The Pickleball Store —Sells paddles, balls, nets, books, and more. With The Pickleball Store, it's easy to get everything you need at one place. Their online ordering system is very convenient, or you can call them with questions or to place an order if you prefer. http://www.thepickleballstore.com.
- Spike Christensen makes paddles to order. His paddles cost about $35.00 and are customized to your specifications with a choice of grip size, paddle weight, etc. Call Spike or his wife, Linda, at (623) 826-0126 (cell).
USAPA -- The United States of America Pickleball Association
This organization publishes the rules of pickleball and sponsors tournaments around the U.S. Many offerings on their web site: http://www.usapa.org.
Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced game that is said to be the fastest growing sport in the world today. It is easy to learn and can be played by all ages. Played with a hard paddle and a plastic, perforated ball on a badminton-sized court over a tennis-type net, pickleball is a favorite among young and old alike. It is now a hotly contested sport in many of the U.S. Senior Olympic games and is taught in schools and colleges all over the United States.
Pickleball Videos
These videos show some tournament play at Sun City Grand in Surprise, AZ. The files are large, but they should download in about a minute if you have DSL or cable (be patient if it looks like nothing is happening). Two formats are available (click the one you'd like to view):
The USAPA also has made a video available on its web site that is narrated and gives a good explanation of the basics of the game. Click here to view that video.
Pickleball Terms
This list is taken from The Art of Pickleball, © copyright Gale H. Leach.
Ace— A serve that is not returned by the opponent.
Approach Shot— A shot hit forehand or backhand while running up to the net.
Backcourt— The area of the court within a few feet of the baseline.
Backhand— A stroke hit on the side of the body opposite from the hand holding the paddle.
Backspin— Spin imparted to the ball by stroking it from high to low, causing it to spin in the direction opposite to its flight. Also called underspin, slice, or chop.
Backswing— Moving the paddle back from the ready position to prepare for a shot.
Baseline— The line at the back of the pickleball court (22 feet from the net).
Bounce It— A directive from your partner to let the ball bounce (because your partner thinks it will land out of bounds).
Carry— Hitting the ball in such as way that it is carried along on the face of the paddle during its forward motion.
Centerline— The line bisecting the service courts that extends from the non-volley zone line to the baseline.
Chop— The motion from high to low that puts backspin on the ball.
Closed Face— The top of the paddle face is angled downward about 30 degrees from vertical.
Crosscourt— The opponent's court diagonally opposite yours.
Dead Ball— The ball is ruled to be dead when a fault is declared.
Deep— Far into the court, near the baseline.
Dink— A soft, low shot, initiated from within or just behind the non-volley zone, that lands in the opponent's non-volley zone.
Double Bounce Rule— After a serve, each team must play their first shot off the bounce, after which the ball can be played off the bounce or volleyed.
Doubles— A game played with four people divided into two teams, each team having two players. Teams can be two men, two women, or a woman and a man (mixed doubles).
Down the Line— A shot hit near a sideline that travels close and parallel to the same line.
Drive— A low shot hit to the opponent's backcourt.
Drop Shot— soft shot, usually initiated from mid- to backcourt, that arcs just over the net and lands within the opponent's non-volley zone.
Drop Shot Volley— A soft volley shot that is designed to slow the speed of the ball and return it short, just behind the net.
Face— The broad surface on the head of the paddle used to hit the ball.
Flat Face— The hitting surface of the paddle is kept parallel to the net.
Fault— An infringement of the rules that ends the rally.
Follow Through— A continuation of the motion of your swing that follows the direction you wish the ball to travel.
Foot Fault— Failure to keep at least one foot behind the baseline and touching the ground at the moment the paddle contacts the ball during a serve, or stepping on or into the non-volley zone while volleying a ball.
Forehand— A stroke hit on the same side of the body as the hand holding the paddle.
Game— Regulation games are played to 11 points (a team must win by two points). Some local games are played to 15 points.
Grip— How you hold the handle of the paddle, or the material that is wrapped around the handle.
Ground Stroke— A stroke made after the ball has bounced.
Half Volley— A ground stroke in which the paddle contacts the ball after it bounces but before it rises to its potential height. Usually hit just a few inches from the ground.
Head— The part of the paddle above the handle that is used to hit the ball.
Kitchen— An affectionate name for the non-volley zone.
Let Serve— A serve that touches the top of the net and lands in the proper service court (it is replayed without penalty).
Lob— A shot that sends the ball high overhead and deep, forcing the opponent back to the baseline.
Midcourt— The area between the non-volley zone and the backcourt.
Non-Volley Zone— A seven-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may not volley the ball. The non-volley zone usually includes all lines around it.
Open Face— The top of the paddle face is angled upward about 30 degrees from vertical.
Overhead Shot— A shot made with the paddle over head height. Often synonymous with smash or slam, although it can refer to any shot made at that height, whether hard or soft.
Passing Shot— A shot that passes beyond the reach of the player and lands in bounds. Typically played against an opponent who is advancing on the non-volley zone or who is already there.
Poach— In doubles, to cross over into your partner's area to play a ball.
Punch— A short, quick shot, without significant backswing or follow through, usually during a volley.
Put Away— A ball hit such that the opponent cannot return it. A winning shot.
Rally— Hitting the ball back and forth between opponents.
Serve (Service)— An underhand lob or drive stroke used to put a ball into play at the beginning of a point.
Server Number— When playing doubles, either “1” or “2,” depending on whether you are the first or second server for your side. This number is appended to the score when it is called.
Shadowing— Moving in tandem with your partner so that you stay about 10 feet from each other and avoid leaving open spaces on your half of the court.
Shot— The flight of the ball after it leaves the paddle.
Sideline— The line at the side of the court.
Singles— A game played with two people, one on each side.
Slice— Another name for backspin or underspin.
Smash or Slam— A hard, overhead shot.
Stroke— The action of hitting the ball.
Technical Foul— The referee may add one point to a player's score or a team's score when, in the referee's judgment, the opponent is being deliberately abusive.
Topspin— Spin applied to the ball by stroking it from low to high, causing it to rotate in the direction of its flight.
Volley— To hit the ball before it bounces. |
