Watch: sport overview
These short videos from USA Pickleball—the sport’s national governing body—introduce the court, basic gear, and why pickleball has grown so quickly. We embed official YouTube players only; the written guide below adds detail for beginners.
What is pickleball?
90-second overview: court size, kitchen, scoring, and who governs the sport.
Fundamentals for beginners
Core concepts before your first session—how rallies flow and what to expect on court.
Most important rules
Kitchen, serve motion, and line calls—clarifications beginners and intermediates often get wrong.
Complete beginner rules guide
Longer walkthrough of court layout, scoring, serving, and kitchen play from PrimeTime Pickleball.
A quick introduction
Pickleball is played with solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a court roughly the size of a badminton doubles court (20 feet wide by 44 feet long). Most recreational games are doubles—two players per side—but singles is common at higher levels.
The sport was invented in 1965 and has exploded in popularity because the learning curve is gentle: new players can rally within minutes, yet skilled players still rely on strategy, touch, and athleticism.
The court
A standard pickleball court includes:
- Baseline and sidelines — same dimensions for singles and doubles.
- Non-volley zone (the “kitchen”) — a 7-foot area on each side of the net where volleys are not allowed.
- Service areas — right and left service courts; the serve must land diagonally in the correct box.
- Net height — 36 inches at the sidelines, 34 inches in the center.
How is it different from tennis?
- Smaller court → shorter points and less running for beginners.
- Underhand serve only → easier to start serving consistently.
- Kitchen rule → encourages soft “dink” shots instead of constant power.
- Light paddle and wiffle-style ball → slower pace at the rec level.
Who plays pickleball?
Public courts, clubs, and parks host open play sessions for all ages. Community groups organize round robins, ladders, and leagues. Many players use apps to find courts, coordinate match play, and track results—exactly what Pickleball Now is built for.
Next step: Read our how to play guide for serving, scoring, and kitchen rules in plain language.