Pickleball Glossary
If you want a fast, social, easy-to-learn racket sport, pickleball is ideal. It blends elements of tennis, ping-pong and badminton, gives a solid cardio workout, and welcomes players of all ages. Here’s a compact glossary to get you playing and talking like someone who’s been on the court. Court & Equipment Court: 20 × 44 ft (same for singles and doubles). Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) / Kitchen: 7-ft area on each side of the net — no volleys allowed. Baseline / Sideline / Centerline: Court boundaries and service divisions. Paddle: Solid, lightweight (graphite, composite, carbon). Pickleball: Perforated plastic ball designed for predictable flight and bounce. Basic Rules & Scoring Serve: Underhand, served diagonally into the opponent’s service court. Double-Bounce Rule: After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed. Let: A serve that clips the net and lands in is played (serve is live). Score Call: Server’s score — receiver’s score —...
