After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard, congressman from Washington State and Bill Bell, successful businessman, returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle) to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. At first, they placed the net at badminton height of 60 inches and volleyed the ball over the net.  As the weekend progressed, the players found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface and soon the net was lowered to 36 inches. The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together.

BREAKDOWN OF KEY PICKLEBALL PADDLE FEATURES

Materials

Pickleball paddles are made of wood, composite, or graphite. Each material has its pros and cons.

Wood: Wood is inexpensive. It offers adequate performance and durability. Because it’s the heaviest material, however, it isn’t a desirable option for all players.

Composite: A composite pickleball paddle is lighter than wood and offers a textured surface. This is important once you move up from the beginner ranks and want a paddle that gives you greater ball control. A composite paddle costs more than a wood paddle.

Graphite: High-end paddles are made of graphite (also known as carbon fiber). This material gives you the lightest weight with the most power. The higher price range of this paddle makes it a better option for the serious player.

Paddle size

For competition, USA Pickleball states that the size of a pickleball paddle (including the handle) cannot exceed 24 inches, while the paddle cannot exceed 17 inches. There are no restrictions when it comes to the paddle’s thickness. The average paddle is 8 inches wide by 15 inches long. However, if you prefer, you can get an elongated paddle. This might not be a desirable option if you have larger hands because it means the handle will be shorter.

Edged vs. edgeless

The edge guards on a pickleball paddle help protect it from damage that may occur from swiping it across the ground during gameplay. A player may opt to sacrifice this protection to get an edgeless paddle. These models maximize the playing surface and give the player a larger sweet spot at the expense of having a paddle that’s more vulnerable to damage.

Weight

The ideal weight of a pickleball paddle is a preference. With a lighter paddle, a player needs to swing harder to get a powerful shot, but they have more control. Conversely, a heavier paddle gives a player less control but more power.

Whether you’re a beginner or a pickleball pro, choosing a vacation destination with ample pickleball resources is sure to enhance the experience. Vibrant pickleball communities thrive all over the country––especially in warm, dry places––making a pickleball trip the perfect escape in winter months. As the fastest-growing sport in the US, pickleball is a great way to connect with new communities and enjoy fun, low-impact physical activity with your travel companions. But unlike other popular leisure and vacation sports like golf, pickleball is easy to learn and won’t break the bank.

As pickleball grows in popularity throughout the country, tourist destinations have begun to capitalize on the opportunity to use pickleball to attract visitors––building pickleball courts at resorts and hosting pickleball events and tournaments. That means there are lots of options out there for pickleball lovers––whether you’re planning a pickleball-centered trip or just want to make sure you can practice your drop shot while you travel.

SaddleBrooke Ranch is a regional pickleball hub because of its 24 courts available to members of the Pickleball Club and visiting friends and relatives.  It is also used by those who are looking for that perfect retirement spot in sunny Arizona in which to plant roots in a 55+ Active Community.  Those looking for re-sale homes can contact Lynn Baker or Douglas Sedam at SBRanchRealty.com or call 520-829-5219 ext. 3 or we can accompany you to the Sales Office if you are looking to build.  While you look at homes during the day, Lynn can plug you in to a few games of pickleball with friendly club members in the evening under lighted courts.

 Weight. Weight is the most important factor when choosing a paddle. Pickleball paddles can range from 6 to 14 ounces. Most composite or graphite paddles weigh from 6 to 9 ounces. Weight influences how a paddle feels when you pick it up and swing it on the court. For someone without pre-existing injuries, your choice of paddle weight is entirely up to your personal fitness level and comfort.  A heavier paddle will help you to drive the ball, but will provide less control of the ball. However, be aware that the heaviness of the paddle also accelerates fatigue in your arm and can strain your elbow. Conversely, a paddle that is too light may not provide enough drive but will increase ball control.

Grip Size. It is important to play with a paddle that has the correct grip circumference for your hand. Playing with a paddle grip that is too big may cause the paddle to slip in your hand and can lead to elbow problems. For this reason if you are trying to decide between two sizes, try the smaller size first. Smaller grips allow for more wrist action, which aids in putting spin on the ball and enhances control. This wrist action also produces powerful serves and facilitates quick hand changes for those players that switch hands during play. A larger grip will provide more stability, and be easier on your arm, so you can see that it is important to find the “just right” size for your hand. Competitive pickleball players often customize their paddle grips using an over-grip to re-wrap their paddle exactly to fit their personal preference.

