News & Blog

Last year, pickleball was named the fastest-growing sport in the United States. According to the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report, there are approximately 36.5 million pickleball players in the United States, and the number has grown an average of 11.5% per year over the last five years. Part of the attraction is that pickleball is one of the only sports people of all ages can play. I began my pickleball journey playing with my mother and grandparents. Today, I play for the University of Michigan club team and compete in tournaments nationwide. Playing pickleball has helped me find some of my best friends and a wonderful community.

How to Get Started Playing Pickleball

If you know someone who plays, ask them how to get started. Pickleball prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming community. Most players are enthusiastic about sharing information about the sport and how to get involved. Pickleball players are generally willing to help you get started, introduce you to the community, let you try out extra equipment, and help you with the rules, etiquette, and scoring.

Pickleball Rules

Every sport has different rules, so it’s important to learn what each one’s is. For example, pickleball has three basic rules, several of them quirky. Remember that one will expect you to learn them all at once, and most players are happy to help you. Here are some of the basics.

• Rule No. 1 in pickleball is the serve has to be underhand, unlike in tennis. The serve must land on the opponent’s side of the court, cross-court from you, and the ball must not land in the no-volley zone, aka the “kitchen.”
• Rule No. 2 is referred to as the “bounce/bounce” rule. After the serve, you have to let the ball bounce on each side of the court, and you cannot hit it out of the air until it has bounced on each side of the court. Once the player serves the ball, the receiver must allow the ball to bounce before returning the ball.
• Rule No. 3 is that you cannot hit a ball out of the air if you are in the “kitchen.” You can only enter the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces.

Places to Play Pickleball

• Palmer Park, Detroit – 15 outdoor pickleball courts
• Whittier Park, Detroit – four outdoor pickleball courts
• Upton Park, Royal Oak – eight outdoor pickleball courts
• Island Athletics, Grosse Ile – five indoor pickleball courts
• Borden Park, Rochester – eight outdoor pickleball courts
• Drake Sports Park, West Bloomfield – four outdoor pickleball courts

Are you interested in learning to play and getting involved in the local pickleball community? Contact Suzanne Chuparkoff, Spring 2023 Campus Ambassador at the University of Michigan here!