By: Avry Zow

Alabaster is welcoming new additions to its Veterans Park through 8 new pickleball courts for residences to enjoy. 

However, you may be asking yourself what exactly is pickleball? Well I’ve got you covered on one of the most trending new sports of the modern age.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players or four players hit a hollow plastic ball with paddles over a 34-inch-high net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. 

The game got its name because it reminded its creator of the combination of different sports and how the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of the other boats.

How do you play?

  • To start playing you’ll need a pickleball, a paddle, a friend and a court.
  • When serving always do it underhand or use a drop serve
  • Two Bounce Rule: Both the serve & return must bounce
  • After the serve & return, you may volley the pickleball
  • Shots in the court or on the lines are in
  • Shots outside the court & if the serve is in the kitchen/kitchen line of the court (inside boxes) are OUT

The grey section of the court is called the “kitchen” and the line where the grey meets the blue is called the “kitchen line”

Now that you know how to play and the rules, how can you score?

How to score playing singles:

  • Singles scoring is very similar to doubles except that there is no second server.
  • The serve is always done from the right side when the server’s score is even and from the left side when the server’s score is odd.
  • It is the server’s score that determines serving position, not the score of the receiver. The receiver lines up on the right or left side according to the server’s score.
  • The score is called simply as: server score, receiver score.

How to score playing doubles:

  • Points are scored only on the serve; the receiving side cannot score a point.
  • At the start of the game, the player on the right side (even court) serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • If a point is scored, the server moves to the left side (odd court) and serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • Players on the serving side continue to move from the right to left or left to right each time a point is scored.
  • Players on the serving team do not alternate sides unless a point is scored. The receiving side never alternates sides.
  • The first server continues to serve until the serving team loses a rally by committing a fault; then the serve passes to the second server on the team.
  • There is an exception when the second server loses the serve, the serve goes to the other team and the player on the right serves first. That pattern continues throughout the game.

Calling the Score:

  • The score should be called as three numbers.
  • Proper sequence for calling the score is: server score, receiver score, then, for doubles only, the server number: 1 or 2.
  • To start a match, the score will be called as: zero – zero – two*

Veterans park is open to the public between 5 a.m to 11 p.m. everyday throughout the week, so be sure to grab a friend and head out to their new courts to test your skill against one of the fastest growing sports.