Pickleball, with the help of it’s fun rules, have made the sport one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, with recent stats showing that 14% of the country has played the sport in the last 12 months.
The trends also show that pickleball has been the quickest-growing sport in the U.S. for the last three years, with over ten million Americans playing it in 2023. Due to its ongoing success, there has never been a better time to understand the game and the prominent competitions that are staged in the world of pickleball.
We are ahead of the game when it comes to the sport, and you can find out everything you need to know about pickleball here.
Pickleball Rules: Scoring
One of the big factors that players should be aware of is that pickleball rules states points in the game can only be scored by the serving team/individual. Serving players take their place on the right side of the court if they have an even score, and on the left for an odd score; otherwise known as side out scoring.
Points are scored if the ball bounces twice on one side, or if a player is unable to return the ball. Only at this stage does the serve alternate and the opposing team/player can gain points.
In Doubles, teams will have a second serve if the first is a fault, while players in individual play lose the serve if the first is a fault.
The winning team/player is determined by the first to reach eleven points, or the first to win by two points after exceeding this barrier.
Why is it Called ‘Pickleball’?
The origins of pickleball date back to 1965. Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell returned from a golf trip on a Saturday afternoon and needed an activity to keep their families occupied, but all they had was a badminton court and table tennis paddles.
After lowering the net, the duo played what would be known as the first pickleball game with a Cosom Fun Ball. Soon after the initial success of the game, Pritchard and Bell replaced the table tennis paddles with more durable plywood paddles that were better suited for the game.
The name of the sport was down to Joel’s wife, Joan. She stated that the game reminded her of the pickle boat in the crew where oarsmen were chosen due to the leftovers of their boat.
But, this claim has since been disputed, with some indicating that the sport was named in honor of Pritchard’s dog, Pickles. However, an official report by USA Pickleball rejected that idea, stating that the dog was born after the sport was invented.
Can You Bet on Pickleball?
As one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., it is little surprise that sportsbooks have jumped on the bandwagon. In August, it was reported that FanDuel would be partnering with the Professional Pickleball Association, and the sportsbook became the first to offer prices on the latest action on court.
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Unlike other leading sports, there are only three markets available- Moneyline, Over/Under Match Points, and Point Spreads. However, FanDuel have since revealed that they will be aiming to release new lines in the near future, and referenced in-play markets as one of their main goals.
Pickleball Betting Odds
At present, BetOnline doesn’t offer betting odds for pickleball events. However, that is likely to change over the coming years as the sport continues to grow in popularity.
Court Dimensions
Pickleball is played on a court similar to badminton, with dimensions of 22’ x 44’. The net is also set at a height of 36” at the sides and a smaller height of 34” in the middle.
However, while volleys may be a prominent shot in tennis, they are limited in pickleball. Players cannot hit the shot in the 7’ area, which is also called the ‘kitchen’.
How Popular?
Pickleball’s popularity has surged over the last ten years, with US Pickleball’s social channels growing by over 50% in 2022.
Business is booming, and recent insights from Business Research show that the market value will reach $253.8 million by 2028.
The stats in 2022 show that nearly nine million players had played the sport, indicating a staggering 85.7% growth. Below is a breakdown of the age demographics in pickleball.
| Age Group | Percentage of Pickleball Players |
|---|---|
| 6-17 | 21.2% |
| 18-34 | 28.8% |
| 35-54 | 20.4% |
| 55-64 | 12% |
| 65+ | 17.6% |
Major Competitions
The traces of competitive pickleball events can be dated back to 1976 when the first formal tournament was held at Southcenter Athletic Club in Washington.
The most significant competition on the calendar in this modern era is the Pickleball National Championships, which will be staged in November 2024 at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
Other major events include the National Indoor Championships, the National Championship Series, and the Diamond Amateur Championship.
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