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Pickleball Terms You Need to Know
Pickleball terminology can be quite foreign to a new player. The following is a list of terms you need to know that will help you get started – and at least be able to identify what is going on. Ace. A serve that the opposing player isn’t able to return. Backcourt. This is the area near the baseline and is just a few feet inside the court. Backswing. Moving the paddle backward to prepare for the next shot. Bounce It. This term is important for doubles play. Your partner will say this when they think the ball will fall out of bounds so that you don’t try to hit it. Cross-court. The area on the opposite side of your court and diagonal from you. Dead Paddle. This is when the ball is hit with not enough force and is extremely short. Some people also call this a falafel. Dink. A soft shot that barely goes over the net, making it difficult for the opponent to return. Doubles. A pickleball game played with four people, two on each side of the court. Drive. A low shot that lands in the opponent’s backcourt. Kitchen. This is a slang term for the non-volley zone close to the net. Lob. This is a shot that is very high and over the heads of the opponent. This requires your opponent to move back to the baseline. Mid-court. The area of the court between the non-volley zone and the baseline. Paddle. In pickleball this is equivalent to a racket in tennis. Paddles are smaller than tennis rackets. Pickle. This is the term you shout before you serve to alert everyone you are about to serve. Pickled. This term applies when you lose the game having scored zero points. If the final score is 11-0 you have been pickled. Poach. The term used for a member playing doubles who crosses into their partner’s area. Serve. In pickleball this is an underhand stroke that is made below the waist and that puts the ball into play. Shadowing. This is when doubles partners move in unison staying about six feet apart at all times. This prevents large gaps on the court. Singles. A pickleball game played with two people, one on each side of the court. Smash. This is a shot that is performed overhand when the ball is over the hitter’s head. This shot lands with a lot of force. Volley. When you hit the ball in the air before it has a chance to bounce, it is called a volley.  So it's your first day on the pickleball court? You are about to get caught up in the fastest growing sport.....yes you are!!
First what is pickleball?? Wikipedia describes the game as; "Pickleball is a racquet sport which combines elements of badminton,tennis, and table tennis. The sport is played on a court with the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court. The net is similar to a tennis net, but is mounted two inches lower. The game is played with a hard paddle and a polymer wiffle ball." Pickleball is great for anyone at any age! And we think that everyone should get out and play it! It's a great form of exercise, but perhaps one of the biggest benefits is that it is fun and social--making it perfect for playing with family, old friends and new friends too! Where did the name come from? The most popular story is that the game was named after the sports founder's dog "Pickles." This is somewhat incorrect as the founder's dog actually came along after the game was invented and was actually named after the sport. The game was named by the wife of the founder who said that the first hand shaped paddles resembled a "pickle boat." What equipment do you need to play pickleball? Your basic needs are a pickleball paddle and balls. A court with a net-you can find a local club, rec center, or even chalk draw your own on a section of concrete somewhere safe. And lastly, you will want good court shoes that provide support and have non-black soles, which can permanently mark up the court. How to choose the correct pickleball paddle? The best way to find your perfect paddle is through trial and error! The first consideration is the size of the paddle handle. Choose a grip size that’s comfortable, but keep in mind that a too-large grip size will force you to squeeze the paddle too tightly, tiring you and preventing more accurate shots. New to the game and hesitant to spend big on a paddle? Ask a friend if they have an “older retired” paddle you can hit with as you start learning the game. How do to hold the pickleball paddle? The three main types of pickleball grips (like tennis) are the Continental, the Eastern, and the Western, with a slight variation called the Semi-Western grip. Most players use the Continental grip (which is like holding a hammer or shaking hands). What are the basic shots in pickleball? The shots used in pickleball are the forehand, backhand, volley, serve, and the dink shot. For more detailed instructions on these shots? Search for videos on YouTube! How to keep score in pickleball? Points are scored only on the serve; the receiving side does not score. At the start of the game, the player on the right side (even court) serves diagonally to the opposite court. If the server scores a point, they then move to the left side (odd court) and serves diagonally to the opposite court. The scoring goes to 11 points. (Tournaments sometimes goes to 15 or 21.) In all game play you must win the game by 2 points. Those are the pickleball basics (you will learn more as you play more)! On a side note -it’s the server’s job to call the score before each point, and each player calls what they see as “out” on their side of the net. If the ball touches a line, even the slightest, it’s considered in. Quick tips for new picklers
Get to the courts, play nice and enjoy the game! |
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