Serving Up Some Pickleball

Outer Banks Pickleball. No sport has ever seemed to exist that intrigued so many people just by hearing its name. 🥒

Yes, it is actually called Pickleball. The who, what, where, when, and why of the sport is still a widespread topic of conversation among those who actually play the game. It is a sport that doesn’t require you to be an elite athlete and can be played by the whole family. It is simple to learn, yet can be a fun challenge once you’ve become an experienced player.

The Origin of Pickleball

It is said that the name was established in 1965 by former Washington state congressman Joel Pritchard. The story goes that Pritchard and his family were just sitting around their home bored one summer afternoon. The property had an old abandoned badminton court, so Pritchard started looking for some badminton equipment but couldn’t find exactly what was needed. He decided to improvise and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a simple plastic ball. At first, Pritchard placed the net at the exact badminton height which is sixty inches from the ground. As time went on, after playing around with the soon to be invented sport, he found that the ball bounced at a much greater height with the net lowered to thirty six inches. Soon, Pritchard began creating rules for the game very similar to the game of badminton.

Fast forward to the present day, and you will find Pickleball being acknowledged and played in almost all fifty U.S states. The sport is exploding in its popularity and the number of places to play has almost more than doubled since 2010. According to the USAPA (United States of America Pickleball Association) website, there are approximately 4,000 locations to play the game. Namely, community centers, school gyms, YMCA facilities, and retirement communities, just to name a few.

How To Play Pickleball

Pickleball can be easily played without needing much equipment, and learning the game can be fairly simple. If you have an open court, paddles and some plastic balls, then you’re ready to play!

Think of Pickleball like a mix of all the racket and other paddle sports. And just like tennis, table tennis, and badminton, it can be played on any smooth flat surface both indoors or out. It is most commonly found being played on actual tennis courts. Half of the court is used, with the court divided by a 3 foot tall net. Paddles and plastic balls are the only equipment required. The game is played to a score of eleven and you must win by two points. The actual game play is very similar to tennis but is different in three very distinctive ways:

You must serve the ball underhanded
The ball must bounce one time in the service court and once in the return court before actual volleying can start
You are not able to enter the non-volley zone on either side of the net unless you are retrieving ‘drop shots’ or ‘dinks’ (Pickleball lingo)

The game of Pickleball is most popular for playing in doubles, although playing singles can be done too.

Where To Play Pickleball on the Outer Banks

Need to find an Outer Banks pickleball court? The Outer Banks is just one of the many places that Pickleball is taking off. It has become a regular means of exercising, and even a way for some of the locals to meet new friends. Whether you live on the island, or you are vacationing here, be sure to check out some of the local Pickleball courts. They can be found at:

Ship’s Watch Resort in Duck (Private. Amenities are for use by Ship’s Watch owners and guests.)
Outer Banks YMCA in Nags Head
The Dare County Recreation Center in Kill Devil Hills
New outdoor Outer Banks pickleball court in 2020 at Dowdy Park in Nags Head

Pickleball is a fun and unique sport. The game is easy to understand and learn. It is enjoyed by a wide range of age groups, from young kids, senior citizens, and every age in between. The sport has a strong appeal and once you start playing, it has been said, that it is extremely easy to become addicted. But being hooked on a sport that provides exercise, recreational fun, and even has the word ‘pickle’ in its name, can’t be all that bad, can it??