 WHEELCHAIR RULES

The USA Pickleball Board collaborated with a committee comprised of selected individuals, both “Standing Players” and “Wheelchair Players” to develop rules specific to wheelchair pickleball. The following rules have been finalized and have been added as “Section 16 – Wheelchair Pickleball” to the IFP Pickleball Rule Book.

16.A. Basic Play

The wheelchair is considered part of the player’s body and all applicable rules that apply to a player’s body will apply to the wheelchair except in non-volley zone as listed below.

All applicable rules which apply to standing players apply to those in a wheelchair except as listed below.

16.B. Two Bounce Rule 

The wheelchair pickleball player is allowed two bounces of the ball on his or her side of the net. The second bounce can be anywhere inside or outside of the court boundaries.

16.C. Service 

• C.1. Server shall be in stationary position, and then allowed one push before striking ball.
• C.2. At the time the server strikes the ball, the server shall not touch with any wheel: any baselines, sidelines, center lines or the extended center or sidelines.

16.D. Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) (two bounce rule applies)

• D.1. When a wheelchair player strikes a ball in the NVZ, on a volley, it is a fault only if the larger-rear wheels contact NVZ.
• D.2. Upon exiting the NVZ, after striking a bounced ball, the player’s larger-rear wheels must return to outside the NVZ boundaries (so no rear wheel contact is made in the NVZ) before hitting a volley, or it is a fault.

16.E. Wheelchair/Standing Pickleball

• E.1. When a wheelchair pickleball player is playing with or against a standing person in singles or doubles, the rules of pickleball for standing players shall apply to all standing players while the wheelchair pickleball rules shall apply to all wheelchair players.

16.F. Singles Wheelchair Pickleball

• F.1. Singles play with one or both players in a wheelchair shall be played on half court. The server and the receiver shall serve, receive and play the entire point from their respective service and receiving court.

Welcome to the SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball court complex. We have completed construction of 24 courts. Various courts are available to our members, residents and guests. You can reach the courts by taking Arizona Highway #77 (Oracle Road) north of Tucson and turning left onto SaddleBrooke Ranch Road West. Follow the road past the 4-way stop and continue to the end where you will find the courts on your left. The physical address is 31080 S. Amenity Drive.  At times courts are reserved for Club play but there other times during the day or evening that anyone can play.  The complex is one of the best venues for play in southern Arizona.  Courts are directly across the street from the Fine Arts building (including wood working, technology, glass and many other artistic pursuits), Library and Dog Park.

                           

Mission

The mission of the SBRPA is to establish SaddleBrooke Ranch as a premiere pickleball community serving all skill levels and formats of play, thereby promoting the passion and sport of the game both inside and outside our community.

Strategies  (as prioritized by our membership)

Why is pickleball so popular?

Why is pickleball so popular? Well, first of all, it’s not new as 2021 marked its 56th anniversary. The game, with its handmade equipment and simple rules, was invented in the Seattle area by three enterprising dads whose children were bored with their usual summertime activities. And the name? As the story goes, one of the founders had a dog named Pickles who would chase the ball and run off with it, so they called it.

As of 2020, Pickleball has 4.2 million players in the U.S., according to the SFIA 2021 Topline Participation Report. The known places to play totaled 8,735 at the end of 2020, and the number continues to grow.

As of 2020, Pickleball has 4.2 million players in the U.S., according to the SFIA 2021 Topline Participation Report. The known places to play totaled 8,735 at the end of 2020, and the number continues to grow. Every U.S. state now has pickleball venues, with senior residence communities, YMCA’s, local recreation centers, schools and parks the most common places that have courts.

So, to answer the question about why pickleball is so popular, in a nutshell, the game is an easy to learn paddle sport appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels.  It’s easy on the joints, and combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. The only equipment needed is a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Though a great sport for beginners, experienced players compete against each other in fast-paced, challenging and competitive games.