I've noticed a lot of confusion about the infamous "dink" in pickleball, especially among newcomers. So, let's break it down and serve up some knowledge! TL;DR: A dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands in the opponent's kitchen, designed to keep the ball low and make it hard to attack. Here's the full scoop on the pickleball dink: 1. Definition: A dink is a soft, arcing shot that lands in the opponent's non-volley zone (kitchen). 2. Technique: - Hit the ball with a gentle, upward motion - Aim to clear the net by just a few inches - Let the ball drop below net height before hitting it 3. Purpose: - Keep the ball low and hard to attack - Force opponents to hit up on the ball - Set up opportunities for put-away shots 4. When to use it: - When you're at the kitchen line - When the ball is too low for a strong attack - To change the pace of the game 5. Key benefits: - Neutralizes opponents' power - Creates defensive trouble for opponents - Improves your control and touch 6. Common mistakes: - Hitting too hard (it's not a drive or a drop shot) - Aiming too high (should barely clear the net) - Not moving forward after dinking 7. Pro tip: Practice "dink rallies" where you and your partner (or opponent) only hit dinks back and forth. Great for improving control and patience! Fun fact: The term "dink" might come from the soft "dink" sound the ball makes when it's hit gently. Remember, mastering the dink is crucial for advancing your pickleball game. It's the shot that often separates recreational players from more competitive ones. What's your experience with dinking? Any tips for newbies trying to improve their dink game? Share in the comments!

Hey picklers! I've seen this question pop up a lot lately, so I thought I'd break down the costs associated with building a pickleball court. Here's what you need to know: TL;DR: On average, building a pickleball court costs between $20,000 to $50,000, but prices can vary widely based on several factors. Breakdown of costs: 1. Court surface: $15 to $40 per square foot - For a standard 30' x 60' court, that's roughly $27,000 to $72,000 - Concrete is usually the cheapest option, followed by rubber, then asphalt 2. Site preparation: $5,000 to $10,000 - Includes excavation, grading, and drainage 3. Fencing: $3,000 to $6,000 4. Lighting (if needed): $5,000 to $10,000 5. Accessories (net, posts, etc.): $500 to $1,500 Factors affecting cost: 1. Location: Labor and material costs vary by region 2. Surface type: - Concrete: $4 to $8 per sq ft ($5,200 to $10,400 total) - Rubber: $4 to $12 per sq ft ($5,200 to $15,600 total) - Asphalt: $7 to $15 per sq ft ($9,100 to $19,400 total) 3. Additional features: Windscreens, seating, shade structures, etc. 4. Permitting and zoning requirements Pro tips: - Consider converting an existing tennis court (if available) to save money - DIY options like temporary courts or kits can cost as little as $5,000 to $10,000 - Don't forget about ongoing maintenance costs (about $3,000 every 4-8 years for resurfacing) Remember, these are rough estimates. For an accurate quote, it's best to consult with local contractors who specialize in sports court construction. Has anyone here built their own pickleball court? What was your experience like? Share your stories and tips in the comments!

TL;DR: Only the serving team scores, games go to 11 points (win by 2), and in doubles, you call out three numbers before each serve. Here's the full scoop on pickleball scoring: 1. Basic rules: - Games are typically played to 11 points (sometimes 15 or 21 in tournaments) - You must win by 2 points - Only the serving team can score points 2. Doubles scoring: - The score is called out as three numbers: [serving team's score]-[receiving team's score]-[server number] - Example: "4-2-1" means serving team has 4 points, receiving team has 2, and it's the first server 3. Singles scoring: - Only two numbers are called: [server's score]-[receiver's score] 4. Starting the game: - In doubles, the game always starts at 0-0-2 (yes, with the second server!) - In singles, it starts at 0-0 5. Serving rotation in doubles: - Each player on a team gets to serve until they lose a rally - When the first server loses a rally, it goes to their partner (second server) - When the second server loses a rally, the serve goes to the other team 6. Switching sides: - In doubles, partners only switch sides when they win a point while serving - The receiving team doesn't switch 7. Pro tip: Use "Me-You-Who" to remember the order: Your score, Their score, Which server you are Common newbie mistakes: - Forgetting to switch sides after scoring while serving - Mixing up the order of the three numbers - Thinking you can score while receiving (you can't!) Fun fact: Pickleball scoring is similar to old-school table tennis scoring, where only the server could score points. Remember, it might seem complicated at first, but after a few games, it'll become second nature. Don't be afraid to ask more experienced players for help! What tricks do you use to keep track of the score? Any funny scoring mishap stories? Share in the comments.

I've noticed a lot of confusion about the "kitchen" in pickleball, especially among newcomers. So, let's break it down and serve up some knowledge! TL;DR: The "kitchen" is the non-volley zone close to the net where you can't hit volleys. Here's the full scoop on the pickleball kitchen: 1. Official name: It's actually called the "Non-Volley Zone" (NVZ), but "kitchen" is the popular nickname. 2. Location: It's the 7-foot area on both sides of the net, extending to both sidelines. 3. Purpose: To prevent players from smashing the ball at the net and to encourage dinking (soft shots). 4. The main rule: You can't volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in or touching the kitchen line. 5. Key things to remember: - You CAN enter the kitchen at any time. - You CAN hit the ball while in the kitchen if it bounces first. - You CAN reach over the kitchen to hit a volley, as long as you don't touch the zone. - If you volley and your momentum carries you into the kitchen, it's a fault. 6. Line calls: The kitchen line is part of the kitchen. Touching it while volleying is a fault. 7. Common newbie mistake: Stepping into the kitchen to hit a short ball out of the air. Don't do it! 8. Pro tip: Practice your "kitchen awareness." It's crucial for improving your game. Why is it called the "kitchen"? There are a few theories: - It might come from shuffleboard, which has a similar area called the "kitchen." - Some say it's because if you go in there, you're "in trouble" (like being in hot water in the kitchen). - Others think it's because that's where you "cook up" your strategy. Fun fact: In the early days of pickleball, there was no kitchen! It was added later to make the game more strategic and less about power shots. So, next time you're on the court, remember to stay out of the kitchen unless that ball bounces first! What's your experience with the kitchen? Any funny stories about kitchen violations? Share in the comments!

I've seen this question pop up a lot lately, so I thought I'd break down the current status of pickleball and the Olympics. TL;DR: No, pickleball is not currently in the Olympics, and it won't be in 2024 or 2028. But there's hope for the future! Here's the scoop: 1. Current status: Pickleball is NOT an Olympic sport as of 2024. 2. 2024 Paris Olympics: Pickleball won't be there. 3. 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: Unfortunately, pickleball didn't make the cut for LA either. The sports lineup is already set. 4. Earliest possible inclusion: 2032 Brisbane Olympics, but many think 2036 is more realistic. Why isn't pickleball in the Olympics yet? - To become an Olympic sport, pickleball needs to meet specific criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC): - Must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries on 4 continents - Must be widely practiced by women in at least 40 countries on 3 continents - Needs an international governing body - Must adopt the World Anti-Doping Code - Currently, pickleball is mostly popular in the USA and doesn't have the global reach required. What's being done to get pickleball into the Olympics? - The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) is working towards meeting IOC requirements. - There's a push to have pickleball as a demonstration sport in 2028 or 2032. - The pickleball community is actively promoting the sport globally. Fun fact: It takes at least 7 years from approval for a sport to actually appear in the Olympics! So while we won't see pickleball in the Olympics just yet, the future looks bright. The sport is growing rapidly, and with continued global expansion, we might see Olympic pickleball in the 2030s. What do you think? Are you excited about the possibility of Olympic pickleball? How do you think it would impact the sport?