Although pickleball might seem like a fun new trend, the sport has been around for almost 80 years! It’s gained popularity recently as a great way to work heart-healthy exercise into a weekly routine. Players of all ages are flocking to the sport, since it’s easy to learn, fun to play, and can be as competitive as you’d like. According to the American Heart Association, the average healthy adult should get between 75 minutes to 150 minutes of exercise each week, depending on how intense your physical activity is. Because pickleball can be as hardcore or as laid back as you choose, it is a great sport for heart health.

Ready to learn more about pickleball? It might just become your new favorite sport.

How Do You Play Pickleball?

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. Part of why pickleball has grown in popularity so fast is that it’s very easy to learn.

Pickleball is played on a court much like a tennis court. Here’s how basic gameplay works:
 

1. Decide Who Serves First

You can choose who gets the first serve by tossing a coin, having an outside party pick for you, or by playing a game like rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets the serve.

2. Start the Game With an Underhand Serve

Whichever side wins the server will serve from the right-hand side of their half of the court, to the left-hand side of the opposing team’s half of the court, or “cross-court.”

3. Make Sure The Ball Bounces on the Serve and on the Return

This is called a two-bounce rule. After the first two hits of the game, you can start to volley the ball back and forth without making sure it bounces.

4. The Rally Continues Until a Fault Is Made

A fault is when someone hits the ball into the net, someone hits the ball out of bounds, or someone lets the ball double-bounce.

5. The Serving Team Tries To Score, The Receiving Team Tries to Steal the Serve

In pickleball, only the serving team can score. If the serving team does score, they get a point, and, if you’re playing doubles pickleball, the second person on the serving team gets a chance to serve. The serving team will continue to serve until they fault. Then the serve switches to the other team. The other team will then repeat this process and try to score themselves.

6. The First to Reach 11 Points Wins!

Pickleball is played until the first team scores 11 points, but there’s a catch. To win a game of pickleball, you have to win by 2 points.

That’s how you play pickleball! Want to learn more? Check out USA Pickleball for more information.

Who Can Play Pickleball?

Pickleball can be played as a doubles game (with two players on either side of the net) or as a game of singles (with only one person on each side). Regardless of how you choose to play, the game is great for players of almost any age. It also makes for a great hobby for anyone who likes to be active outdoors. Like most sports, however, anyone who is physically limited by age or ability should consult with their healthcare provider to ensure that pickleball is safe for them. 

Read more: The Importance of Hobbies

How Hard Is Pickleball, Really?

One of the great things about pickleball is that it’s only as difficult as you want to make it. You can play with the basic rules, at a leisurely pace, and keep things less competitive for a more laid-back, less intense form of exercise. Or, you can play with advanced rules, house rules, or in a local league, where the sport can get quite competitive.

What Do I Need to Play Pickleball?

To play pickleball, you need 2 or 4 players, a tennis court (or a pickleball court, if you can find one in your area), two wooden pickleball paddles, and the ball itself. You’ll want to wear tennis shoes that fit well, along with some light-weight, breathable workout clothes. Once you have all of this equipment, you’re ready to play!

So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know the rules of pickleball, you’re fully equipped to hop into this fun new hobby. Grab a few paddles and a ball, slide on your sneakers, and get out to the tennis courts with a friend for a pickleball game or two. Oh, and if you’re looking for fun new ways to get heart healthy, why not join our Healthy Heart Challenge? Catch you on the pickleball courts!