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The fast growing sport in the US can now be played at Club MMGR on the new “Pickleball” court

Played in 70 countries by 4.8 million players, this badminton/ping-pong/tennis derivative is the fastest growing sport in the USA, and “Pickleball” can now be played in the Mar Menor Golf Resort at Club MMGR on their new Pickleball court.

History of Pickleball

Pickleball was created out of a kind of parental necessity in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. The three neighbours developed the game to keep their bored children busy on a rainy day, utilising whatever was at hand, which at the time was some old table tennis bats and a perforated ball being knocked about on a badminton court.

It soon became apparent that the adults were displacing the children and the need for a set of rules and a scoring format was required to create competition and settle disagreements. It was from these basics the game eventually developed into what is now called pickleball.

The game soon became infectious with adult players and the first permanent pickleball court was constructed in 1967. By 1972, to protect the creation of pickleball, the first corporation was formed, leading in 1984 to the inauguration of the USA Pickleball Association to govern the sport. This sequence of events meant what once was a rainy-day activity for bored children turned into a worldwide phenomenon.

Pickleball equipment

Pickleball is played with a flat paddle which cannot exceed 17 inches but the dimensions of the surface can be various sizes and thickness levels to accommodate styles of play.

The ball is plastic with between 26 to 40 perforated holes creating more drag and are a lot lighter and easier to hit than tennis balls, giving the game a slightly slower pace. The size of the ball is usually 2.87 inches (7.30 cm) to 2.97 inches (7.50cm) in diameter.

The court is approximately 44 feet (13.4 metres) long and 20 feet (6 metres) with a net separating the two halves measuring 34 inches (86 cm) in height the centre.

How to play Pickleball

Pickleball can be played in either a singles or doubles format using the same size court for both, with different serving rules and scoring the only differences between the two formats.

Basically the game is started by one player (unofficially known as a pickler), who serves the ball underhand over the net and diagonally into their opponent’s service section. The ball is then returned back and forth over the net until a player misses. The winner is the first player or side to reach 11 points. Points are scored only by the serving team and the game must be won by at least two points.

The first 7 feet from the net on both sides is a no-volley zone known as the “kitchen”. Volleying the ball is prohibited in this no-volley zone.

Usually, matches consist of three games each, but there can be variations depending on the venue and club rules. More information about the official rules and how to score singles and doubles matches is available on the USA Pickleball Rules page.

Where to play Pickleball

You can play Pickleball at the new Pickleball courts on Club MMGR, the sports and lesiure club on the Mar Menor Golf Resort and the only one in the area with a Pickleball court.

Get down to Club MMGR to start playing today!

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