What is pickleball? Rules, equipment & how to play

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. The sport is played with a pickleball paddle and a perforated plastic ball on a court smaller than a tennis court. Pickleball is easy to pick up but also contains a lot of technique and tactics for those who want to improve.

Pickleball has grown rapidly internationally, and interest is increasing in Sweden as well. The sport can be played as both singles and doubles and is suitable for everyone from beginners and casual players to competitive players.

In this complete guide, we will go through what pickleball is, how the sport is played, the rules, the court, the equipment, and how to get started with pickleball in Sweden.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport where players hit a perforated plastic ball over a net using solid paddles.

The sport includes elements familiar from several other racket sports:

Tennis – playing over a net, serving, and many of the basic strokes.
Badminton – the court size corresponds to a doubles badminton court.
Table tennis – the solid paddle and fast-paced play near the net can be reminiscent of table tennis.

Pickleball can be played as:

Singles – one player against one player.
Doubles – two players against two players.

Doubles is a very common format and a large part of pickleball's social character.

How to play pickleball?

The basic idea is simple: hit the ball over the net and try to make your opponent make a mistake or be unable to return the ball correctly.

Each rally starts with a serve hit diagonally into the opponent's service box.

After the serve, the so-called two-bounce rule applies:

The receiver must let the serve bounce before returning the ball.
The serving team must then let the return bounce.
After these two bounces, players may also hit volleys.

This is one of the rules that gives pickleball its special character and prevents the serving team from immediately rushing forward and taking control of the net.

If you want to learn the game from scratch, you can continue to our guide How to play pickleball.

What does a pickleball court look like?

A pickleball court is 13.41 meters long and 6.10 meters wide. The same court size is used for both singles and doubles.

The court is significantly smaller than a tennis court, meaning players do not need to cover as much ground.

On each side of the net, there is:

a right service box
a left service box
an area closest to the net called the kitchen

If you want to know more about dimensions, lines, and how to build or mark a court, you can read our complete guide on the pickleball court.

What is the kitchen in pickleball?

One of the things that truly distinguishes pickleball from other racket sports is the area in front of the net, often called the kitchen.

The official English name is the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).

The kitchen extends 2.13 meters from the net on each side. The basic principle is that you may not hit a volley when you are in the kitchen or standing on the kitchen line.

However, you may enter the kitchen and play a ball after it has bounced.

This rule prevents players from standing right next to the net and hitting the ball down, contributing to the tactical play that is so typical of pickleball.

What are the most important rules in pickleball?

The rules are relatively easy to get started with. Some of the most important basic rules are:

The serve is hit diagonally to the opponent's service box.
The serve must land outside the kitchen.
The two-bounce rule applies after the serve.
You may not hit a volley when standing in the kitchen or on the kitchen line.
In traditional scoring, only the serving team can score points.
Matches are often played to 11 points, and the winner typically needs to win by a two-point margin.

There are, of course, more rules regarding serves, lines, doubles play, and scoring. Therefore, we have gathered them on our page about pickleball rules.

How does scoring work?

Scoring is one of the aspects that can feel a bit unfamiliar to new players.

In traditional pickleball, only the serving team can score points. If the receiving team wins the rally, they do not get a point but instead get the opportunity to take over the serve.

In singles, two digits are used in the score call. In doubles, normally three digits are used, as the third digit indicates which server on the team is serving.

If you want to understand the system thoroughly, you can read our guide on scoring in pickleball.

What equipment do you need for pickleball?

One of the advantages of pickleball is that it doesn't require much equipment to start playing.

Basically, you need:

a pickleball paddle
pickleball balls
a court and a net
comfortable athletic clothing
suitable shoes for the surface

Pickleball paddle

A pickleball paddle is smaller than a tennis racket and lacks strings. The hitting surface is solid, and modern paddles are made from various materials and constructions.

The paddle's characteristics differ in terms of control, power, weight, and feel. As a new player, you don't need to start with the most expensive paddle.

Read more in our guide to pickleball paddles.

Pickleball balls

Pickleball is played with a light, perforated plastic ball. There are different balls for indoor and outdoor play, and their characteristics can vary.

Read more in our guide to pickleball balls.

Is pickleball difficult to learn?

One of pickleball's great strengths is its relatively low barrier to entry.

