Pickleball is played on a court of the same dimensions as doubles badminton. Its measurements are 13.41 m long by 6.10 wide. The terrain can be outdoors or indoors, but it is necessary that the surface is rigid and smooth.
For example, it can be practiced in pavilions, tennis courts, schoolyards. To get a better idea, on a tennis court, it can include about four pickleball courts.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a fast-paced and easy-to-learn paddle sport. This sport is booming and if you are a racket sports lover take note because we are sure you will love it. Pickleball is played primarily in doubles, but singles also exist.
The Game Dynamics
The game dynamics and hitting technique is similar to that of tennis. However, it requires less physical and technical demand than other sports.
In addition, not much experience is necessary, which makes it suitable for all audiences, regardless of age or physical condition. Of course, the pace of the game is faster and requires a little more strategy. Generally, the whole family can play this long rally sport without any prior racket experience.
What Not to Do Indoors and Outdoors
During a round, a point is added to the scoreboard each time the opposing team commits a foul. These fouls are similar to those committed in other games such as tennis and badminton, and are as follows:
- Don’t hit the ball over the net
- If the ball bounces a second time to the side of the court
- Hitting the ball out of bounds
- Enter the no-return zone
The Court
Regarding the inside marks of the field, we find the non-volley zone on the sides of the net, which measure 2.13 m wide, and the rest with a central division perpendicular to the net, resulting in a service box. 4.57 m by 3.05 m.
- Most track size is 6.10m wide by 13.41m long.
- The minimum recommended space around the court is 3m on each baseline and 2m on each sideline to allow the player to move safely.
- The height of the net is 92cm at each end of the net and 86cm in the middle.
Playing outdoors provides more space, but you will still be open to rain and other types of climate affecting the game on any given day.
The Ball
It is perhaps the simplest of the entire game. It is a plastic sphere between 7 and 7.5 cm in diameter and weighing between 22 and 26 grams, which is perforated; in this way, it is much lighter and faster.
It can be any color, such as white, green or orange, although the most common are usually yellow. It is easier to retrieve the ball while playing inside. If you hit the ball into a shrub or at a long distance, then it will be harder to find.
The Net
The pickleball net is very similar to those used to play paddle tennis or tennis. It has a length of 6.7 m and a height of 91.44 cm at each end, and 86 cm in the center.
Pickleball can be played with fixed nets. Fixed nets have posts that are fixed to the surface of the court. Portable nets are very easy to set up and take down quickly. These nets allow pickleball to be played anywhere there is a hard, flat surface, whether it is inside or outside.
Should you play on a wet field?
Suppose you wake up one morning on a day that you had planned to play pickleball outside. However, it has started to rain, and the field is soaked. Can you still play? The answer is no. Especially if you don’t want to slip and injure yourself.
Don’t play on wet fields. Outdoor pickleball court surfaces are usually gravel and offer excellent traction, but when wet the surface, especially the lines, becomes very slippery. Slippery slopes also increase the risk of injury.
Pickleball and Wet Court
One way to approach the issue of wet layers is to do a visual test. If the wet layer is one color, it is advisable not to go near it. If there is a mix of two colors (ie some areas are dry and some are wet), then you are getting close to the start of the match.
However, there are things you can do to speed up the drying process. Depending on the weather, pickleball courts can dry in as little as 30 minutes with a little ingenuity and sun.
Conclusion
To enjoy playing pickleball, a simple racket sport suitable for the whole family and for which it is not necessary to have great physical condition, it is enough to have a space that is 13.41 meters long and 6.1 meters wide, a net, a shovel and a ball.
This sport is very easy to learn and can be practiced by anyone, whatever their age and physical condition. It can also be played anywhere there is a flat surface, indoor or outdoor.