There is sure to be a lot of material to grasp when it comes to any sport. Aside from the foundations of the game, you may notice a lot of jargon related to sports, some of which may sound strange or unfamiliar. If you are not a sports fan, you may feel out of the loop.
With a name like pickleball, you should expect the same for this still relatively new sport. Though it may appear to be similar to other racket sports, such as tennis or badminton, pickleball has its own set of rules and vocabulary that are essential to understand before playing or watching a game.
Once you’ve mastered the principles, you might be tempted to play the game for yourself. If this is the case, make sure you obtain all of the necessary equipment and look for a place that has pickleball paddles for sale. Salted City Sports is a terrific place to start since they provide pickleball paddles that are simple to use for novices while also distinguishing out with art that is as entertaining as the action itself.
What Is the Origin of Name “Pickleball?”
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Pickleball, contrary to popular belief, has nothing to do with pickles in any way, shape, or form. (Though it could be entertaining to have people hitting pickles over a net at each other). There are two hypotheses for its genesis.
According to the wife of one of the creators, the name comes from her finding it comparable to “pickle boats,” which were teams of oarsmen made up of individuals from several boats. The game itself was built of scraps from other sports, such as Wiffle ball and table tennis, resulting in this notion.
While this is the most commonly held belief, some claim that the name is derived from the founder’s dog, whom was named Pickles. Sad to say that Pickles, however, was not adopted until after pickleball was established, according to the wife.
Pickleball Terminology
When reading a pickleball manual, you will note that there are many unique phrases used to describe the rules and play styles:
Styles of Serving
Pickleball balls resemble Wiiffle balls but have more holes to prevent them from being lifted by the wind in mid-air. As a result, they are slightly heavier and do not have a high bounce. Players frequently prefer to swing underhand in order to create a better serve, which is also known as a “volley serve.”
Some players, especially those who have been playing for a long time, may still choose to bounce the ball first. This usually necessitates them lunging down further than tennis or badminton players. This method of serving is known as a “drop serve.”
Rule of “Two-Bounce”
Before a game of pickleball can begin, players must ensure that they are properly serving. The “two bounce” rule comes into play here. When the ball is served to the other team, they must let it bounce once before volleying it back over. In exchange, the server must let the ball bounce once. After that, any team can volley.
This occurs whenever a new serve is performed during a match. Balls are only allowed to bounce once on each side. Furthermore, after the two-bounce requirement is met, the ball does not need to be bounced in order to be volleyed.
“The Kitchen”
The notion that a game with a food-related name also contains a word about a kitchen may make you giggle, but this region is actually an important component of the game. While most picklers refer to this area of the court as the “kitchen,” it is also known as the “no volley zone.”
This is the region where players cannot strike the ball, as implied by the more blunt name. It’s just in front of the net, with a line for picklers to stand behind. The major reason for this is to prevent picklers from spike balls that are difficult to return to the other side. (It can also help save a facial injury).
While there is no clear basis for the name, one belief is that it was inspired by a shuffleboard. In this game, the kitchen is a zone where players lose ten points if their puck goes there. Given that pickleball borrows equipment from other sports, this is a possibility.
Scoring from the Outside
Side-out scoring, which is also employed in racquetball, implies that only the serving side may get a point. When the other team makes a mistake, the server scores a point and serves again. However, if they make a mistake, no one scores, and the opponents become the new servers.
Even if they are losing, the server always mentions their score first when calling out scores. In a doubles match, they also put a “one” or “two” after the scores to indicate whether they were the side who served first when the game originally began.
Other Information to Consider
Though the major jargon can explain many of the game’s principles, there are a few other essentials that you must be aware of if you ever wish to play pickleball:
- The ball must be bounced diagonally to the opposing side when served.
- Unless one team leads by one point, games are played until one side achieves 11 points. In such instances, they play until someone is two points ahead.
- Picklers may stand wherever during the server unless they are the server, in which case they must stand near the center line.
Participate in the Fun!
Why not put your newfound knowledge to good use now that you have it? Pickleball’s popularity has expanded dramatically over the years, and there are more possibilities to test it out. Even if your location lacks a league, it is still a wonderful way to keep active and socialize with family and friends. All you need is the correct tools.
When both beginners and experts want a pickleball paddle that is simple to serve while still displaying their personality, they go to Salted City Sports. The crew appreciates the humor in parts of the game’s vocabulary and the enjoyment it offers to players, so they believe the paddles used should be no different.
Every paddle they make has handcrafted designs that both youngsters and adults will love. However, to further entice you, Salted City Sports also provides personalized paddles, allowing you to express your creative side! Along with a powerful and broad core, their paddles are also comfortable to grasp, allowing you to play for extended periods of time without developing calluses.
While you now have a better understanding of pickleball, you may still have some concerns about the game and how to effectively serve the ball. You may learn more about all of this by visiting www.saltedcitysports.com and using the guides they have available.
Sports terminology may make games look more difficult than they are. This is also true for pickleball. The game is not just full of silly-sounding terms, but it is also exhilarating and all-encompassing. Prove it to yourself. You might one day become an ardent pickler.