PICKLEBALL???
No, this is not becoming a pickleball blog. But it is changing... a little.
Welcome to DeMarco (+) Wrestling! You might be used to DeMarco Wrestling, but I have decided to shift the focus here… at least slightly.
You see, I am still going to write about wrestling. It’s kinda my thing. But I am also going to pull that curtain back a little, and write about life. My life!
Wrestling fans (or web publishers/podcasters/writers/analysts/promoters—all of which are me lol) are often pigeonholed into being, well… wrestling fans. But here’s the crazy part.
[Whispers…] We’re regular people, too.
[Stops whispering.]
So brace yourself for wrestling and a whole lot more.
(Please don’t unsubscribe lol.)
PICKLEBALL???
Yes, my first non-wrestling post (not really) is about Pickleball. Pickleball is this weird bastard love child of tennis and badminton, with some table-tennis somewhere in the lineage too.
And it’s hella fun.
Yes, I used “hella.” And I’m not even from NorCal.
Okay, back to pickleball. Not sure if that’s supposed to be capitalized each time. Pickleball Galaxy seems to have it using lowercase, so I guess it’s not a proper noun. You’d think it was…
Okay, now really back to pickleball. I snagged a pickleball set at Walmart (hella cheap) in preparation for this weekend, spent at a resort in Scottsdale with the wife as we celebrate 21 years of marriage. Today (Saturday) we finally broke into the set, and had to learn how to play pickleball. We didn’t play on a regulation pickleball court, because apparently our resort can’t be bothered to have more courts than just tennish. Pssh.
The Pickleball Court
So here’s the legit pickleball court:
As you can guess, this also comes from Pickleball Galaxy. You didn’t think I was going to use more than one pickleball website for research, did you?!?!
(No.)
We played on a tennis court, basically using the left and right service courts, thus eliminating the need for “the kitchen” and using the service line as a boundary.
We also played to 21, although I later learned that the game is played to 11, and you must serve to score (sideout rules for you volleyball fanatics).
The Pickleball Rules
You know what? I never knew the rules before today either. Shocked, I know.
Hella shocked.
Paddleball Galaxy (yes, related to the other site, but I guess that still means I used two sites for research. For you wrestling fans, that makes me better than Meltzer.
They list the 5 Rules Of Pickleball, and it’s super simple.
Pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles game, the court and rules are the same for both.
Scoring
A pickleball game is normally played to 11 and must be won by 2. You can only score a point while serving. The score should be said aloud before each serve with the serving teams score stated first, in doubles both players on a team serve so the last number stated should be to identify which server is serving. e.g. 5 - 3 - 1 would mean the serving team is winning 5 to 3 and the server is the 1st server onthe team, for the 2nd server it would be 5 - 3 - 2
The Serve
The serve must be hit with an underhand swinging motion and the ball contacted below the hips. When hitting the serve the server must be behind the baseline and serve into the adjacent service box as is done in tennis. You only get 1 serve, if the ball is hit out of the court, into the net or into the no-volley zone (kitchen) it is a side out. The center line, side lines and baselines are considered in on a serve but if the ball lands on the no-volley line it is a side out. If the ball hit the net and goes into the service box it is a let and the server maintains the serve. You only score points while serving.
In doubles each player serves until a point is lost then the other team gets the serve. At the start of the game the team that serves first only gets 1 player to server so the score starts at 0 - 0 - 2. The 2 meaning it is already the 2nd server. The 1st server on each side is always from the right service box serving into the right service box on the other side.
Double Bounce Rule
When the ball is served the player on the receiving side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. When the ball is returned to the serving side the ball must again bounce once before being hit. After the ball has bounced once on each side the ball can be hit without bouncing as long as you arent in the no-volley zone 7 feet from the net.
No Volley Zone
The No-Volley Zone is 7 feet from the net on each side. A player can not hit a ball if he is inside the No-Volley Zone unless the ball bounces first. If a ball hit a player in the No-Volley zone before bouncing the point is lost. Once a ball bounces a player can hit the ball while inside the zone. If a player hits a ball while outside the No-Volley Zone the momentum takes him/her into the zone the point is lost. If your foot touches any part of the line you are considered inside the zone, you can reach over the line and hit a ball as long as your foot is behind the line. If a serve hits the No-Volley line the serving team loses the point.
I know I printed them here, but still go visit their site!
I didn’t read these rules before hand, so we played to 21, with scoring on each serve. And it was a blast, with me taking home the first win, 21-18. Not so sure that was the butt-whoopin’ I promised.
What is a butt-whoopin’? How many points do I need to win by for it to be considered a butt-whoopin’? I need your help, reply to this email and let me know!
Playing The Game Of Pickleball
While we might have been violating the sanctity of the tennis court at the Seth Korey Tennis Academy, we had a shit load of fun. We were clueless to start, but quickly picked it up. Plus it allowed me to reach 25,000 steps for the day, on a goal of 15k (since I got a workout in).
Again, we were on a tennis court with slightly modified rules, but that didn’t matter to me. The result is official, and I am officially the Pickleball Champion Of The World.
Yes, that is a real thing.
That I just made up.
Played pickleball? Love pickleball? Reply to this email and let me know!
Official Pickleball Standings
Greg DeMarco - 1-0-0
Current PickleBall Champion: Greg DeMarco
Full History Of Pickleball Results
Greg DeMarco def. The Lovely & Talented Mrs. DeMarco - 21-18
May 23, 2020 - Seth Korey Tennis Academy, Scottsdale, Arizona
Keep checking DeMarco + Wrestling for updated Pickleball Results and Standings!
(Yes, Pickleball Results and Standings is a real thing now. Get used to it. You have no idea what you’re in for, I haven’t even told you about my new addiction… CrossFit!)
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Pickleball Champion of the World? That's a little arrogant don't you think?
pickleball is such an amazing sports