What is Pickleball: An Easy-to-Learn Sport You Can Enjoy at FITZ Club’s Premium Courts

Considered the fastest-growing sport in America, pickleball has quietly captured the hearts of millions across the world. Requiring only a small court and a lightweight paddle, it appeals to players of all ages from the energetic youngling to the older racquet sport enthusiast. Gameplay for this sport can be easily learned in a single afternoon, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to stay active without being intimidated by a complex set of rules. Whether you’re a competitive athlete looking for a new challenge or an average individual who simply wants to have fun while staying fit, pickleball delivers an experience that’s both exciting and achievable.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a unique racquet sport that combines elements from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It originally had its start in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in the United States, invented by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell as a way to entertain their families one weekend. The pair used whatever sports equipment they could find lying around in Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, Washington – which were ping pong paddles and a wiffle ball – and attempted what they could on his property’s badminton court. It was designed as a game that the whole family could play together, with rules that were easy to learn and easier on the joints for those older in age. With its welcoming community and lower physical demands compared to traditional racquet sports, it’s no surprise that it is considered America’s fastest growing sport, being addictively fun for players of all ages and skill levels.

What Do You Need to Play Pickleball?

To play pickleball, you’ll need a pickleball paddle, pickleball balls, and a pickleball court. 

A pickleball paddle is a flat, rectangular racquet that pulls inspiration from both a ping-pong paddle and a tennis racquet. It typically measures anywhere 15-17 inches in length and 7-8 inches in width. The handle is shorter than a tennis racquet’s grip, typically 4-5 inches long and designed for a comfortable one-handed grip. It can weigh anywhere from 7.2 to 8.5 ounces (204 to 241 grams), depending on the player’s preference.

A pickleball is very similar to a wiffle ball. It is a plastic ball that is perforated. While wiffle balls tend to have vertical dashes running around it, a pickleball has holes all throughout it.

A pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court (20′ x 44′) with a slightly lower net. The net height is 36″ at the sidelines and 34″ at the center.  At each end of the court is a 7-foot “kitchen” zone where you can’t hit ‘volleys’ (a shot hit out of the air).

How to Play Pickleball

Once you have your equipment, two teams essentially will hit the plastic ball back and forth over the net with their paddles until someone makes a mistake or can’t return the ball. Only the team that started the point can win that point.

To start the game, a player hits the ball underhand to the other team. This is called serving. The ball must land in the opposite corner area from where they’re standing. After someone serves, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone can hit it while it’s still in the air. 

To recap:

• The serve must bounce once on the receiving team’s side 
• The receiving team hits it back and it bounces once on the serving team’s side 
• Only then can people start hitting the ball before it bounces

Remember that 7-foot zone near the net? It’s called the ‘kitchen’ in pickleball. It’s also important to note that you can’t hit the ball out of the air while standing there. You have to wait for it to bounce first. Players can walk into this area, but only to play a ball that has already bounced.

You only win points on your serve and you continue serving until you lose a rally. A rally is the sequence of continuous shots and exchanges after the initial serve and before a fault occurs, ending the point. When you lose a point, your teammate serves next.

In this game, it’s customary to announce the score before you serve. There are three numbers you must share: your team’s score, opponent’s score, and which server you are (1 or 2). For example, you say “3-2-1”. This means your team has 3 points, your opponents have 2 points, and you’re the first server. Pickleball games go up to 11 points, but you must win by 2 consecutive points. So, games can end 12-10, 15-13, or even longer if tied.

Enjoy Pickleball at FITZ Club

Now that you’ve learned the fundamentals of pickleball, why not put your new knowledge to practice at FITZ Club during your stay? Our multi-sports club in Pattaya features 2 brand-new pickleball courts, made with advanced CoolTop technology surfaces that keep you cool when playing in sunny weather. It is considered one of the best courts in town. At the Royal Cliff, we have a variety of packages that come with exclusive benefits that can be used at the FITZ Club, such as complimentary one-hour daily access to these state-of-the-art courts from 7AM to 4PM, along with numerous other benefits including a complimentary personal training session at our gym and even Cliff Spa discounts. To discover the offering that best suits your kind of stay, click here.

To reserve a stay with us, please send us an email at [email protected] or call us at 038 250 421. You can even chat with us directly via LINE by adding us using @royalcliff or reach us on WhatsApp at +66842289596.