After padel, another new sport is quickly gaining popularity: pickleball

🎾 After the hugely popular padel, there's another new sport on the rise: Pickleball! This is a racket sport where two or four players hit a hollow plastic ball with holes over a net. The game was invented in 1965 as a children's backyard game, but has now evolved into a sport that's becoming increasingly popular worldwide. It combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, making it accessible and suitable for virtually everyone.

What exactly is pickleball?

🏸 Pickleball is played on a smaller court, about the size of a badminton court, with a net that hangs slightly lower than in tennis. Unlike padel or tennis, there are no walls, so the ball must always be played directly over the net. The ball is made of lightweight plastic and has holes, which makes it move slower than a tennis or padel ball.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The game can be played in singles (two players) or doubles (four players). The goal is to hit the ball over the net so that your opponent cannot return it. Scoring is similar to tennis: you score a point when your opponent doesn't return the ball correctly, but the game often progresses faster because rallies are shorter and the court is smaller.

Game rules in brief

🎯 Serve: The serve must be hit diagonally over the net, underhand and below hip height.

🚫 No-volley zone: In front of the net there's a "kitchen" or no-volley zone, where you're not allowed to smash the ball out of the air. This prevents players from scoring points directly at the net and promotes strategy.

🏅 Scoring: Only the server can score points. A game is usually played to 11 points, and you must win by a two-point margin.

🙌 Returning: The ball must first hit the ground before you can return it if it's played into the no-volley zone.

🎯 Pickleball places a lot of emphasis on precision, tactical play and smart ball placement, rather than pure power or speed. This makes it suitable for both young and old and for people who want to do something active without excessive strain.

What's the difference between pickleball and padel?

⚖️ Although pickleball and padel are both racket sports, there are clear differences:

🏟️ Playing field: Pickleball has a small court without walls, while padel is played in a glass cage that is actively used in the game.

🎈 Ball: Pickleball uses a lightweight plastic ball with holes; padel uses a tennis ball-like one with less pressure.

🤾‍♂️ Intensity: Pickleball is less intensive and more accessible for beginners or recreational players. Padel requires more speed and endurance.

🎯 Playing style: Pickleball revolves around strategy and precise placement; padel revolves around fast rallies and clever use of the walls.

🤔 In short: pickleball is a calm, tactical sport, while padel is often more dynamic and physically demanding.

Where can you play pickleball in the Netherlands?

📍 The popularity of pickleball is growing, and there are more and more places where you can try the sport:

LocationProvinceWebsite Castricum Noord-Holland Pickleball Holland Den Bosch Noord-Brabant Pickleball Power Den Haag Zuid-Holland Pickleball Den Haag Den Haag Zuid-Holland Sportcentrum Mariahoeve

🎉 Just like padel grew in popularity earlier, pickleball is also growing rapidly. Pickleball is ideal for people who want to try something new, are looking for a social sport, or simply want to do a fun activity with friends or family. The game is accessible, easy to learn and suitable for almost all ages.

🏝️ Fun fact, one of the founders of Findmino, Jeff, lives on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. This is where Pickleball was first started.