What Is Pickleball? A Quick Guide to the Sport, the Court, and the Gear

What is pickleball? To define pickleball in plain terms, it's a paddle sport that borrows from tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players hit a perforated plastic ball over a low net on a small court, one against one or two against two, until someone fails to return it. A pickleball game is usually played to 11 points.

That's the short answer. If you searched what is pickleball because a friend invited you to play, this guide is for you. It covers what the game looks like in play, what the equipment is, how the sport compares with tennis and padel, and what you need for a first session. If you want the full list of rules, we cover those in our pickleball rules guide.

Pickleball at a Glance

If you're still asking what is pickleball in practical terms, here are the basics in one place, taken from the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook.

The court is a badminton-sized rectangle, and the net is the same type used in tennis, just lower. That small footprint is a big part of why the sport fits on so many surfaces.

What Is the Game of Pickleball Like to Play?

A point starts with an underhand serve hit diagonally across the net. The receiving team lets the serve bounce, then the serving team lets the return bounce, and after that anyone can hit the ball out of the air. This is the two-bounce rule, and it gives both sides a moment to settle in before the rally speeds up.

The kitchen shapes the rest of the point. Nobody can volley while standing in that 7-foot zone, so players near the net trade soft shots and wait for a ball they can attack. The result is a game where placement and patience count as much as power. That's a big reason playing pickleball feels approachable for new players and still gives experienced players plenty to work on.

Most games are played as doubles, but singles uses the same court and the same rules. To follow a first game from the serve to the final point, read our step-by-step guide on how to play pickleball.

What Is a Pickleball? The Ball, Paddle, and Net

The Ball

A pickleball is a perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball. The rulebook requires it to be one uniform color with a smooth, molded surface. Balls with larger holes are customarily used indoors, and balls with smaller holes are customarily used outdoors.

The Paddle

The paddle is solid and rigid, with no strings. It's larger than a table tennis paddle and smaller than a tennis racket. For sanctioned play, the combined length and width can't exceed 24 inches, and the length can't exceed 17 inches. There's no limit on weight or thickness, and sanctioned events require a paddle from the USA Pickleball approved list.

The Shoes

Pickleball has a lot of side-to-side movement, so court shoes work better than running shoes. Our guide on what to wear to play pickleball covers shoes, clothing, and indoor court rules.

What Is Pickleball Compared With Tennis and Padel?

The rulebook describes the pickleball sport as a mix of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. The court matches a badminton court in size, and the table below compares pickleball with tennis and padel.

If you're coming from another racket sport, what is pickleball going to feel like? Familiar footwork, a smaller court, and a few rules to learn. A pickleball court has about a third of the area of a doubles tennis court, so there's less ground to cover but quicker exchanges at the net. Tennis players will notice the underhand serve and the solid paddle first. Padel players will notice there are no walls to play off. If you play tennis as well, here's what to wear to play tennis, since the two sports call for similar gear.

What Is Pickleball Good For? Why People Play It

USA Pickleball describes the sport as easy to learn and built around a welcoming, social community. Doubles puts four people on a small court, which makes conversation and teamwork part of the game. UCHealth also notes that the smaller court makes pickleball easier on the knees and hips than tennis or basketball.

Who Plays Pickleball?

Pickleball is played by people of all ages and skill levels, and USA Pickleball calls it the fastest-growing sport in the country. The rulebook even includes rules for wheelchair and adaptive play, so the same game works for a wide range of players.

It started in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and has grown from a backyard game into a sport with professional tours. If you want the full story, including who invented it and how it got this big, read our history of pickleball.

Where Can You Play Pickleball?

What Is Pickleball Played On?

USA Pickleball says the game is typically played on a hard surface similar to a tennis court, indoors or outdoors.

Finding a Court

USA Pickleball says a court can be set up almost anywhere, from a driveway to a gym to a dedicated court, and all you need is a net, a paddle, a ball, and a few friends. Parks, recreation centers, and gyms are good places to start looking for open play.

If you play indoors, check the facility's shoe policy first. Most indoor courts require non-marking soles.

What Do You Need to Start Playing Pickleball?

• A paddle: any solid paddle works to start. You only need an approved one for sanctioned events.
• Pickleballs: pick balls that suit where you play, with larger holes for indoor courts and smaller holes for outdoor courts.
• Court shoes: these give you the lateral support that running shoes don't.
• Breathable clothing: a moisture-wicking top and bottoms with stretch.
• Partners: one person for singles, three for doubles.

Playing pickleball means constant side-to-side movement, which is hard on cotton clothing and cotton underwear. A moisture-wicking base layer stays drier through a long session, and we explain how that fabric works in our guide to the best moisture-wicking underwear.

Pickleball Terms You Will Hear on Day One

• Kitchen: the non-volley zone, the 7-foot area on each side of the net where you can't volley.
• Volley: hitting the ball before it bounces.
• Two-bounce rule: the serve and the return must both bounce before anyone volleys.
• Fault: a rule violation that ends the rally.
• Side-out: when the serve passes to the other team.
• Pickled: losing a game without scoring a single point.

Is Pickleball an Olympic Sport?

No. At the time of writing, pickleball is not an Olympic sport and is not on the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. International pickleball federations are working toward recognition from the International Olympic Committee, which is a required first step.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a 20 by 44 foot court with a perforated plastic ball and a low net. It can be played as singles or doubles, indoors or outdoors.

What's pickleball in simple terms?

Think of tennis on a smaller court, with solid paddles, a plastic ball with holes, and an underhand serve.

Is pickleball singles or doubles?

Both. The court and rules are the same, but doubles is the more common format.

What is a pickleball made of?

A pickleball is made of durable molded plastic with holes through it and a smooth surface. Balls for outdoor play have smaller holes than balls for indoor play.

Is pickleball only for older adults?

No. USA Pickleball describes it as a sport for all ages and skill levels.

Is pickleball hard to learn?

The core rules are short: serve underhand and diagonally, let the ball bounce once on each side, and stay out of the kitchen when you volley. Our pickleball rules guide covers each one in detail.

Final Thoughts

So, what is pickleball? It's a paddle sport with simple rules, a small court, and a low barrier to entry, played by people of all ages. When you're ready for the details, start with our pickleball rules guide, then pick up a paddle and find a court.

Once you're on the court, what you wear underneath decides how you feel by the third game. Our men's and women's collections are built for exactly this kind of movement.