the server gets another chance.

      4.  Scoring

      • Pickleball is typically played to 11 points (can use 15 or 21 points as well).
      • Only the serving team can score points.
      • The serving team tries to score more points than the opponents.
      • Scoring  always starts as  0 0 1   (score of serving team, score of opposing team , and player number)

      5.  Serving

      • The serve must be made underhand.
      • The server stands behind the baseline and serves diagonally to the opponent’s service court.
      • The ball must clear the NV-zone and land in the diagonal service court.
      • If the serving team wins the rally, they continue serving from the opposite side.
         

       

       

       

    • Pickleball Now

      Pickleball Around the World

      Pickleball is played  in many countries of the world and originated in the United States.

      USA  Pickleball Organization

      USA Pickleball, or USAP, is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the United States. It was the world’s first national pickleball organization established when it was formed in 1984 as the United States Amateur Pickleball Association. It reorganized as the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) in 2005. The organization adopted the name USA Pickleball in 2020. Wikipedia

      Click on the link  below to  go to  USA Pickleball 

      USA Pickleball Organization

       International Federation of Pickleball The International Federation of Pickleball was created to act as the world governing body for the sport of pickleball. The IFP was founded in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association, now USA Pickleball. President: Sunil ValavalkarHeadquarters in Goodyear, ArizonaMembership: 63 national associations; As of June 2022 International Federation of Pickleball

      Pickleball Canada Organization

      If you are visiting different Provinces in Canada.   Check out the link  below.

      Pickleball Canada

    • Pickleball Balls








      Pickleball Balls –  Indoor versus Outdoor

      Let’s explore the differences between indoor and outdoor pickleballs:

      1. Number of Holes:

        • Indoor balls typically have 26 larger holes, while outdoor balls usually have 40 smaller holes.
        • These holes play a crucial role in maintaining shot consistency and flight trajectory. The smaller holes on outdoor pickleballs enhance robustness for playing in windy conditions, ensuring a truer bounce and shot.

      2. Hole Diameter:

        • Indoor balls have holes with wider diameterscompared to outdoor balls.
        • The design aims to neutralize external factors like wind or court surface.

      3. Weight:

        • Outdoor balls tend to be heavier than indoor balls.
        • The weight affects how the ball responds during play.

      4. Hardness:

        • Outdoor balls are made of harder plastic than indoor balls.
        • This hardness contributes to better bounce characteristics.

      5. Durability:

        • Outdoor pickleballs, being harder, may crack quicker than the softer indoor ones.
        • Durability is essential for prolonged use.

       

    • Pickleball Paddles

      Pickleball Paddles

      Pickleball paddles are essential for a great game of pickleball. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, choosing the right paddle can significantly impact your performance. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a pickleball paddle:

      1. Power: If you want to hit the ball hard and fast, consider a heavier paddle made from materials like fiberglass. These paddles provide extra weight and density for powerful shots.

      2. Control: Precision matters! Novice and intermediate players should opt for lightweight paddles made from carbon fiber surfaces. These paddles make it easier to aim the ball accurately.

      3. Spin: Spin can be a game-changer. Paddles with gritty, textured surfaces help generate topspin and backspin, making it challenging for opponents to return the ball.

      4. Core: The material inside the paddle (the core) affects power and control. Most paddles have cores made from polymer or polypropylene in honeycomb chambers, which limit vibration and distribute energy during hits.

      5. Sweet Spot: Hitting the ball with the sweet spot (the middle of the paddle) gives you better precision, more power, and a bouncy pop. Beginner paddles often have larger sweet spots for easier play.