What is Pickleball? Rules, Equipment, Basic Techniques and Health Benefits

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Pickleball – why is the "national sport " booming?

Pickleball is a racket sport that combines familiar elements from tennis , badminton and ping-pong , played on a small court with a low net, using a solid paddle and a wiffle ball .

Thanks to its moderate pace, ease of starting, and low cost, Pickleball is spreading rapidly in the US, Europe, Asia, and is now available in many major cities in Vietnam. The strength of this sport is its community : beginners, middle-aged, and older people can all participate, socialize, and improve their fitness.

Pickleball is a growing sport in Vietnam.

Basic Pickleball Rules (Easy for Beginners)

Competition format: Singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2), doubles are more popular.
Scoring: Only the serving side scores. A point is won when the opponent hits the ball out of the net, lands on the serving side, or commits a foul. The game is usually played to 11 points (win by 2).
Serve: Cross-court , underhand , contact with the ball below the hips . The serve must land in the opposite diagonal service box.
“Two-Bounce” Rule: After a serve, the ball must bounce once on the receiver, return over the net, and bounce once on the server before either side can volley .
“Kitchen” (No-Volley Zone): The 2.13m area next to the net on each side. Volleys are not allowed while standing in this area. You only enter the “kitchen” to hit a bounced ball.
Common errors: Touching the net, ball going out, volleying with the foot touching the “kitchen”, illegal serves, not following the two-bounce rule.

Court, racket, ball: choose the right one - enough - save money

Court size: 6.10m × 13.41m (equal to doubles badminton court), net height ~86cm in the middle of the court.
Paddle: Flat, stringless. Beginners should choose a medium-weight (7.8–8.4 oz) polymer/graphite paddle to reduce hand fatigue while still providing enough power.
Wiffle ball: Plastic, with holes. Indoor (fewer holes, softer) and outdoor (more holes, harder) types. For outdoor play, choose outdoor balls to stabilize wind direction.
Shoes: Court shoes (like tennis/badminton) support grip and quick direction changes.
Starting budget: 1–2 rackets + 1 bag of balls + basic shoes is enough to start.

5 Pickleball techniques to help you improve quickly

Dink : A short tap to the “kitchen” that makes it difficult for the opponent to attack - the secret of professional pairs.
Third Shot Drop : A soft drop shot in the third phase (after serving and returning) to regain control of the game , approaching the safety net.
Steady Serve & Return : Deep shots at the back of the court; deep and high returns to give time to get into position.
Smart Volleys : Don't try to "hit" every ball; prioritize placing the ball in an open corner, aiming at the opponent's feet.
Split step : Bounce slightly before receiving the ball to react quickly, especially effective when handling changing directions.

Health benefits: enough "motivation" to play every week

Cardio & Weight Control: Moderate to high intensity, burns calories steadily without putting too much stress on joints.
Reflexes & Balance: Small pitches force you to make quick decisions, improving balance – agility.
Stress reduction: Fun environment, high community spirit helps relieve stress after work.
Suitable for all ages: Beginners can also participate; easy to maintain exercise habits.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/pickleball-la-gi-luat-choi-dung-cu-ky-thuat-loi-ich-2433597.html