Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world, and lately it's been taking off in the Netherlands too. It's easy to learn, social and suitable for all ages. In this guide you'll learn what pickleball actually is, how it works and how to get started yourself.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. You play with a lightweight paddle and a plastic ball with holes on a court that's smaller than a tennis court, about the same size as a badminton court. You can play singles, but doubles is by far the most popular.
The small court and the slow plastic ball make the game accessible: most people can already play rallies after fifteen minutes. At the same time there's plenty of tactics and pace at a high level, which keeps it challenging for experienced racket players too.
How does it work, briefly?
The basics are quick to explain:
- You serve underhand and diagonally.
- After the serve the ball has to bounce once on each side before it can be hit out of the air (the two-bounce rule).
- Right next to the net there's a zone, the kitchen, where you're not allowed to hit the ball out of the air.
- You usually play to 11 points, with a margin of at least 2 points.
The full explanation is in the pickleball rules.
Why is pickleball growing so fast?
Three reasons make pickleball so popular. It's easy to pick up: you don't need years of technique to have fun. It's social: doubles on a small court means lots of contact and short, enjoyable games. And it's age-proof: teenagers and eighty-year-olds play side by side. That same combination made padel big, and pickleball is following the same pattern.
Pickleball compared to padel and tennis
| Feature | Pickleball | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court | Small, no walls | Small, with glass | Large |
| Ball | Plastic, with holes | Soft tennis ball | Tennis ball |
| Equipment | Paddle | Padel racket | Tennis racket |
| Learning curve | Very short | Short | Long |
How do you get started with pickleball?
You need very little: a paddle, a few plastic balls and a court. Many tennis and padel clubs are now laying down pickleball courts or adding lines to existing courts. The fastest way to start is to join an open drop-in session or a social tournament at a club nearby.
Pickleball in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands pickleball is still at the beginning, but it's moving fast. Clubs are experimenting with courts, organising introduction evenings and the first competitions are emerging. For clubs this is the moment to step in, just as the early padel clubs got a head start.
Organising pickleball yourself
Want to go beyond casual games? Read how to run a pickleball americano, how levels and skill levels work, or how to organise a pickleball competition. For clubs: take a look at pickleball competition software and the pickleball ladder competition.
