What Is Pickleball? A Game That's Taking Over America (And Why You Should Care)
If you've heard people talking about pickleball in the last year or two, you're not imagining things. The sport has exploded across the U.S. in a way that catches most people off guard. From your local rec center to celebrity endorsements, pickleball is everywhere—and for good reason.
But here's the thing: most people don't actually know what pickleball is beyond the name. The reality is way more interesting than you'd think.
In this guide, we're breaking down everything you need to know about pickleball—what it actually is, how to play it, and why millions of Americans are abandoning their Saturday morning plans to swing a paddle instead.
What Is Pickleball?
Let's start with the basics. Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong into something that feels familiar yet entirely its own thing.
Picture this: a tennis court, but smaller. A net similar to tennis, but lower. Paddles that look like oversized table tennis paddles. And a ball that resembles a wiffle ball—because it actually is one (we'll get to that in a second).
The court is roughly a third of the size of a tennis court, which immediately makes it less intimidating. You can see the whole court at once. Your legs don't get destroyed in the first ten minutes. The net is lower, so you're not struggling to hit the ball over a mountain. Everything about the setup says: "Hey, this is accessible. You can actually do this."
That accessibility is a huge part of why pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. Between 2019 and 2024, participation grew more than 5.7 times over—from 3.46 million players to nearly 20 million. That's not a trend. That's a movement.
The Essential Terminology: What's a Ball, What's a Kitchen, and What Are the Rules?
Okay, so you've got the basic setup. Now let's talk about the specifics—because pickleball has its own language, and understanding it makes actually playing way less confusing.
The Ball: It's Literally Called a Pickleball
Yes, the ball is called a pickleball. The origin is surprisingly straightforward. In 1965, when Joel Pritchard and his wife Joan invented the game on Bainbridge Island, Joan named it after the "pickle boat"—a rowing term for boats made up of leftover or mismatched rowers from other races. She thought the game, which combined leftover equipment from different sports, was a perfect fit for the name.
The dog story is popular but not quite accurate. The Pritchard family dog, Pickles, didn't join the family until 1968—three years after the game was invented and named. The dog was actually named after the game, not the other way around.
The ball itself is a perforated plastic ball—basically a wiffle ball on performance enhancers. It has 26-40 holes depending on whether you're playing indoors or outdoors. The ball weighs less than a tennis ball, travels slower through the air, and bounces lower. All of this means slower rallies and more time to react, which is part of why people who couldn't hang in tennis suddenly find themselves competitive. If you're playing regularly, a Ball Club membership keeps you stocked with fresh balls year-round—because trust us, you'll go through them. It's a simple way to stay competitive without the hassle.
The Kitchen: And No, You Don't Cook In It
In pickleball, "the kitchen" refers to a seven-foot zone on each side of the net. Officially, it's called the "non-volley zone," but everyone calls it the kitchen. Here's what makes it special: you can't hit the ball while standing in the kitchen if it's in the air. You can only hit it if the ball has bounced. This rule prevents players from camping at the net and just volleying everything repeatedly. The kitchen keeps rallies strategic and competitive.
Think of the kitchen as a buffer zone. It forces you to earn your advantage at the net, which is one of the reasons pickleball feels so different from tennis.
The Three Core Rules You Need to Know
Here are the three foundational rules that make pickleball actually playable:
The Serve Must Be Underhand: Unlike tennis, where you can rocket a serve at your opponent's face, pickleball requires underhand serves. The paddle must stay below your wrist when you hit the serve. This immediately levels the playing field. A 72-year-old with a stable underhand serve is just as dangerous as a 25-year-old athletic type. It's brilliant, really.
You Must Let the Ball Bounce Once on Serve: When you serve, the ball lands on your opponent's side and has to bounce. Your opponent has to let it bounce, hit it back to your side (where it also has to bounce). Only after both sides have taken one bounce can you start volleying. This is called the "double bounce rule," and it's essential for keeping rallies competitive and fun.
Kitchen Violations End the Rally: If you step into the kitchen with your feet, or your momentum carries you into the kitchen after you hit a volley, that's a violation. The other team scores the point. This rule keeps the game honest and prevents the net from becoming a dead zone where only the strongest player wins.
Why This Game Has Exploded
Here's something that might surprise you: pickleball isn't just popular with retirees anymore. Sure, the 50+ demographic plays, but the fastest-growing segment of new players is people in their 20s and 30s. In fact, the largest single age group of pickleball players is now 25-34, with over 2.3 million participants.
The numbers tell the real story. Between 2022 and 2023, participation jumped 51.8% in a single year. Over three years (2021-2024), the sport grew 223.5%. To put that in perspective, no other sport in America is growing anywhere close to this rate. Tennis, football, basketball, golf—none of them come close.
Why? Several things converge perfectly. The sport genuinely delivers fast, competitive rallies from day one. You're not spending months hitting balls into the fence. You're rallying on your first day. Pickleball courts are inherently social spaces. Games rotate players constantly, so you meet new people every session. The sport is low-impact but genuinely engaging—you get a real workout, your heart rate climbs, you're thinking strategically, but you're not destroying your knees like tennis would. And there's almost no barrier to entry. A decent paddle runs $80-100. Court fees are minimal. You don't need special shoes or years of training. You just show up and start playing.
What You Need to Actually Start
If you're thinking about trying pickleball, here's what's actually required: a paddle, court shoes with good lateral support (regular sneakers work), and access to a court. That's it. Most rec centers have public courts, and many offer beginner clinics for free or cheap.
A solid beginner paddle will run you $80-120. We recommend starting with a LUMA Pickleball Paddle—durable T700 carbon fiber with balanced weight that keeps you competitive without breaking the bank. The important part is getting one in your hand and understanding what kind of feel works for you. Most beginners benefit from a paddle that's easy to control and forgiving on off-center hits.
Compare the total investment to tennis: a decent racket runs $150-300, specific court shoes are expected, rental fees add up, and you'll probably want an instructor because the learning curve is steep. With pickleball, you show up to open play and learn as you go.
Ready to Get Started?
Now you know what pickleball is. You know it's not a joke. Millions of people are playing it, and they're not stopping.
The best part? You don't need to prepare for weeks. You don't need special training or permission. You just need to show up to a court near you. Most rec centers have open play sessions where anyone can walk in and join.
Grab a water bottle. Find a local court. Introduce yourself to someone. That's genuinely all it takes.