PICKLEBALL. A BRIEF HISTORY 

What started as a backyard game has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon!

Pickleball’s origin story dates back to the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell, a businessman, came home. They found their children bored and restless.

Fortunately, the property where they were staying had an old badminton court. Without the right equipment, Pritchard and Bell got creative. They used table tennis paddles and a plastic ball to make it work.

As play progressed throughout the weekend the pair found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt and lowered the net to 36 inches high. Enter Barney McCallum, friend of Joel and Bill, with McCallum in the mix the three men created the rules for pickleball. And the rest they say, is history.

The game we know today started from simple beginnings and has now grown into a global phenomenon enjoyed by all ages. To start playing pickleball, JOOLA has five important things to know for beginners:

1 - GETTING STARTED WITH PICKLEBALL

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for a good reason—it’s fun, social, and easy to learn! Playing pickleball has many benefits. It helps you physically, mentally, and socially. That’s why people of all ages and skill levels love it.

All you need is a 20 x 44 ft court, a net, a ball, and a paddle to jump in. The court features a 7-foot "kitchen" zone on either side of the net, where players cannot volley. You can play singles or doubles, but the goal is always the same: have a blast and improve with every rally!

2 - PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Ready to elevate your game? Mastering pickleball takes practice and a focus on fundamentals. Work on perfecting your serves, volleys, and dinks, and don’t forget to fine-tune your footwork.

Join a clinic, drill with friends, or challenge yourself against a variety of opponents. With practice, your confidence and performance will soar to new heights!

Understanding Pickleball’s Physical Demands

Pickleball 101

3 - WHERE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL

Looking for your new favorite pickleball court? You’ll find them in parks, gyms, pickleball only facilities and even at a community center near you.

You can use many online court finders. You can also visit your local pickleball club for organized play and events. JOOLA players know there’s always a court nearby—and it’s always a great day for pickleball!

JOOLA Partner Facilities

4 - KEEPING SCORE

Games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Only the team serving can score points. The server announces the score before each serve. This includes your score, your opponent’s score, and your server number. 

Singles - Singles scoring is a bit more straightforward than doubles scoring. The starting server starts serving from the right side of the court (serving to the opposite side of the court). If the server wins the point, they then move to the left side service box to serve and continue to switch serving sides as they win points. When a player loses a point, it’s a ‘side-out,’ and the opposite player now serves.

In singles you will always serve from the right side of the court if your score is an even number and from the left side on odd numbers. So, if you are up 2-1, you should be serving from the right side of the court. If you are up 3-1, you should be serving from the left side of the court.

In doubles, each team usually has two servers for each service turn. This includes a 1st server and a 2nd server. The only exception is the first serving sequence of the game.

In a doubles game, the team that serves first has only one server. This rule helps balance the game. They begin with their “2nd server” and announce the score as 0-0-2.

If they win the first point, the server moves to the left box and serves at 1-0-2. If the serving team loses the next point, it’s a side out, meaning the serve goes to the other team. The other team now starts on their 1st server with a score of 0-1-1.

As the serving team wins points the server continues to switch the side they are serving from until they lose a point. When the 1st server loses a point, their teammate, the 2nd server, now serves.

When the 2nd server loses a point, it results in a side out. The serve goes to the other team. The game continues with each side getting 2 serves per turn for the rest of the game.

5 - WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY

Starting strong begins with the right gear! Grab a JOOLA paddle, a few pickleballs, and find a court nearby. Your paddle is your secret weapon—choose one that suits your playing style. Make sure to wear court shoes for support and agility, and remember the most important rule…. HAVE FUN!

JOOLA’s Got Everything You Need to Pick up and Play:

Beginner Pickleball Paddles and Intermediate Pickleball Paddles

Pickleball Accessories and Pickleballs

Pickleball Apparel and Pickleball Bags