Learn / Getting started
Getting started
What pickleball is, where it came from, the court, the gear you need and how your very first game will go.
Pickleball is easy to start and hard to put down. These guides cover everything a new player needs before stepping on court: the basic idea of the game, its unlikely backyard origin, the court lines, the equipment, how to find a place to play and what actually happens in a first open-play session.
BasicsCourt dimensions and linesA pickleball court is 20 by 44 feet with a 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of a net that is 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches in the middle. Here is every line and what it does.
BasicsEquipment basics for new playersAll you need is a paddle, the right ball, court shoes and ideally eye protection. Here is what the rules allow and what to look for on a beginner budget.
BasicsHow to find courts and people to play withPublic parks, community centers, gyms and clubs all host pickleball. Here is how to find courts near you, how open play works and how to join leagues and clinics.
BasicsThe history of pickleballInvented on a summer afternoon in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball grew from a backyard family game into one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
BasicsWhat is pickleball?A paddle sport played with a perforated plastic ball on a badminton-sized court. Here is how a rally works, why it is so easy to learn and why so many people get hooked.
BasicsYour first game, step by stepWhat really happens when you show up for your first open play session, from stacking your paddle to calling the score, plus the beginner mistakes everybody makes.