The pickleball paddle is kinda like a mix between a tennis racket and a ping pong paddle. The ball itself is closer in size to a tennis ball but looks more like a wiffle ball. And unlike ping pong, pickleball goes from being a tabletop game to a heart-pounding sport played on a smaller version of a tennis court.

If your town doesn't have dedicated pickleball courts, no worries! A single tennis court can host one, two, or even four separate pickleball games, making it a super space-efficient sport that everyone can enjoy.

Now, let's chat about the basics of the court. Like tennis, the pickleball court is split into two areas by a net – your side and your opponent's side. The court is kind of fenced in by the baseline at the back and the sidelines on both sides. The space within 7 feet of either side of the net is a bit of a no-no, known as the kitchen or "non-volley zone." Generally, you gotta stay out of it, but if the ball bounces in the kitchen (except for the serve), you can step in to hit the ball.

The court then goes 15 feet behind the kitchen, and this is where all your pickleball action happens (technically called the service court). If you're playing doubles, you and your partner share a side of the net. If it's singles, it's all you!