HOW TO PLAY PICKLEBALL

Everything You Need To Know To Play Pickleball.

An older man with white hair playing pickleball on an indoor court with a blue and green mural in the background. He is wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts, and a knee brace on his left leg.
People playing pickleball in an indoor court with bright purple and blue flooring. A large mural on the wall depicts a pirate with a beard, a hat with a skull, and a rainbow in a cartoon style. Part of a banner with the words "On The Rally" is visible.

THE BASICS

Pickleball is a mashup of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, but with its own unique twist!

A man playing pickleball on an indoor court with purple flooring, holding a paddle in one hand and a ball in the other, in front of a mural with a dragon and a large moon.

IT’S ALL IN THE BOUNCE

Your goal is to score points by smacking a funky plastic ball (kinda like a wiffle ball) over the net and inside the lines, while making your friends run all over the court. You start by serving diagonally, and the ball must bounce once on each side of the court before you can go all out.

a man playing pickleball on an indoor court in Halifax

HOLD ON Y’ALL

If you want to step into the kitchen to smack the ball, you have to let it bounce first. You want that ball to stay inside the white lines because every time your friend fails to return it or sends it flying out of bounds, you're racking up points. Now, here's the catch: you only score points when you're the one serving and win. But watch out! If your opponent steals wins, they get a shot at scoring too.

older man playing pickleball on an indoor court with a purple floor, holding a paddle, wearing a knee brace, smiling, with a colorful abstract mural in the background.

IT AINT OVER TIL IT’S OVER

The first team to hit 11 points (or whatever number you agree on) with a two-point lead snags the victory. Easy, right? So grab a paddle, bring your friends, and reserve a court for some pickleball fun! Trust me, you'll be hooked in no time. Game on, y'all!