What Is Pickleball? The Fastest-Growing Sport Explained

If you have walked past a court with a smaller net than tennis and heard a distinctive hollow “pock” sound, you have probably seen pickleball. It looks familiar at first glance, borrowing something from a few racket sports you already know, but it plays quite differently once you are on the court.

What is pickleball, exactly?

Pickleball is played with a solid paddle, similar in idea to a table tennis bat but much larger, and a hard plastic ball full of holes, similar to a wiffle ball. Players hit the ball back and forth over a net until one side fails to return it. It is usually played in doubles, though singles is also common. The scoring and net height borrow from tennis, the underhand serve and paddle borrow a feel from table tennis, and the court size and pace sit closer to badminton.

Where do you play pickleball?

A pickleball court is about 44 feet long and 20 feet wide (roughly 13.4m by 6.1m), the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high at the center. Courts can be outdoors or indoors, and are often painted onto existing tennis or basketball courts since the playing area fits comfortably within one.

What gear do you need?

Two things: a paddle and a ball. A pickleball paddle is solid, usually built with a polymer honeycomb core and a fiberglass or carbon fiber hitting surface, no strings involved. The ball is a lightweight, perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball, designed to fly slower and truer than a tennis ball. Beyond that, comfortable court shoes and something to keep score with are all you need to get started.

How does a game work, briefly?

Play starts with an underhand serve hit diagonally into the opposite service area. Both the serve and the return of serve must bounce once before being volleyed, known as the double-bounce rule, which keeps the early part of each rally grounded rather than an immediate net battle. Near the net on both sides is a zone called the “kitchen”, where volleying (hitting the ball before it bounces) is not allowed. Games are usually played to 11 points, win by 2, with only the serving side able to score.

Why is pickleball booming?

A few reasons keep coming up. The court is small, so rallies stay within reach even for beginners. The ball is lighter and slower than a tennis ball, which softens the learning curve and reduces impact on joints, making it approachable at almost any age. It is highly social, usually played in doubles, and courts are cheaper and easier to build than full tennis courts, which means clubs and municipalities can add them quickly. The result is a sport that has spread fast across the Netherlands and the rest of Europe over the past few years.

Who does pickleball suit?

Pretty much anyone looking for a social, low-barrier racket sport. Beginners appreciate how quickly they can sustain a rally, older players value the lower impact on knees and shoulders compared to tennis, and competitive players enjoy the tactical depth around the kitchen line once they progress. It works well as a first racket sport for kids and as an easy pickup for adults who used to play tennis, squash or badminton.

Once you have played a few times, a paddle that is actually yours makes the game more fun. You can design your own custom pickleball paddle for €39, incl. VAT, with a carbon hitting surface and your own design on the face, made in the Netherlands and shipped across the EU within 7 days, from a single unit.

Open the designer and start your design →