Coming Home Magazine

Spring 2023 Coming Home magazine

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What Is Pickleball, Anyway? Pickleball is equal parts of all your favorite racquet sports—tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It's played with paddles a bit larger than those used for ping-pong, and a plastic ball with holes, about the size of a Wiffle ball, on a badminton-sized court with a modified, low tennis net dividing it in two. It can be played singles or doubles, though the game's social nature lends itself perfectly to doubles. A healthy activity, pickleball allows players to engage in a little friendly competition with new workout partners, old friends, or family members, which can stimulate both mental and physical well-being. The unique name "pickleball" has two different origin stories. The first (and most common) is that it's named after one of the founders' dogs, Pickles. The second is that one of the founders' wives laughed at the hodge-podge game and said it reminded her of the tradition of "pickle boat races" at some universities. Why Is It So Popular? Because of the low-impact and accessible gameplay, pickleball was first a popular hobby among older crowds. The smaller ball and court make for a less intense game than tennis or badminton, while still being a workout and a good way to get out, breathe fresh air, and get healthy. The firm ball doesn't bounce as far or fast as a tennis or badminton ball, so you're less likely to risk injury chasing after it. Plus, the smaller court means the ball stays close, and you don't have to reach too far to hit it. Today, people of all ages and activity levels play the sport. The social aspect, affordability, and minimal equipment requirements are huge selling points, but overall, it's just fun! What's the Pickleball Lingo? While pickleball is as easy to play as it is to pick up, newbies should know a few terms before heading to their nearest court. • Serve: The first hit of the game that begins play. • Volley: The pass-and-return action of hitting the ball back and forth between two teams or two players, keeping it off the ground. • Double-bounce rule: Pickleball rule that the ball must bounce once on each side before players can begin volleying. • Fault: A mistake made during gameplay. • The Kitchen: A non-volley zone between the net and the service zones. Players may not volley or serve in the Kitchen. • Service zone: One half of each court behind the Kitchen where players must be standing to serve and volley. How Do You Play? With paddles, a ball, court, and players ready, you're set to play! First, either two players—for singles—or four players—for doubles—position themselves on either side of the center net. Then, follow these steps to start a game: Step 1: A player positioned in the rightmost service zone begins play by serving the ball. Each serve is done underhand, below waist level, and is made diagonally across the court. A serve must always be made behind the baseline. Step 2: The receiving player lets the ball bounce once before hitting the ball in return. The returned ball must then bounce once more in the starting team's play zone before they hit it back. Allowing the ball to bounce once on each side before players can begin volleying is called the double-bounce rule. Step 3: Now that the ball has been served and the double-bounce rule has been satisfied, players volley the ball back and forth, hitting it from the air or letting it bounce once before striking it back until someone either misses or faults. Matches are played best two games out of three, and each game is played to 11 points. You must win by at least two points. Top Rules to Remember 1. Call out the score prior to serving. 2. Points can only be scored by the team that served the ball. 3. Teams switch sides after each point is scored, so each player moves service zones. At its core, pickleball is a social game anyone can play and enjoy—will you be giving it a try? 15 What Does the Court Look Like? With a basic setup, you can easily construct a court yourself or find a public court nearby. Check out USA Pickleball to find locations in your area. SERVICE ZONES KITCHEN BASELINE SIDELINE

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