Sponsored Content Pickleball has been the sport that has taken the nation by storm. It has also led to a boom in pickleball court building on South Padre Island. There is a reason for such a sudden spike in popularity for the sport: because it can be enjoyed by all ages. Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They invented the game of pickleball after their kids complained of not having any new summer activities.
The game of pickleball combines the elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a court the same size as a double’s badminton court and measures 20’x44’. You can play singles or doubles, and both would be played on the same size court. The net sits at a height of 36 inches (3 feet) at the sidelines and 34 inches right in the middle.
The court is marked similarly to that of a tennis court with the right and left service courts. The 7-foot non-volley zone is in front of the net just like tennis and is referred to as the ‘kitchen.’ It is against the rules to stand in the ‘kitchen’ while volleying. This is to prevent players from stepping to close to the net while going back and forth. A point will be awarded to the other team if that happens.
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