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Pickleball Rating Guide: How to Determine Your Pickleball Rating and Skill Level

Have you been playing pickleball for a while and started getting curious about your playing level and how you might rank against other players? Fortunately, systems have been developed that can put a number to your ability. The pickleball rating guides determine your pickleball skill level and provide a formula that is backed by USA Pickleball, the national governing body of the sport.

Most beginners are in the learning phase and might not have any interest in their official or unofficial rating. But in order for you to enter into more games where your skill level matches that of your opponent, you’ll want to have a better grasp on what your official rating is.

Why Do You Need a Pickleball Coach and How to Hire the Right One?

A coach explaining how to play a pickleball

From snowboarding to skiing, tennis to racquetball and a variety of other sports, having a coach/instructor on your side is a smart move. The exact same can be said for pickleball. But you might be saying to yourself, “pickleball is popular because it’s an easy sport to pick up, why would I hire a pickleball coach?” The truth is that when you have a qualified pickleball coach assisting you, you can improve vastly faster than on your own. Beginners get bit fairly hard by the pickleball bug and they often find themselves wishing they could progress a little faster so they can join the more advanced groups. Having a coach will help attain that goal.

So, if you’re curious about how to choose the right pickleball coach, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to make the right decision for yourself.

Pickleball vs. Tennis: What are the Differences and Similarities

It’s only natural to compare sports that have similarities, which is why so many people unfamiliar with pickleball will ask, “what’s the difference between pickleball and tennis?” Indeed, there are similarities but there are also differences. From the size of the courts and the nets to the type of surfaces of the paddles and rackets to the size and weight of the balls – there is plenty to discuss.

Pickleball is fast becoming one of the most popular sports in the U.S. and players in other countries are also taking great interest. We know there are plenty of questions that need to be answered for people to truly embrace the sport, so we’ve developed this guide to fill you in on the similarities between pickleball and tennis as well as the differences between the sports.

The 20 Surprising Health Benefits of Playing Pickleball for Seniors

Most people play pickleball because it’s just fun. However, there exists a positive side effect to having that fun and it comes in the form of health benefits. Getting off the couch and onto the court offers a range of health perks, including mental health.

While pickleball is less strenuous than playing tennis, before you lace up your pickleball shoes and hit the court, it’s important for seniors to check with their doctor and let their primary care physician know what they're planning to do and make sure they’re cleared for this type of exercise.

Top 10 Reasons to Play Pickleball and Why is it So Popular?

Four mature people play pickleball game

There are psychological and social benefits to playing sports. There are health benefits as well, but most people you ask about the sport will tell you they play it because it's just a darn good time.

Let's look at the top 10 reasons people are getting hooked on this game.

To get more information about how pickleball players came to the sport and why they keep playing, we surveyed more than 2,000 players and asked. Jump ahead to find out how they started and what keeps them coming back to courts.

What’s with All the Nicknames for Pickleball? (And How did the Sport Actually Get its Name?)

pickleball names pickle tag cloud

Of all the sporting activities that people take part in, none are as humorously named as pickleball. Why would a sport that has nothing to do with pickles take on such a name?

Pickleball, which was invented at the residence of Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island in the state of Washington in 1965, is now a sport enjoyed by many thousands of people all over the world. It’s a bit of a quirky game as it’s a combination of many different sports including tennis, table tennis (Ping-Pong), Wiffle Ball and badminton.

It’s fitting that it has a quirky name, which has led to people misremembering or mishearing what it’s called. It has also led to many people coming up with their own hybrid names.

Pickleball Balls: Which is the Best for Indoor & Outdoor Play?

Pickleballs on court

To enjoy the game of Pickleball you will at least need a paddle and a pickleball ball. While there are huge pickleball paddle selection, it’s way easier to find the right ball to play. Pickleball ball is made out of plastic and beginners often assume that balls last forever, but it’s simply not true.

Durability is one of the most important characteristics as some balls need replacement just after a few games. Plastic tends to crack or ball develops a wobbling which will make the game less enjoyable.

Pickleball Court on Tennis Court

2 pickleball courts set on a tennis court

If you can’t find a pickleball court near you, you might have to consider setting up one by yourself on an existing tennis court.

It’s very important to remember that for any permanent changes, you must get a permit from your city or town. Don’t paint any lines, drill holes or do any other permanent changes to the court without written permission, because it’s illegal.

How to Pick Pickleball Paddle (Pickleball Racket Guide 2019)

Pickleball paddle is one single most important piece of equipment that you will need to enjoy the game.

With Pickleball growing fast in popularity, many new paddles are introduced to the market making it quite difficult to choose the right one. While it’s easy to get dazzled by different design and shapes of the paddles, we recommend you stay focused on the main specifications while choosing the right paddle: material of the paddle, weight, size of the head and grip.