Kick start your wholesome journey with JC Fit City APP
05 Aug 2026
Share
When you hear a crisp and brisk hitting sound in a sports centre or a park, it is highly likely to be pickleball—a sport that combines the characteristics of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Pickleball has gained significant attention because it retains the thrilling rally experience of tennis while lowering the physical and joint burden. Whether you are an active youth or someone who exercises less frequently, you can easily master the techniques and enjoy the fun of swinging a paddle. Today, JC Fit City has compiled essential knowledge about pickleball. Let's explore it together!
Pickleball is an emerging sport that integrates features of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players use solid, stringless paddles to hit a hollow plastic ball over a net.
Court: The exact same dimensions as a badminton doubles court (20 x 44 feet), with a net height of approximately 34 to 36 inches.
Paddle: Shaped like an oversized table tennis bat with a rigid striking surface.
Ball: A hollow plastic ball with multiple circular holes designed to create drag and lower the speed.
If you are looking to learn a sport that is simple and easy to pick up, pickleball is an absolutely high-value choice:
Easy to Learn for All Ages: With slower ball speeds and a large paddle sweet spot, beginners can usually master the basic swing within 15 minutes and enjoy the thrill of rallying.
Low Impact: The smaller court size significantly lowers the physical burden on the knees and joints, reducing the risk of sports injuries.
Strategy Over Brute Force: Pickleball is not just about power; it heavily emphasises shot placement control and reaction time.
Before stepping onto the court to experience pickleball, memorise these core rules to help you start your game with ease:
The serve must be an underhand stroke, with contact made below waist level.
The serve must travel diagonally across the net and land beyond the opponent's "Kitchen" zone.
This is where beginners get confused the most:
After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it.
When returning that shot, the serving team must also let the ball bounce once before hitting it.
Only after the ball has bounced once on each side can players choose to volley the ball in the air or play it off a bounce.
The 7-foot zone on each side of the net is the Non-Volley Zone, commonly known as the Kitchen.
Rule: Players cannot stand in this zone to directly volley the ball. You must wait for the ball to bounce inside the Kitchen before you can step in to hit it.
Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least a 2-point margin.
Points can only be scored by the serving team.
To promote the development of diversified sports activities and in view of the growing popularity of pickleball in recent years, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) launched a pilot scheme to open up outdoor and indoor venues for public use to play pickleball. Please check out details from LCSD.
