Pickleball FAQ

New to pickleball? Here are the questions I had when I started, answered as plainly as possible.

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What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a small court with a low net, combining elements of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. It’s easy to learn, hard to master, and one of the most social sports around. Games go to 11 points and you can only score when you’re serving.

Do I need to be athletic to play?

Nope. The court is small, the pace is manageable, and beginners are welcomed pretty much everywhere. I started with zero experience and was having fun my very first session.

What gear do I need to get started?

A paddle and some balls is really all you need to start. You don’t have to spend much either. I started with the Vatic Pro Prism Bloom and have zero regrets. Comfortable court shoes help too, but nothing fancy right away.

What is the kitchen in pickleball?

The kitchen is the no-volley zone, a 7-foot area on each side of the net. You can’t hit the ball out of the air while standing in it. Learning to respect the kitchen is basically the foundation of solid pickleball.

What is a dink shot?

A dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands in the opponent’s kitchen. It sounds boring but it’s actually the most strategic part of the game. Mastering the dink will win you far more points than trying to blast the ball past your opponent.

How do you keep score in pickleball?

Games go to 11 points, win by 2. You can only score a point when your team is serving. In doubles, each player on a team gets to serve before the serve passes to the other team. The score is always called as three numbers: server score, receiver score, and server number (1 or 2).

Where can I play pickleball in the Texas Hill Country?

Quite a few places, and more keep opening up. Check out the Where to Play page for my full running guide to courts across New Braunfels, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and beyond.

Is pickleball good exercise?

Yes, genuinely. It gets your heart rate up, involves a lot of lateral movement, and you barely notice you’re working out because you’re having too much fun. Partial reason I took it up. The jury is still out on whether the food at the courts cancels it out.

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Got a question that isn’t answered here? Drop it in the comments and I’ll add it to the list.