OUR FAVORITE NEW, OLD GAME IS PICKING UP SPEED. GET TO KNOW THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE US.

by Recess Pickleball

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines ping pong and tennis into one.The game and rules are quirky and bound to bring about a good time. And the best part is that anyone—seriously, anyone—can play.

The Prep

Getting into the game doesn’t take much at all. You need minimal equipment and a good attitude.

1. Pickleballs

Pickleballs are like XL wiffle balls, and the holes vary in size depending on the surface you’re playing on. Outdoor balls are firmer and have smaller holes to cut down on wind resistance, while indoor balls are a little bigger and breezier.

2. Paddles

Lightweight, firm, and designed for an underhand serve, it takes about 2 or 3 minutes to get the hang of the paddle. We recommend you find yourself a fun one, because Pickleball is fun, and your gear should be too. Thankfully, you can grab an Outdoor Voices + Recess Composite Pickleball Paddle for you and your teammate!

3. The Fit

While there isn’t a lot of running in Pickleball, you’ll probably still want some ankle support.  You know HOKA’s are our go-to, but any shoe will do.

The Game

It takes about 15 minutes to really wrap your head around the rules. But by then, you’ll be in love.

The key to understanding Pickleball is to get to know the court. It looks like a shrunken tennis court, but with different rules about where and when you can stand in certain areas. The front section on either side of the net is called the “kitchen.” You can’t stand in that area, so “don’t go in the kitchen.” (That’s some easy Pickleball slang for you, too).

Up next is scoring. Pickleball is won with a simple point system: the first team that reaches 11 points with a 2 point lead wins. You can only win points when your team is serving, and the ball must bounce once on each side before you can hit it out of the air.

Dink. That’s the most famous Pickleball move. A “dink” is a common shot where the server hits the ball just over the net, in hopes that it falls straight down on the kitchen floor. Dink.

The Mindset

Woody Guthrie said “take it easy, but take it.” That about sums up Pickleball. It’s an underhand serve, from not too far away, which means it’s fair game for everyone. Have fun, hydrate with your beverage of choosing, don’t take it too seriously, and give it your all. You’ve got to win by 2 points, anyways.

But quite possibly the best way to get in the Pickleball headspace is to pay homage to the origins of the game. It was invented in the 60’s, by three Dads whose kids needed new summer activities. The game is supposedly named after one of their family dogs, but no one’s quite sure. Trying a new sport can be intimidating, but the origins of Pickleball are literally about starting from scratch and having fun. Trust us, you’ll be hooked soon, and you won’t be alone.