A Real-Eye Opener: What to watch for when tuning into pickleball

Dave Fleming is the lead commentator for the PPA Tour.

So you’re ready to watch pickleball. What should you be looking for? Here are five key takeaways:

1. SCORING SYSTEM

In pickleball, you can only score when you serve. So even if a team trails 10–3 (in a game to 11), they can mount a realistic comeback if they can get a side out and get the serve back. Pickleball is a game of momentum and runs, so look for savvy teams to use a time out to slow the energy of their opponent.

2. THE KITCHEN

You can’t close the net in pickleball, as volleying is not allowed in the seven-foot kitchen on either side of the net. But much of the game is played at the kitchen line, where doubles teams manipulate the ball through a series of dinks until one team hits the ball just a bit too high—and then the action quickly warps into a firefight.

3. WHAT EVENT IS IT?

Strategies vary in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Singles pickleball will most resemble tennis. Because the server must let the return bounce, you won’t see serving and volleying, so it’s the receiver that aims to take the forward position first. You will typically see a deep return down the middle or to the backhand corner, with the server attempting a passing shot or a drop in the kitchen to neutralize the point.

In mixed, the male player usually plays the left side of the court, looking to attack with a strong forehand in the middle. All doubles teams play to each other’s strengths, with the player on the right usually in more of a setup role, and the player on the left typically playing a bit more aggressive.

4. OFFENSE TURNS TO DEFENSE

A mantra in pickleball is that the ball is always coming back. Overheads are difficult to put away because, unlike tennis, you cannot bounce a plastic ball into the 10th row of the bleachers. Clean winners are rare. Watch how one team is ahead in a point—and then in two shots, that team is on defense while their opponents are on attack.

5. “NO MAN’S LAND”

Pros have to be skilled in a place tennis players don’t want to go—the area between the kitchen line and the baseline. The goal is to work your way up to the net, and find a ball to attack once you get there. This often requires several drops or resets (soft, unattackable balls hit into the kitchen). While all big swings and attacks are fun to watch, the hands and finesse required to defend them is equally impressive.

TENNIS.com makes its way to the kitchen line this week with a spotlight on pickleball. We dive into this court sport with an array of content, including rules and strategies; player profiles; and behind-the-scenes access to the PPA Tour. Tune into Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus for coverage of the pros at the Orange County Cup in San Clemente, Calif., and read about this fast-moving phenomenon to help your own game.