What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that utilizes a combination of components used in other sports. It is basically ping pong meets tennis on a badminton court. The game is played on a surface the size of a badminton court with a tennis-style net, and the balls are similar to those used in Wiffle ball. When invented, the originators used ping pong paddles, but the regulation paddles used today are much larger.

Why Play Pickleball?

Pickleball offers health benefits because it keeps players physically active. However, people play the game because it is fun! Competitors of all ages play it, and there is a social aspect to it that keeps people coming back for more. And while the sport has an element of highly sought after spirited competition, the best players are more focused on strategy than they are on strength and speed.

Brief History

After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard, congressperson from Washington State and Bill Bell, successful businessperson, returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle) to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. At first, they placed the net at badminton height of sixty inches and volleyed the ball over the net. As the weekend progressed, the players found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface and soon the net was lowered to thirty-six inches. The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together.

OPEN-PLAY

Available Every Day as Indicated on the Schedule Below for $9.00 per Session.
Match up the court with players of the same skill level or try your luck with someone that has a higher skill level.
Open -Play is available. Our scheduling system for Open – Play is by ticket on a First Come – First Play Basis with a Max of Ten players per session.
Sessions run every hour during Open - Play. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your session.

If you would like to reserve space on the court for Private Use, please choose Court Rental.
1. If you do not have a Pickleball Pass, you are still able to pay and play by purchasing a Pass at our checkout counter (As long as there is availability).
2. Pickleball rackets will NOT be given out for use at this time. Please remember to bring your racket.
3. Pickleballs will be available to use (with your valid id). You are more than welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Open – Play rate of $9 per player per session.

MONDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          6:00 PM–7:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          7:00 PM–8:00 PM

WEDNESDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          9:00 PM–10:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          10:00 PM–11:00 PM

MONDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 6:00 PM–7:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 7:00 PM–8:00 PM

WEDNESDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 9:00 PM–10:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 10:00 PM–11:00 PM

THURSDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)            5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)            6:00 PM–7:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)            7:00 PM–8:00 PM

FRIDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) 8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) 7:00 PM–8:00 PM

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session) - 7:00 PM–8:00 PM

SATURDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         10:00 AM–11:00 AM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         11:00 AM –12:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)         8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

SUNDAY

Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          10:00 AM–11:00 AM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Pickleball Open Play (10 Person Max per session)          4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Click Here for Open Play Tickets

PICKLEBALL GROWTH:

USA Pickleball membership numbers reached the 70,000 marks in February of 2023, after a 30 percent increase in membership growth in 2022. In its 2023 Topline Participation Report, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row. According to the report, pickleball is now up to a total of 8.9 million players in the United States over the age of six years old, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022. In March, USA Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association announced that the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships, presented by the PPA Tour, will be held in Dallas this November.

PICKLEBALL BASIC RULES:

Pickleball is designed to be fun, so it only makes sense that the rules should remain simple. Even the most novice sports-inclined recreationalists are familiar with tennis, table tennis (ping pong) and badminton – all similar racquet sports. As luck would have it, pickleball is an amalgam of these popular games.

As you read the rules below, you will see that pickleball borrows a little from each of the three sports.

Serve

To begin the game, the ball is served diagonally over the net. The server will stand behind the service line of the right-hand service square and hit the ball underhand and below the waist. Furthermore, the server cannot bounce the ball off the ground before hitting it. In order for the serve to be considered in play, it must clear the seven-foot no volley area and land in the service court left of where the server is standing. The server will alternate from right to left service areas after each service point, but unlike tennis where the server gets two attempts, only one serve is allowed in pickleball. However, if the ball hits the net and lands in play, the server gets another attempt.

Score

A player or team can only score a point when they are serving. The player or team continues serving until they make a fault, at which point the other team will take over the service. A team can score a point on a serve when the ball lands in the service area and the opposing team is either unable to contact the ball or hits it out of bounds or into the net. If the ball is successfully returned and a volley ensues, only the service team gains a point when the opposing team hits the ball out of bounds or is unable to make a return volley on a ball that drops in fair play. Each fault is worth one point to the serving team.

Line Call

Your success at pickleball depends on your ability to hit the ball within the lines on the court. A line call is simply a verbal indication of whether the ball hit within the line or outside of it. For example, if a player shouts “out,” that means the ball has traveled beyond the line and out of fair play. In most situations, the players are responsible for making objective judgments online calls, each making the call on their respective sides. The code of ethics established by the USAPA says that if a call is in question, it should be “resolved in favor of the opponent.”

Fault

A fault ceases all play because a rule has been violated. This can range from hitting the ball into the net during a serve or a return; failure to hit the ball before it bounces twice on a player’s court; hitting the ball out of bounds; or if a player touches the net, either with their paddle, clothes or any part of the body, that’s considered a fault. It is also a fault if the ball strikes a player. However, if the ball hits a player’s paddle hand below the wrist, the ball is considered to be in play. Finally, hitting a player who is out of bounds is.

Dead Ball

When a fault has occurred, the ball is deemed “dead.” Any action that stops play will require declaring the ball dead. The ball will not be considered dead while it is in play until the moment it bounces twice. Players might also call a ball dead when anything hinders play, such as a stray ball that comes onto the playing surface or a person who disrupts play by walking onto the court.

Non-Volley Zone

The non-volley zone is like a “no man’s land.” The zone extends seven feet from the net on either side of it and goes out to the sidelines. Players cannot volley a ball while standing in this zone. Doing so will be considered a fault. Players will often try a drop shot volley, which is a shot that lands as close as possible to the net, preventing the opposing team from making a volley attempt. A successful serve is one that clears the net but also clears the non-volley zone line.

Time-Out

Whether you are playing singles or doubles, only two time-outs are allowed per game for the side (team). Time outs are limited to 60 seconds in length. If a server has started the serving motion, you cannot call a time-out; you can only call a time-out when the ball is not in play. Should the game rules be augmented so the winner is trying to reach twenty-one points, each side is allowed three total time outs. Another exception is for injury time out; however, it must be agreed either with the referee or opposing team that an injury has taken place. Injury time outs are limited to 15 minutes. If the injured person cannot resume playing, the match goes to the opponent. There are also equipment time outs. While players are expected to maintain their clothing and equipment during regular time outs and during the brief periods between games (not to exceed two minutes), fair and safe continuation of the match is also the priority. Should something occur during regular play that compromises clothing or equipment, a two-minute equipment time out can be called.

PICKLEBALL SAFETY TIPS:

Pickleball is Friendlier on the body than most other sports. However, like any other sport, there is a risk of injury that comes along with playing Pickleball. To help reduce injuries the following should be adhered to: