The Perfect Balance

Author: Mike Hess (2016) (2019)

The founders of Pickleball have created the perfect balance among court dimensions, rules and equipment. The result is a game that allows all skill levels and age groups to enjoy. It is not by chance, but by intention, that points are “not” easy to score. Pickleball is not a game full of “winning shots.” Rather it is a game full of “tactical shots” and patience and easy strokes. The dynamics of pickleball work extraordinarily well, making it the fastest growing sport on the planet.

Therefore, the essence of the sport needs to be protected. The balance achieved is unlike any other sport ever invented, attracting aficionados of both genders, all skill-levels and all ages. From the novice to the elite, the sport is both fun and challenging, and what occurs during a 15 minute game to 11 is unique to pickleball - long rallies, participation of everyone on the court and an enjoyable blend of soft and rapid-fire rallies. This mix of strokes, sensations, body movement, reaction time and player interaction work incredibly well and have attracted what is arguably the widest range of participants (gender age and skill level) of any sport played today.

There is no need for “mini” pickleball as often occurs in other sports, because the “full” version of pickleball is accessible to all. That is an amazing accomplishment. Nearly all sports have to adapt their rules, or “dummy down” to allow young kids or seniors to play. Pickleball is the rare exception. And elite athletes love to play it as much as novices, kids and seniors do. The rallies among 5.0 (or 5.5 and 6.0) players are stimulating for both participants and fans. No one is complaining about what they cannot do on the court. The rules of the sport did not evolve by chance; they were designed with the clear intention of forcing the “stronger” athlete to have to earn their points not purely by superior athleticism and power and speed (which are always an asset), but rather by positioning and patience; tactics and touch.

Creating a golf ball that flies further is controversial, but because golf is a sport that matches the participant against the course, not much harm is done. Just make the course larger or more challenging and the game is hardly affected. But pickleball is played with opponents facing one another on a small court, and every millisecond used to act, decide and react is crucial to the way the sport is played, experienced, enjoyed, and won and lost. If you change the pace of the ball off the paddle; if you change the spin players are able to put on the ball by loosening paddle surface/material regulation; or if you change the distance form the net to the non-volley line, make no mistake about it - the game will be significantly affected. The current balance will be undermined and players will be forced to change the way they play the game. The game works perfectly as it is right now. The proof is in the numbers. What argument is there for changing the balance so rarely achieved by any sport? I cannot think of any that justify changing what was so carefully and purposely designed, and is so passionately embraced and enjoyed by players around the world.

Mike Hess; Former President of the International Federation of Pickleball and Co-Founder of the Bainbridge Cup.