Yay, our pickleball special is starting! Dive into this trending sport, which is the absolute number one trending sport in the USA, is expanding rapidly in Asia and Europe, and has also arrived in Germany. Together with our pickleball expert Stefan Kornhaß, we'll present you with the most important information about pickleball. From equipment and the rules to tactics and the status quo regarding tournaments and leagues at the national and international levels. We'll introduce you to interesting pickleball personalities, wonderful pickleball travel destinations, and much more in further parts of this special. Stay tuned! So let's get the ball flying!
Before we really get started, we'd like to introduce you to our "Mr. Pickleball." We're thrilled to present Stefan Kornhaß, one of the absolute pickleball specialists in Germany and beyond.
Stefan is a true pickleball pro in more ways than one: he first came into contact with pickleball in 2016 and has been playing actively and very successfully on the German national team for men over 50 ever since. In September, he even took third place in singles at the European Championships in Rome. But Stefan's passion for pickleball isn't limited to playing. He's also been professionally involved with the sport for the past 10 years through distribution of the Gamma brand. After all, Gamma is one of the leading manufacturers of pickleball equipment.
With Stefan and his extensive pickleball knowledge, we've put together this special feature for you. Unfortunately, what we can't really convey in words is the passion Stefan has for this new trend sport. In any case, you're welcome to ask Stefan your questions anytime. Simply use the contact form at the bottom of the page.
Our pickleball expert
Stefan Kornhaß
Pickleball is a relatively new sport, extremely popular and widespread, especially in the USA, that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It's perfect for all ages, very easy to learn, incredibly fun, and very sociable.
Pickleball was invented in the USA in 1965. Its origins likely lie on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle in Washington state. There, three fathers and their friend Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum were looking for a spontaneous activity for their children. A perforated plastic ball and paddle-like rackets were readily available – and so they began playing on an improvised court. Pickleball quickly evolved and became increasingly popular in the following years. Today, pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the USA and worldwide.
The playing field is 6.10 m wide and 13.41 m long (similar to a badminton court). There is a non-volley zone (also called the "kitchen") of approximately 91 cm on each side of the net, where volleys are not allowed.
Badminton courts can easily be used in sports halls, with the Kitchen Line added as an additional line. Pop-up courts can be quickly set up on any hard surface or parking lot. Special pickleball courts with foundations, etc., cost between €20,000 and €50,000.
The equipment includes:
Lightweight paddles are made of composite materials, or, in premium categories, of carbon or graphite surfaces. Paddles typically cost between 30 and 300 euros, depending on the material and brand.
Raw Carbon Fiber Airbender
For tournament players
€209,-
Raw Carbon Fiber Obsidian
For tournament players
€199,-
Rainmaker Paddle
For beginners and advanced paddlers
€109
Starter Paddle Fusion
For beginners
€59.90
Starter sets consisting of several paddles, balls, and a net are ideal for schools. Gamma offers preferential pricing on these packages.
Pickleball is played with plastic balls that have holes in them. There's a lighter indoor ball and a heavier outdoor ball. These balls are similar to children's street hockey balls. Balls cost between €2 and €5 each. It's important to choose high-quality balls. There are many low-quality balls on the market that break easily. A helpful resource is the list of manufacturers listed by the Pickleball Association USA: https://equipment.usapickleball.org/ball-list/
The game is played on a small, rectangular badminton court. Up to four pickleball courts can be set up on a tennis court.
It is played either as singles or doubles. The aim is to hit the ball over the net in such a way that the opponent cannot return it. There are certain rules, such as the so-called "kitchen," a no-volley zone where the ball may not be hit directly out of the air.
The game starts with a serve played diagonally into the opposite service court. Unlike tennis, there is only one serve attempt. The serve must always be delivered from below the waist.
Points can only be scored by the serving team. A match goes to 11 points, with a lead of at least two points required. In tournaments, matches are sometimes played to 15 or 21 points and to two or three winning sets.
A fault occurs if the ball bounces outside the court lines, touches the net during the serve or rally, or a volley is played in the kitchen.
Pickleball generally involves a lot of volleys, played close to the kitchen zone. This results in exciting, fast-paced rallies.
A popular playing strategy is the so-called " Dink" . The aim is to stand as close as possible to the kitchen and either play the balls just over the net into the kitchen or at the opponent's feet.
Pickleball is gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the USA, Canada, Asia, and Europe. It's also experiencing a surge in popularity in Germany. Currently, there are 50-60 clubs registered with the German Pickleball Association, and around 200 playing groups (i.e., informal gatherings) that are not organized as clubs. In total, approximately 10,000 players are active in pickleball. The number of players has doubled in the last two years. Our expert, Stefan, predicts a fivefold increase in active players within the next three years. Similar to padel a few years ago, professional investment is also evident in pickleball, which will further accelerate this growth.
In Germany, there are currently three leagues: West, North, and South. The North league comprises approximately 30 teams playing in the North League, the Oberliga (Upper League), and various regional leagues, each with seven divisions and promotion/relegation rules similar to those in tennis. The West league has only been organized for three years and consists of a first and second division. Team matches typically involve doubleheaders with multiple teams or single matches.
The pickleball tournament scene in Germany is steadily growing, both in terms of the number of tournaments and the number of participants. Tournaments are played at different skill levels (DUPR – comparable to the ranking system in tennis). There are doubles and mixed doubles matches, and then various divisions depending on the number of participants. Larger tournaments also have age categories. Examples of major tournaments in Germany include the Hamburg Open (170 participants), the German Championships, the Gifhorn Open, and the tournament in Burgholzhausen with approximately 300 participants.
International tournament series such as the Road to Arlberg or the World Pickleball Championships are becoming increasingly professional, particularly due to growing sponsorships. In the USA, there are professional pickleball leagues where pro players already earn six-figure salaries.
Our expert Stefan participated in the recent European Championships in Rome as a player in the 55+ age group. This team championship saw teams from 24 countries, each consisting of two men and two women, compete in the open and 50+ age groups.
Tennis icons Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi stumbled upon pickleball almost by chance during the pandemic. They were completely captivated by the sport and have been playing several times a week ever since. And, unsurprisingly, they've been very successful: last February, they won the Pickleball Slam for the second time, one of the most prestigious pickleball tournaments. Genie Bouchard and Andy Roddick were among the other participants. Even former tennis pro Jack Sock has become a passionate pickleball player.
As part of our pickleball special, we'll introduce you to some interesting pickleball players. And of course, you'll find out which of our travel providers already offer pickleball packages. This way, you'll know exactly where you can try out this trendy sport on your vacation.
Then simply send us your question using our form. Our pickelball expert Stefan Kornhaß will be happy to answer your questions.
On our pickleball inspiration page, you'll find all blog posts about pickleball, as well as current pickleball camps and TennisTravellerhotels where you can perfectly play pickleball.
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