Played either indoors or outdoors between two teams of one or two players, the game combines elements of tennis and badminton, but differs in that it has a nonvolley zone.
The rules and structure of the game favor players of all skill levels.
Find more information on how to play here.
Diving in deeper
With the growing popularity of pickleball throughout the nation, Texas has become a prime location with second-most places to play the sport, right after California.
According to data from USA Pickleball, the number of courts nationwide has increased from 12,000 to almost 45,000 since 2016.
Locally, Austin ranks fifth nationally and first in the state.
However, along with the increased popularity of the sport, there has also been an increase in pickleball-related injuries.
Devin Colburn, owner of Colburn Chiropractic in Leander has a background of working with professional athletes. He said the most common injuries he notices is stress on the ankles, shoulders, wrists and elbows. Patients with pickleball-related injuries often come to him for conditions such as tendinitis, tennis elbow and ankle sprains, he said.
For those recovering from injuries, Colburn recommends giving the body time to heal, applying ice to the area and keeping it elevated, if necessary. After the recovery period, Colburn said it’s encouraged to rehabilitate the injury before playing again.
Get involved
There are roughly 20 courts in Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville, Northwest Austin and Round Rock where residents can play pickleball.
