What is Pickleball?
Has someone told you about a fun game with a pretty strange name? Or perhaps you’re tired of explaining it to your friends when they say, “pickle what?” When…
Playing Tip: Get a Grip on Pickleball Paddle Care
Taking care of your Pickleball Paddle is going to make it last longer and perform better. Paddles collect particles and body oils just as your sunglasses do. Grips get slippery…
The #1 Mistake Killing Your Pickleball Game
When you started playing, you saw rapid improvement, but as time went on, you plateaued. You feel stuck at the same level and don’t understand what’s keeping you from progressing.…
How to Play Pickleball Without Advice from a Partner
If you were like me, you were handed a pickleball paddle, hit a few shots, got a quick rules overview followed buy LOTS and LOTS of FREE advice! Each new…
Playing Tip: Pickleball Language Primer
A game as fast as pickleball requires an abbreviated pickleball language to communicate. One of the first phrases of pickleball language new players learn is the “non-volley zone,” the first…
Rule Review: On the Clock
The clock matters only a couple times in pickleball. The entire score must be called before the server begins his or her service motion. When all players are in place, and…
Rule Review: That’s Handy
Perhaps unique to pickleball, a ball can be hit twice, bounced on your paddle, or “carried,” as long as this occurs during a continuous motion in a single direction. The ball…
Rule Review: Still The Most Misunderstood Rule In Pickleball
During a recent referee training, I asked Mark Peifer, to shoot a rules video. It didn’t take him long to pick a topic, rule 6.D.12. As a certified referee who…
Rule Review: Why All The Different Pickleballs?
Every player seems to have a preferred ball. While there are some differences, according to the rules there are a few things that all pickleballs have in common. You may think it’s…
Playing Tip: That’s what Friends are For
You always want a friend by your side. When you and your partner are together, you form a barrier that your opponents must penetrate. This is true whether at the…
Rules Review: Above the Net
Sometimes it’s okay to reach over the net; sometimes not so much. Here’s the difference. You may not cross the plane of the net with your arm or paddle before…
Playing Tip: Let It Go
If only those high fast balls weren’t so tempting! Most of us love them, but we must learn to let them go. When you are at the kitchen line, and…
Rules Review: Don’t Stop Playing Before a Legitimate Call
A ball is not out of bounds until it actually lands outside of the court. If a player yells “out” before the ball hits the ground, that “noise” is…
Playing Tip: Just Cause It’s Legal
Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it is smart. You are permitted to stand in the kitchen, but doing so will only get you in trouble. When you…
Pickleball Rule Review: A “Standing” Rule
There is only one rule that requires you to stand in a certain place during pickleball: when you are serving at the time the ball is struck, you must stand…