Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, growing from 3.46 million people playing in 2019 to 4.2 million in 2020, according to the 2021 Topline Participation Report done by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
Pickleball is played on a court that visually imitates a tennis court. Many of the shots and strategies used in pickleball are similar to tennis, however there are significant differences between the two sports.
- The area of play is much smaller (a 20’x44’ court, same as badminton) than a tennis court and has a 36’ net (34’ in the middle) separating sides
- A paddle, not a racquet, is used to play. Its combined length and width does not exceed 24 inches and its length must be shorter than 17 inches
- The ball is made of plastic and has holes, which can vary in size depending if it is for indoor or outdoor play
- Games are played to 11 points, which can only be scored when serving, and must be won by 2 points (11-10 is not a victory, game would end at 12-10)
Pickleball can be played in any state in the United States, as well as 60 countries. There are more than 35,000 courts across 9,000 locations (U.S.) and according to USAP official court surface partner SportMaster, are being built at a record rate. In addition, pickleball can be played on basketball courts, making the sport an option at many public (city, county) and private recreational facilities.
People of Pickle has partnered with The Pickler to offer players My Pro Pickleball Coach, a program designed to help any player or coach improve their abilities on the court.
