How To Play Pickleball as a GT Student Living On/Near Campus
By: Farhan Sharif and Varenya Amagowni
Introduction : Why Play Pickleball at Georgia Tech?
Are you interested in trying pickleball but don’t know where to start? As a freshman or transfer student at Georgia Tech, finding ways to stay active and meet new people can be challenging, especially when you’re unfamiliar with campus activities. Pickleball is a fun way to stay active and make friends but students may not know where to play, how to find equipment, or even the basic rules of the game. Our GTHow guide will walk students through how to get started playing pickleball at Georgia Tech, as well as where to find courts on or near campus, learning the rules and scoring, and finding other students to play with. This matters because recreational sports are a great way for students to take a break from studying, stay active, and make new friends. Since games are rather short, students can easily fit in a quick match between classes or whenever they have some free time. Our goal is to make it easier for students and beginners to try pickleball without needing previous experience or spending lots of money, since we know that many students are looking for new things to try, but don’t always know where or how to start.
Figure 1: Seven steps on beginning how to play pickleball as a GT student, from finding courts to learning the rules of the game.
Step 1 : Finding a Pickleball Court
Explore Courts on or Near Campus
Figure 2: Pickleball Court at Peters Parking Deck
The first step to playing pickleball is finding a court whether it’s on or off campus. Georgia Tech students can start by visiting CRC for more information regarding pickleball activities on campus. For students who prefer playing outdoors, Peters Parking Deck is another location to investigate for pickleball court access.
Before heading out, check whether the courts are available and if reservations are required. You can either contact the CRC or visit their website for information about facility hours, court access, reservations, and any equipment checkout options. If campus courts are unavailable, look for public pickleball courts near Georgia Tech. Planning ahead will help you avoid arriving at a busy or unavailable court and make it easier to organize a game with friends.
Step 2 : Gather Your Equipment
Choose a Paddle and Pickleball
Figure 3: Pickleball Equipment
Before playing pickleball, make sure you have the basic equipment: pickleball paddles and a pickleball.
Start with an affordable paddle that’s comfortable to hold and easy to control, and If you’re playing with friends, make sure everyone has a paddle and that you have at least one ball available.
If you don’t own equipment, check out Georgia Tech’s Campus Recreation Center (CRC) to borrow paddles and balls. This is really beneficial for beginners to get started without spending money on their own equipment.
Step 3 : Understand the Court Layout
Learn the Boundaries and Kitchen Rules
Figure 4: Pickleball Court Layout
Before starting a game, become familiar with the different areas of a pickleball court. The court is divided into two halves by a net, with sidelines and baselines marking the boundaries.
Each side has two service areas split by a centerline. Understanding these boundaries will help you recognize if a shot is in or out.
The kitchen, also called the non-volley zone, is the area seven feet from the net on both side. No player can hit the ball in the air while standing on its boundary line or inside this area.
However, you are allowed to step into the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces. These rules are important because violating it results in a fault.
Step 4 : Learn How to Serve
Practice the Basic Serving Technique
Every pickleball rally starts with a serve. For a traditional volley serve, stand behind the baseline, swing your paddle in an upward motion and strike the ball below your waist, with the paddle head below your wrist at contact.
When serving, aim diagonally across the court beyond your opponent’s kitchen line within their service box. If a serve lands in the kitchen or touches its line it is a fault. Start with slower serves and gradually increase your power and spin as your accuracy improves.
Step 5 : Understand the Basic Rules
Follow the Double-Bounce Rule
Figure 5: Two-Bounce Rule
One of the most important pickleball rules is the double-bounce rule when serving. After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. Then the serving team must let the return bounce once before hitting it. After these two bounces, players can either hit the ball after it bounces or volley it in the air. This rule prevents players from rushing the net immediately after serving.
Avoid Common Faults
Some common mistakes beginners make include hitting the ball outside the court boundaries, touching the net during the match, or allowing the ball to bounce twice before returning it. Another common mistake is volleying the ball while standing inside the kitchen, which is not allowed resulting in a fault. However, players can enter the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces. Understanding these faults will help you avoid simples mistakes and make games more enjoyable.
Step 6 : Learn How Scoring Works
Keep Track of Points and Winning Conditions
Pickleball games are played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least 2 points, or else the game continues. Only the serving team can earn points, and if the receiving team wins the rally then they get the opportunity to serve and earn points.
In doubles pickleball, the score is called using three numbers:
First number : The serving team’s score
Second number: The receiving team’s score
Third number : The server number which is either 1 or 2
For example, a score of 4-3-2 means that the serving teams has 4 points, receiving teams has 3 points, and the second player on the serving teams is serving.
Before each serve players call out the score so every one knows the current score and whose turn it is.
Step 7 : Finding other Students to Play With
Join Games and Meet Other Beginners
Now that you understand all the rules of pickleball, it’s time to find other students to play with! Pickleball is a great way to meet new people at Georgia Tech while staying active and having fun.
Some of the ways to find people to play with:
Campus Recreation (CRC): Check out Georgia Tech’s Campus Recreation Center website for upcoming pickleball matches, activities, and events, to find opportunities to join matches and meet new players.
Student Organizations: Explore through Georgia Tech’s student organizations to find pickleball clubs or recreational sports groups that are welcoming new players for the season.
Friends and Classmates: Feel free to invite friends, roommates, or classmates to play during free time.
Open Play: Visit campus pickleball courts on the Peter’s parking deck and ask other students if they’re interested in playing a match.
Beginner Tip: Don’t be afraid to join a game even if you’re new! Let other players know you’re still learning and look for beginner friendly matches. Remember, you only need two people to play singles or four for doubles!
Pickleball is more than just a sport. It’s an opportunity to make friends, take a break from studying, make new friends, and become more involved in the Georgia Tech community.
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