Pickleball
What do you get when you cross tennis, badminton, and a hint of ping pong? You get the game known affectionately as Pickleball. It is a game that is sweeping the nation. Indeed, if a sport can go viral then this one certainly has. What was once a niche activity has been embraced worldwide and there are articles from across the country talk about how the sport is taking over parks and grasping the attention of fans across all ages. And it all started on this lovely little island of ours.
Play it only once and it is easy to see the broad appeal. A lot of it has to do with the sport’s accessibility across ages and skill levels. Unlike many other leisure sports (basketball, golf, etc), the basics of the game are simple and the athletic requirements not beyond the capabilities of those on the younger or older ends of the age spectrum. Even compared to tennis, the lower net and smaller court size make it possible for those with less strength and mobility to get out and enjoy some healthy activity.
The ease of entry applies likewise to the costs. The is little specialized equipment needed to play. Apart from well-fitting shoes and reasonable athletic wear, the only things that you will need are some balls and a set of paddles. For under $50 you and your friends can make their way to the court. Which leads to the largest obstacle to play, namely finding a court. While the games is gaining in popularity, pickleball courts are not as numerous as tennis courts. So finding a place to play may require either reservations or a little wait time depending on how busy the court is (more on that below). That said, even if there are no designated pickleball courts near you, that is ok. All you need is an open tennis court (or really, any open concrete space will do) and your own net and make your own court. In fact, you can fit four pickleball courts on one tennis court if you need. So easy.
Despite its lower athletic and financial entry points, the sport still offers ample opportunities to progress. It is the proverbial “easy to play, impossible to master” sport. What starts as a fun lobby session can progress into cut throat combat where inches can be the difference between sorrow and glory. A lot of the growth depends on the quality of your opponent. Waltz on over to Founder’s Court with your newfound bravado and you will quickly earn a lesson in humility. But in the end, the joy is just in getting outside and enjoying a fun game.
History
How did this crazy little hybrid name come to be? The game was conceived in 1965 and is the brain trust of three men. One summer Baingridge day Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell were sitting around with their families. Apparently, the kids had already cleaned their rooms and could not wait around for Xbox to be created, nor could they be convinced to embark on the myriad other wonderful outdoor activities that the island has to offer – I am assuming that they were teenagers. So the gentlemen took matters into their own hands. Badminton seemed a logical option but there were no paddles to be had. So they improvised with some ping pong paddles instead. And instead of a shuttlecock they decided to use a perforated ball. And thus, the nugget of the game came to light. It soon morphed as they realized that the ball bounced well on asphalt and that it is easier, and more fun, to hit over a lower net. They brought in their buddy, Barney McCallum and the three of them worked out the rules that we have today. The game would not see international renown for a few decades, but that doesn’t mean that other locals didn’t recognize a good thing. According to the USA Pickleball website (www.usapickleball.org ), Pichard’s neighbor built the first permanent court within two years.
So what’s up with the Pickles?
The origin of the name appears as colorful as the game itself. According to the BI Parks and Rec website: Joel Pritchard’s wife (Joan) started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” Pickles were clearly a thing in the house because shortly after developing the game the Prichards obtained a cocker spaniel named Pickles, who was adept at chasing down the balls while they played, thus causing the need for more “Pickle balls”. And so it stuck. Seems about right.
The Court
Before getting into gameplay it is worth going over the court itself. Much like the game, the court is similar to but slightly different than its tennis predecessor. The official pickleball court is rectangular in nature with dimensions of 44ft x 20ft. The lines on the shorter ends are called baselines while the sidelines are the longer lines connecting them. The net cuts the sidelines in half, creating two 22ftx20ft sides. Each side is marked by three rectangles. The first is a 7ft x 20ft rectangle on either side of the net called the “kitchen” (a name allegedly borrowed from the shuffleboard location that deducts 10 points from the shuffler’s score). Behind the kitchen there are two equal 15 ft x10ft, bisected by the centerline. As for the net itself, it is officially 36 inches at the poles and 34 inches in the center.
With all that said, you play where you can and the DIY ethos of pickleball would certainly prioritize fun over form. If you can’t find a formal court and are missing your tape measure (or, like so many of us have come to grips with the difficulty in fighting gravity so cannot hang your net to code) then go ahead and hang what you can where you can and get out there and hit the ball.
Equipment
As noted above, there isn’t a whole lot needed to play the game, which is a lot of the appeal. Per guidelines, the paddle dimensions from paddle tip to the edge of the handle should not exceed 24 inches, with the paddle portion not exceeding 17 inches. A set of 2 can run you anywhere between $30 and $150, with most on the lower to middle portion of that range. As for balls, they are generally just below 3 inches in diameter with multiple dimples. The official specs (in regards to weight, material, bounciness) are well beyond the scope of this, but if you have copious free time feel free to check them out at https://usapickleball.org/docs/eec/Equipment-Standards-Manual.pdf. Most kits will come with a couple balls or they can be bought separately. If all else fails, or if you have a Pickles of your own that has absconded with your balls, just use a tennis ball. No one here will tell on you.
