When it pertains to any sport, there is bound to be a lot of information to understand. Aside from the basic fundamentals of the game, you might notice that there is a lot of jargon also associated with sports, some of which can sound odd or confusing. If you are not a sports aficionado, you might feel left in the dark.
With a name like pickleball, you can expect the same to be true about this still relatively new pastime. Though it looks to be similar to other racket sports like tennis or badminton, pickleball has its own set of rules and lingo that are vital to know before you play or watch a game.
Once you have the fundamentals covered, you may find yourself interested in trying the game out for yourself. If this is the case, then make sure you go out and get all the required equipment. Salted City Sports is a great place to start, as they have pickleball paddles for sale that are easy to use for beginners while also standing out with art as fun as the activity itself.
Why Is It Called Pickleball?
Contrary to what you might think after seeing its name, pickleball does not involve pickles in any way, shape, or form. (Though it might sound amusing to have people hitting pickles across a net at each other). There are two different possibilities for its origin.
As stated by the wife of one of the inventors, the name derives from her finding it similar to “pickle boats.” This was a term used to describe crews of oarsmen that were made up of people from various boats. The game itself was made of odds and ends from other sports, like Wiffle ball and table tennis, rendering this thought.
While this is the most assumed story, other people have said that the name actually comes from the name of the founder’s dog Pickles. Yet, according to the wife, Pickles was not adopted until after pickleball was invented.
Lingo Used in Pickleball
Whenever you look through a pickleball handbook, you will notice that there are a lot of different unusual terms used regarding the rules and play styles:
Serving Styles
The balls used in pickleball look a lot like Wiiffle balls but contain more holes so that they don’t get carried by the wind mid-air. Due to this, they are slightly heavier and do not produce a high bounce. So that they can make a better serve, players often choose to swing underhand, which is also known as a “volley serve.”
Some individuals, particularly those who have been playing for a long time, might still choose to bounce the ball first. Usually, this requires them to lunge down farther than tennis or badminton players have to. This serving style is referred to as a “drop serve.”
“Two-Bounce” Rule
For a game of pickleball to even begin, players have to make sure that they are serving correctly. This is where the “two bounce” rule comes in. Whenever the ball is served to the other side, the opponents must let the ball bounce once before they volley it back over. In return, the server will also have to let the ball bounce once. After that, any side is able to volley.
This happens any time a new serve is performed during a match. Balls can never be bounced more than once per side. Along with this, once the two-bounce rule is complete, the ball does not have to be bounced to be volleyed.
“The Kitchen”
The fact that a game that has a name with food in it also has a term about a kitchen could make you laugh, but this area is actually a critical part of the game. While most picklers call it the kitchen, this part of the court is also known as the “no volley zone.”
As you may expect from the more blunt term, this is the area where players cannot hit the ball. It is located right in front of the net and has a line for picklers to stand behind. The main reason for this is so that picklers do not spike balls that are hard to return back to the other side. (It can also help save an injury to the face).
While there is no clarified reason it is called the kitchen, one theory is that it took the term from shuffleboard. The kitchen in this game is a space where players lose ten points whenever their puck lands there. Seeing as pickleball borrowed equipment from other sports, this holds some possibility.
Side-Out Scoring
Also used in racquetball, side-out scoring means that only the serving side is able to receive a point. Whenever the opposing team makes a fault, the server gets the point and serves again. However, no one scores if they make a fault, and the opponents become the new servers.
When calling out scores, the server always says their score first, even if they are losing. In a doubles match, they also add a “one” or “two” after calling the scores as a way to explain if they were the side that served first whenever the game initially began.
Other Things to Know
Though many of the rules of the game can be explained by the main jargon, there are still a few extra basics that you will have to be aware of if you ever want to play pickleball:
- When serving, the ball must be volleyed diagonally to the opposing side.
- Games are played until a side reaches 11 points unless they only lead by one point. If that is the case, they play until someone is ahead by two points.
- Picklers can stand anywhere during the server unless they are the server themselves, who have to stand at the center line.
Join in the Fun!
Now that you have a greater knowledge of the sport, why not put it to some use? Pickleball has grown impressively in popularity over the years, and there are more opportunities to try it out. Even if your area does not have a league, it is still a fun way to stay active and bond with loved ones. All you need is the right equipment.
Salted City Sports is the place both novices and professionals choose when they want a pickleball paddle that is easy to serve with while also showing off their personality. The team recognizes the humor of some of the game’s lingo and the joy it brings people to play, so they feel like the paddles used should be no different.
Every paddle they create features handmade designs that both children and adults can enjoy. However, to further appeal to you, Salted City Sports also offers customized paddles so you can let your creative side flow, too! Along with a strong and broad core, their paddles are also easy to grip, meaning you can play for longer without worrying about calluses.
While you understand pickleball better now, you may still have a few more questions regarding the game and how to best serve the ball. By visiting Salted City Sports’ website, you can learn more about all of this, thanks to the guides they have available.
Terms used in sports can make the games appear to be more challenging than they are. This is no different for pickleball. Not only full of silly-sounding words, the game is exciting and all-inclusive. Try it out for yourself. You might become an avid pickler someday.
