Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played either indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a net about 34 inches high. Players use solid-faced paddles to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball (similar to a wiffle ball) over the net. The game can be played as singles (two players) or doubles (four players)
. The objective is to hit the ball over the net in a way that the opponent cannot return it. Unique features include a 7-foot non-volley zone near the net called the "kitchen," where players cannot volley the ball before it bounces. The game involves a mix of fast-paced rallies and strategic soft shots called "dinks," which are used to control the opponent's positioning
. Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, as a backyard game using modified badminton equipment. It has since grown rapidly in popularity, especially in the United States, where it was the fastest- growing sport from 2021 to 2024, with nearly 20 million players by 2024. It is praised for being easy to learn, social, accessible to all ages and skill levels, and offering cardiovascular and coordination benefits with low joint impact
. In summary, pickleball is a fun, social, and accessible sport that blends aspects of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, played with paddles and a plastic ball on a small court, suitable for all ages and fitness levels
