Ocean Pickball
(With Burrill)

Pickleball is a fast-growing paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, as a backyard game to entertain bored children. The game is played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court using a slightly lowered tennis net, solid composite or wooden paddles, and a lightweight, perforated plastic ball similar to a Wiffle ball.

The game can be played in either singles or doubles formats, though doubles is the most common. Matches begin with an underhand serve executed from behind the baseline. A central element of the sport is the "two-bounce rule," which mandates that the ball must bounce once on the receiving side and once on the serving side before players are permitted to volley the ball out of the air. Additionally, the court features a unique seven-foot restriction zone near the net called the "kitchen" (or non-volley zone), where players are legally barred from hitting the ball mid-air, a rule designed to prevent aggressive spiking and encourage tactical, patient rallies. 

The rules established by organizations like USA Pickleball prioritize accessibility, strategy, and community. Standard games are played to 11 points, and a team can only score points when they are holding the serve. Because the smaller court limits the required running distance compared to traditional tennis, pickleball reduces physical strain while remaining an engaging workout. This blend of low-impact mechanics and rapid, social gameplay has made it immensely popular among all age demographics and skill levels.