You don't need to have played tennis, padel, or badminton before. After a short introduction to the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, and scoring, most people can start playing simple matches.

But just because pickleball is easy to start with doesn't mean the sport is easy to master.

As the skill level increases, aspects like placement, footwork, dinks, drops, volleys, changes in pace, and tactical decisions become increasingly important. There are therefore plenty of opportunities for development even for very experienced players.

If it's your first time playing, we recommend our complete guide to pickleball for beginners.

Who is pickleball for?

Pickleball can be adapted to both skill and ambition levels and is played by people of many different ages.

The sport is suitable for, for example:

beginners who have never played racket sports
casual players who want to combine exercise and social interaction
former tennis, badminton, and padel players
players who want to train and compete seriously
younger players and juniors
older players who want to continue with racket sports

The pace can also vary enormously. A social beginner's match and a competitive match between skilled players can almost feel like two different versions of the same sport.

Why has pickleball become so popular?

There isn't one single explanation for pickleball's popularity. The combination of several characteristics has made the sport easy to discover and fun to continue with.

Easy to start with – the basics are relatively quick to learn.
Social – doubles play and club play create a lot of camaraderie.
Tactical – as the level increases, there is a lot of strategy to develop.
Flexible – the sport can be played both indoors and outdoors.
Different ambition levels – you can play socially, for exercise, or competitively.

It is precisely the combination of a low threshold and high development potential that makes many people quickly get hooked on the sport.

What is the difference between pickleball and padel?

Pickleball and padel are both social racket sports, but they differ quite a bit when you start playing.

Padel is played on a larger, enclosed court where the walls are actively used in the game. Pickleball is played on an open, smaller court and instead uses the kitchen and the two-bounce rule to create the tactical character of the game.

The paddle and ball also differ. Pickleball uses a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball.

Pickleball in Sweden

Pickleball is currently played in several places in Sweden, and there are clubs, associations, and playing groups around the country.

The sport is played both in dedicated pickleball facilities and, for example, in sports, tennis, and badminton halls where courts can be marked for pickleball.

At SwePickleball, we gather information for those who want to find where to play. Visit our page Play pickleball in Sweden or find pickleball clubs and courts.

Can you compete in pickleball?

Yes. For those who want to take the next step, there are competitions for different levels.

This means that competitive play is not just for the very best. Once you feel comfortable with the rules and match situations, competition can be a fun way to meet new players and develop your game.

On our page about pickleball competitions, we gather information for those who want to compete in Sweden.

How to get started with pickleball

If you want to try pickleball, it doesn't have to be very complicated.

Find a club, association, or court near you.
Ask if there are try-out sessions or opportunities to borrow paddles.
Learn the most important basic rules.
Play your first simple rallies.
Start playing matches and develop your technique over time.

So you don't need to buy a complete set of equipment before you even know if the sport suits you.

If you want help all the way, we recommend Pickleball for Beginners.

Frequently asked questions about pickleball

What kind of sport is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements from tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played with solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a badminton-sized court.

Is pickleball the same as padel?

No. Pickleball and padel are two different sports. Padel uses an enclosed court with walls, while pickleball is played on a smaller open court and includes a special area near the net called the kitchen.

Can you play pickleball outdoors?

Yes. Pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors. There are also different types of balls adapted for various playing environments.

Can you play pickleball on a badminton court?

Yes. The outer dimensions of a pickleball court correspond to a doubles badminton court, which is one reason why many sports halls can be used for pickleball.

Can you play pickleball on a tennis court?

Yes, a tennis court can be used for pickleball if the correct lines and net solution are available. Since the pickleball court is smaller, several pickleball courts can sometimes fit on the area of a tennis court.

Is pickleball only for older people?

No. Pickleball is played by both younger and older players. The pace and intensity of the sport vary greatly depending on the players' skill level and playing style.

What do I need to buy to start playing?

The most important things are a pickleball paddle, balls, and suitable shoes. Many clubs and try-out activities also offer loaner equipment for new players.

Summary – what is pickleball?

Pickleball is an accessible yet tactically and technically deep paddle sport played with a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball on a smaller court.

You can play singles or doubles, indoors or outdoors, and at levels ranging from social recreational play to competitive play.

The best way to understand why so many people get hooked on pickleball, however, is simple: try it yourself.