Knowra Pickleball Pickleball Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a perforated plastic ball on a badminton-sized court. Its rules combine features of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, including an underhand serve and a non-volley zone near the net.
Pickleball court : A 20-by-44-foot playing surface divided by a net and marked with service courts and non-volley zones. Its compact dimensions and kitchen lines shape movement and shot selection.
Pickleball paddle : A solid-faced paddle used to strike the ball, typically made from composite materials or wood. Its rigid face replaces the strung racket used in tennis and badminton.
Bainbridge Island : An island in Washington State where pickleball was created in 1965. The sport originated there as a family game devised by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum.
Pickleball doubles : A format in which two teams of two players compete on a pickleball court. Doubles is the sport’s common social format and makes teamwork central to positioning.
Platform tennis : A doubles racket sport played outdoors on a raised, enclosed court with a spongy ball. It is another compact-court paddle sport, but uses different equipment, boundaries, and scoring.
Non-volley zone : The seven-foot area on each side of the net where volleys are prohibited. This zone prevents players from dominating rallies with close-range smashes.
Pickleball ball : A hollow plastic ball with round holes, designed for play indoors or outdoors. Its light, perforated construction produces a slower flight than a tennis ball.
Joel Pritchard : An American politician who helped create pickleball on Bainbridge Island in 1965. Pritchard was among the three friends credited with devising the game.
Pickleball singles : A format in which one player competes against one player on a pickleball court. Singles shifts the sport’s emphasis toward court coverage and endurance.
Padel : A racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court where walls keep the ball in play. Padel also adapts tennis for a smaller court, but its walls and stringed rackets change rallies.
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