Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States with thousands of new courts being built each year. This paddle sport combines elements of badminton, ping-pong, and tennis to create a fun sport for all ages and athletic abilities. Most often played as doubles, pickleball can also be played as singles.

One of the key elements to the game that sets it apart from other sports is the non-volley zone. This area of the court is seven feet from the net on both sides and is commonly referred to as “the kitchen”. Players may not enter the kitchen to return a ball unless the ball first bounces. This element prevents close volleys at the net and is one of the key signatures of the game.

Pickleball was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island in Washington. One Saturday afternoon the family was bored and wanted to set up badminton. They could not find the ball (the shuttlecock) so they improvised by lowering the net and grabbing a wiffleball. Pickles was the family dog that would chase after the errant balls and then hide in the bushes, thus Pickle’s ball which was later shortened to the namesake of Pickleball.