What is pickleball?
Pickleball: the fastest-growing sport that truly suits everyone, however fit or old you are. This dynamic mix of tennis, badminton and table tennis is taking the world by storm: incredibly easy to pick up, gentle on your joints, and guaranteed to boost your mood.
Discover pickleballThe game is easy to learn and fun from the start. You play on a smaller court than tennis, usually in doubles, which makes it social and easy to pick up. You will learn the basics during your first rallies.
You need no gear of your own to start: paddles and balls are available on site. Just come in sportswear and clean sports shoes.
The pickleball court
A pickleball court is quite a bit smaller than a tennis court (13.4 by 6.1 metres). A low net hangs in the middle, with a zone on each side where you may not hit the ball out of the air: the kitchen.
Kitchen (non-volley zone): you may not hit the ball out of the air here.
Service areas: from here you serve diagonally to the other side.
The gear
The paddle
A solid, flat bat, bigger than a table-tennis bat and smaller than a tennis racket. Light and easy to handle.
The ball
A light plastic ball with holes. It flies slower and is easy to control, ideal for learning.
Pickleball rules in short
Serve underhand
The serve is underhand and diagonal, over the kitchen.
Two bounces
After the serve the ball must bounce once on each side before you may volley.
Stay out of the kitchen
In the zone near the net you may not hit the ball out of the air.
Play to 11
A game goes to 11 points, with at least a 2-point margin.
How is it different from tennis or padel?
Pickleball
Small court, light ball, no walls. Easy to learn and social right away.
Tennis
A larger court and more physical, with a steeper learning curve.
Padel
Played with glass walls; in pickleball you play without walls.
Frequently asked questions about pickleball
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. You play with a paddle and a light plastic ball with holes, on a court the size of a badminton court, usually two against two.
Where does pickleball come from?
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in the United States, on Bainbridge Island near Seattle. Three fathers came up with the game to keep their children busy during the summer. Today it is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, Belgium included.
How big is a pickleball court?
A pickleball court is 13.41 metres long and 6.10 metres wide, the same size as a badminton court. The net hangs at 91 centimetres at the sides and 86 centimetres in the middle. On both sides of the net is a zone 2.13 metres deep: the kitchen.
Is pickleball hard to learn?
No. The rules are simple and the ball moves slower than in tennis, so you are playing rallies within a few minutes. That makes pickleball suitable for all ages and levels.
Where can I play pickleball around Leuven?
Pura Vida 21 plays at four locations in Bierbeek and Leuven. The Locations and hours page shows where and when. Want to try it first? Join an intro session, gear is provided on site.
Impressions
Want to give it a try?
During an intro session you learn the basics in one go, with guidance and gear provided on site.
See the intro sessions →