If you see people hitting a Wiffle-type plastic ball over a low (34″-high) net on a badminton-size court with larger Ping-Pong-style paddles, that’s pickleball. Played as singles or doubles, pickleball—invented in 1965 by former Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and two friends—is a mashup of Ping-Pong and tennis. “The constant action is a lot like Ping-Pong—there’s very little time between points,” says Rocky Clark, of Portland, ME, a regional director for the U.S.A. Pickleball Association. “And the footwork and court positioning are as important as in tennis.” You serve the ball underhand and score a point when your opponent faults (fails to return ball, hits the ball out-of-bounds). The winner is the first to get 11 points. Not surprisingly, it’s great exercise: A 150-lb person can burn about 360 calories in 30 minutes of aggressive playing. Allegedly named after Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, the sport is cheap—as little as $8 for several hours. And, Clark says, with “drop in” scheduling—you can just show up and start playing—finding a game is easy. For more rules and to locate one of the 4,000 courts, check out usapa.org.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
Celebrating the Underrated Genius of Riviera Country Club
Tiger Woods Will Make His First Start of the Year at the Genesis Invitational
Racing Legend Travis Pastrana to Make 2023 Daytona 500 Attempt
Training Secrets That Keep Jon Rahm a Powerhouse on the PGA Tour
The Best Prop Bets for Super Bowl LVII
Everything You Need to Know About the Rolex Series
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
If you see people hitting a Wiffle-type plastic ball over a low (34″-high) net on a badminton-size court with larger Ping-Pong-style paddles, that’s pickleball.
Played as singles or doubles, pickleball—invented in 1965 by former Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and two friends—is a mashup of Ping-Pong and tennis.
“The constant action is a lot like Ping-Pong—there’s very little time between points,” says Rocky Clark, of Portland, ME, a regional director for the U.S.A. Pickleball Association. “And the footwork and court positioning are as important as in tennis.”
You serve the ball underhand and score a point when your opponent faults (fails to return ball, hits the ball out-of-bounds). The winner is the first to get 11 points.
Not surprisingly, it’s great exercise: A 150-lb person can burn about 360 calories in 30 minutes of aggressive playing.
Allegedly named after Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, the sport is cheap—as little as $8 for several hours. And, Clark says, with “drop in” scheduling—you can just show up and start playing—finding a game is easy.
For more rules and to locate one of the 4,000 courts, check out usapa.org.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
Celebrating the Underrated Genius of Riviera Country Club
Tiger Woods Will Make His First Start of the Year at the Genesis Invitational
Racing Legend Travis Pastrana to Make 2023 Daytona 500 Attempt
Training Secrets That Keep Jon Rahm a Powerhouse on the PGA Tour
The Best Prop Bets for Super Bowl LVII
Everything You Need to Know About the Rolex Series
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
Celebrating the Underrated Genius of Riviera Country Club
Tiger Woods Will Make His First Start of the Year at the Genesis Invitational
Racing Legend Travis Pastrana to Make 2023 Daytona 500 Attempt
Training Secrets That Keep Jon Rahm a Powerhouse on the PGA Tour
The Best Prop Bets for Super Bowl LVII
Everything You Need to Know About the Rolex Series
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
Celebrating the Underrated Genius of Riviera Country Club
Tiger Woods Will Make His First Start of the Year at the Genesis Invitational
Racing Legend Travis Pastrana to Make 2023 Daytona 500 Attempt
Training Secrets That Keep Jon Rahm a Powerhouse on the PGA Tour
The Best Prop Bets for Super Bowl LVII
Everything You Need to Know About the Rolex Series
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
