--- title: "Pickleball: The Sport Taking the World by Storm" description: Learn more about the game of pickleball, the rules and equipment needed as well as why it is gaining in popularity with participants of all ages. image: https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/hubfs/couples-playing-pickleball.jpg --- [![image-(29)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/hubfs/image-(29).png "image-(29)")](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/) - [Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/) - [Players Benches](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/players-benches/) - [Outdoor Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/outdoor-bleachers/) - [Telescopic Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/telescopic-bleachers/) - [Accessible Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/accessible-bleachers/) - [Grandstand Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/grandstand-bleachers/) - [Tip & Roll Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/tip-roll-bleachers/) - [Arena Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/arena-bleachers/) - [Press Boxes](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/press-boxes/) - [Transportable Bleachers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/bleachers/transportable-bleachers/) - [Basketball](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/) - [Outdoor Basketball Systems](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/outdoor-basketball-systems/) - [Indoor Basketball Systems](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/indoor-basketball-systems/) - [Basketball Backboards](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/basketball-backboards/) - [Basketball Hoops](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/basketball-hoops/) - [Basketball Accessories](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/basketball/basketball-accessories/) - [Padding](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/padding/) - [Padded Rooms](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/padding/padded-rooms/) - [Custom Wall Padding](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/padding/custom-wall-padding/) - [Folding Gym Mats](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/padding/folding-gym-mats/) - [Netting](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/) - [Baseball & Softball Netting](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/baseball-softball-netting/) - [Custom Sports Netting](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/custom-sports-netting/) - [Complete Netting Kits](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/complete-netting-kits/) - [Golf Course Netting](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/golf-course-netting/) - [Hockey Netting](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/hockey-netting/) - Other Products - [Court Sports](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/court-sports/) - [Gym Divider Curtains](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/gym-divider-curtains/) - [Gym Floor Covers](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/gym-floor-covers-2/gym-floor-cover/) - [Hockey](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/netting/hockey-netting/) - [Soccer Equipment](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/soccer-equipment/) - [Custom Fabrication](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/custom-fabrication/) # The Best Seats In The House ## [Pickleball: The Sport Taking the World by Storm](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/pickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm) Posted by [Ryan Wilby](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/author/ryan-wilby) Apr 13, 2017 5:35:47 AM ![couples-playing-pickleball.jpg](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/hs-fs/hubfs/couples-playing-pickleball.jpg?width=619&height=411&name=couples-playing-pickleball.jpg) **Image: USA Pickleball Association Facebook** It’s not quite tennis, not quite badminton and not quite ping pong; it’s [pickleball](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/court-sports/pickleball/) and it’s one of the fastest growing activities on the planet. Designed for fun at all ages and skill levels, pickleball utilizes many of the elements found in related racket sports but instead uses a modified ball and paddle. Created in the American Pacific northwest by a trio of dads, the game was invented to keep their children busy after they grew tired of traditional summer activities. Crafting the original equipment and creating a unique set of rules, the game is now sweeping across Canada and the United States as more Asian and European countries also begin to install custom courts. Despite the absence of any real pickles, the name of the game was thought to have originated after one of the founders, Joel Pritchard’s dog, named Pickles, would spend most his time chasing stray balls without returning them. **How It’s Played** Played in either singles or doubles formats, the game commences with an underhand serve over the custom-sized net in the centre of the court. Points are awarded only to the serving team, which changes each time a fault is committed by the serving team. Much like the game of tennis, the opposing team must allow the ball to bounce once before returning volley.  Typically speaking, games are played to 11 points where the winner must win by a margin of two points. The court measures the same as a doubles badminton court measuring 20 x 44 feet, with a net height of 36 inches at the side court and 34 inches in the middle. Similar to tennis, the court is broken down into right and left service courts and a seven-foot no-volley zone in front of the net.  This area is referred to by players as the “kitchen”. **Equipment** If there is already a court and netting system in place, you will only need to acquire the specialized paddle and official pickleball ball. These paddles are sized between a tennis racket and a ping pong paddle and are constructed of high-grade materials such as aluminum and graphite. Similar to a whiffle ball, the balls have holes through them and are designed for both indoor or outdoor play. ![pickleball-net.png](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pickleball-net.png?width=465&height=279&name=pickleball-net.png) If you are starting from scratch, you will need an existing or newly-constructed court as well as a complete system including posts and net.   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/319534/2d5c57ac-9073-4743-b066-219cc1735f30.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/319534/2d5c57ac-9073-4743-b066-219cc1735f30) Topics: [Pickleball](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/pickleball) [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Pickleball%3A%20The%20Sport%20Taking%20the%20World%20by%20Storm) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.sportsystemscanada.com%2Fblog%2Fpickleball-the-sport-taking-the-world-by-storm%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Search for Specific Products or Projects This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/319534/ae9e3935-993b-4d83-ad29-cbbfab6c6a5a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/319534/ae9e3935-993b-4d83-ad29-cbbfab6c6a5a) ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Bleachers (274)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/bleachers) - [Custom Padding (102)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/custom-padding) - [Basketball Equipment (93)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/basketball-equipment) - [Wall Padding (86)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/wall-padding) - [Gym Divider Curtains (73)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/gym-divider-curtains) - [Netting Barriers (44)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/netting-barriers) - [Sports Netting (35)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/sports-netting) - [Accessibility (32)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/accessibility) - [Padded Rooms (31)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/padded-rooms) - [Grandstand Seating (22)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/grandstand-seating) - [Gymnasium Floor Covers (20)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/gymnasium-floor-covers) - [Soccer Equipment (18)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/soccer-equipment) - [Court Sports (13)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/court-sports) - [Hockey Equipment (13)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/hockey-equipment) - [Arena Bleachers (11)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/arena-bleachers) - [Gym Mats (11)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/gym-mats) - [Players Benches (11)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/players-benches) - [Press Boxes (11)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/press-boxes) - [Golf Netting (8)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/golf-netting) - [Benches (6)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/benches) - [Pickleball (6)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/pickleball) - [Soccer Shelters (5)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/soccer-shelters) - [Pool Bleachers (4)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/pool-bleachers) - [Custom Fabrication (3)](https://blog.sportsystemscanada.com/blog/topic/custom-fabrication) see all ### Follow Us! #### Contact Information - **Address**28 Industrial Dr.Almonte, Ontario, Canada-K0A 1A0 - **Toll Free**[1.877.600.4667](tel:18776004667) - **Phone**[613.256.1112](tel:6132561112) - **Fax**[613.256.5876](tel:6132565876) #### MY ACCOUNT - [About us](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/about-us/) - [Contact us](https://www.sportsystemscanada.com/contact/) #### SAVE MORE, LEARN MORE Receive our monthly newsletter to get the details on our product specials and to learn the latest news about our company and industry. © Copyright 2024. Sports Systems. All Rights Reserved. - - - - -