Perhaps the most important thing, however, is a pair of good fitting athletic shoes. There is a lot of back and forth in the game and your joints will thank you for taking the time to think of them.
Playing pickleball
You have your shoes, maybe a sweet headband, your paddles, some dimpled balls, a ready court and an insatiable appetite to jump on in. So how do you actually play this game? Not shockingly, playing pickleball is similar to playing tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Whether you play singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2), the play begins with the server starting behind the baseline on the right side. In this game serves are always underhand, under the waist. They should go over the net and over the kitchen and land in the opposite box on the opponent’s right side. After bouncing one time the volley begins and the opposing team is able to hit it back. Pickleball has what is called the “double-bounce rule”. This means that the ball must bounce on each side before being returned on the first respective volley. After their first volley the rule no longer applies and each team is able to return the ball without requiring it to bounce. Like the above games, the volley ends whenever the ball goes into the net, lands out of bounds or bounces two times on a side before the team is able to return it.
One unique rule in pickleball is the no-volley zone, aka the kitchen. This means that players cannot hit the ball from inside the kitchen until after it bounces. The rule helps prevent players from parking at the net and slamming the ball each time. “Get out of the kitchen!” is no longer just a phrase merely to combat after-school grazing.
If the serving team scores, they win the point and the same player continues to serve, this time from the left side. This goes back and forth until the non-serving team wins a volley. Only the serving team can get a point each round. If the non-serving team wins a volley, then they get to serve and a chance to score points at that time. Traditionally, the game is played to 11 and the winning team must win by two.
Pickleball on Bainbridge Island
If you are looking to play Bainbridge’s game on Bainbridge’s island there are a couple main options. First, somewhat logically, is Founder’s Pickleball Court located at Battle Point Park. These six courts, named in honor of the game’s developers, were opened in 2020 and provide a great opportunity for residents to get outside and play. Reservations are not needed, but the courts can be full on pleasant days so be prepared. Rather than merely showing up and waiting, however, the Parks and Rec have set up a camera access to monitor court usage. Head to their website (https://biparks.org/sports-facilities/) and download the media player and you will get a sense of how busy the courts currently are. If it is packed, then maybe look for an alternate locale or activity. Or go on over and wait your turn.
The other main place to play on the island is the Bainbridge Island Recreation Center. They have indoor space that have been modified to accommodate pickleball. There is a drop-in schedule located on their website: https://birec.org/racquet-sports/ . Reservations should be made beforehand, whether for members (can make up to 7 days in advance) or non-members (can make 3 days in advance).
Finally, if you are looking to meet up with people to play with, or just folks as excited about the game as you are, go ahead and sign up with the Pickleball Club of Bainbridge Island on Facebook.
Lessons and learning
Whether you are looking to get some early guidance on your pickleball journey or hone your craft in the sport there are a number of worthy options for classes. The vast majority are through the BI Parks and Rec site (http://www.biparks.org) and cater to all skill levels. Courses are also offered at the BI Rec Center, though registration again is through the Parks and Rec.
Risks and warnings
Despite all of the fun that you will have, there are some cautions to be aware of. Many injuries related to the sport involve strain of the muscles and joints of the lower body as players race back and forth across the field, quickly starting and stopping. This can be a worsen pre-existing issues, such as knee arthritis or lower back pain. But it can also cause new strains in the hamstrings and calves. Others issues are overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis, shoulder strain and a variant of tennis elbow (“pickleball elbow”, it’s really a thing). More serious injuries such as knee ligament tears or ruptured tendons are less common, but possible. The frequency of these injuries is likely related to just how accessible the game is. It is the downside to being appealing to those who may not have exercised in many years who want to get in on the action.
But there are a number of things that you can do to help prevent injury. First is to be aware of your athletic limitations. Just because you think that you can be the Serena Williams of hobbit tennis does not mean that you should go full force if you’ve not done more than watch Wimbledon in the past few years. But at whatever athletic level you are, it is important to stretch beforehand, wear well-fitting and supportive shoes, and stay hydrated. Know your limits and prepare accordingly and you will be able to progress and grow, and have a ton of fun along the way.
Hopefully this little guide is helpful as you get going in this fun and exciting sport that began here on Bainbridge and continues to spread around the world. Now go grab some paddles and a dimpled ball and get out there and enjoy!
As per usual, the aim here is to provide updated and useful content to the community. If you
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