Looking for an all-new game to challenge your mates in the backyard this New Zealand summer?
A game where you can shit talk your best friends and show them who is boss of the court?
Why not give Pickleball a whirl?
The name may sound a little crazy, but this sport is quickly growing into a worldwide phenomenon. Its dramatic rise in popularity in the United States has led to a pickleball Pro league starting up - Major League Pickleball. The MLP is entering its third season, and the top pickle players are now being played to ply their trade.
NBA star Lebron James invested in a team, and entrepreneur Gary Vee has too. The all-time leader in Olympic Gold medals, Michael Phelps is a huge advocate and the list goes on.
Think of Pickleball like a miniature game of tennis, it's faster and games tend to be shorter. It's like sevens for rugby union. How long before we see the PickleBlacks competing? Or the All Pickles begin to dominate the world circuit?
gearD is here to help you understand more about how to play, where you can play pickleball in NZ, and just what the hell pickleball is.
Pickleball is similar to tennis but played on a badminton-sized court. Instead of using a hard ball or cock, you hit a plastic ball with holes in it, much like a Wiffle ball. The ball flies fast through the air but does not bounce as high as it does in tennis.
It is an amazing sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, there are some aspects of the game that can make it a bit difficult for beginners to get into. It is typically played in doubles and has a few pickleball rules that you need to understand before playing.
The most unique of these rules is that the services must be under-arm (perfect for Aussie cricket players).
You also have to let the ball bounce on the first two shots following the serve - this is the double bounce rule, and prevents serve and volley tactics that we see in tennis.
From that point on, shots are exchanged with the players remaining rather close to the net. Each game is played to 11, 15, or 21 points, and you can only score points while serving.
There is also a place on the court called ‘The Kitchen’ where players can not volley or smash from.
Most racquet sports take a long time to learn and get good at, but Pickleball is different. If you are talented at tennis, squash, or badminton, pickleball will be a breeze for you to pick up. But, even if you are un-coordinated or have two left feet, you’ll be able to play a decent game.
This is the perfect game to challenge your clumsy friends or little brother or sister as they will actually be able to hit the ball back and maintain a good rally.
One reason players do not need the athleticism of tennis players is the narrow playing space. It helps to make the game available to people of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels.
Pickleball can be played both indoors and out. Perfect for a backyard game in the summer, or a game at your local gym or tennis courts in the winter months.
Dink responsibly, it's addictive!
Pickleball palooza, party on the court.
Dill with it, and play Pickleball.
If you are looking to start playing pickleball in NZ, there are plenty of clubs you can join or courts you can use. Below is the entire list of all pickleball clubs in New Zealand:
If you know of any other Pickleball clubs in New Zealand that we can add to this list, please get in touch with us!
The Mount Pickleball Club in Mount Maunganui was the most decorated club at the Wellington Pickleball Nationals in 2022. They took home a total of 10 medals.
The Auckland region was the most successful pickleball region in NZ overall, taking home a total of 31 medals.
Below are the winners from the Wellington Pickleball nationals in 2022.
Jai Grewal
Maddie Schulte
Jai Grewal and Maddie Schulte
John Walker and Grant Chambers
Jo Thornton and Maddie Schulte
The event will be held on Waitangi weekend at the Wellington Pickleball club. Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions take place on the 3rd of February. Men’s and Women’s doubles are on the 4th of February, and Mixed Doubles take place on the 5th of February!
Unfortunately, there is a lack of quality pickleball gear in New Zealand. At rebel sports, you can find a limited range of pickleball paddles but they don't even stock the balls or nets required to play pickle.
Luckily, gearD has you covered. We have complete pickleball sets to get you started.
Our portable pickleball set has a regulation-sized pickleball net that can be used both indoors and out. It includes for balls, two for indoor courts, and two for outdoor courts. It also comes with a set of four pickleball paddles so you can find three friends to battle with or play a game with your family. That's not all, our portable pickleball set contains a backpack to carry all your gear in and pickleball paddle covers to protect them.
So you want to get started playing pickleball in New Zealand but there aren’t any courts or clubs near you? No worries! You can make your own pickleball court wherever you can find the space, or you can play on your local tennis courts.
A regulation pickleball-sized net stands 86.36 cm (34 inches) tall in the center. At the sidelines, the pickleball net measures 91.44 cm in height (36 inches).
The net should also measure 6.7 metres in length (22 feet).
The net height is just one of several distinctions between tennis and pickleball. A tennis net is higher than a pickleball net, so if you are playing on a pickleball court, be sure to lower it.
The dimensions of a regulation pickleball court are identical to those of a doubles badminton court. A standard pickleball court is just over 6 metres wide and around 13.5 metres long. Both doubles and singles games of pickleball are played on courts of this size.
As with any sport, pickleball requires well-marked court lines. The lines are two inches broad, and they should be a contrasting color from the surface. With Pickleball courts popping up all over the country, you can head down to your local court for a game, or find a hard surface that you can set up an impromptu game on.
Yes! If you have a flat backyard or lawn and want to play a game of pickleball on grass, go for it. Our only suggestion is to mow the lawn as short as possible prior to playing and then lay out court markers so you can clearly see the boundaries. This will prevent any arguing with your cheating mates when they claim you hit the ball out of court.
One of the beauties of this crazy sport is that almost anyone can pick up a paddle and start playing. From teenagers to boomers, anyone who can walk onto the court and swing a paddle can start pickling.
Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles. It is a great form of exercise and a great way to challenge your friends to a fast-paced, high-stakes game.
There is a lack of high-quality pickleball retailers in New Zealand and gearD is here to change that.
We have developed a premium pickleball paddle for all New Zealand picklers to use! With maximum grit for spin, a large sweet spot, and excellent pricing; you will be hard-pressed to find a better pickleball paddle in NZ.
Enhance your performance with the Lightweight gearD Pickleball Paddle. Our carbon fiber paddles are constructed with cutting-edge technology and premium materials, making them the most effective lightweight paddle available in New Zealand. These carbon fiber pickleball paddles will improve your control, precision, strength, and spin.
If you want to develop your skills as a player, and start crushing your friends in Pickleball, grab yourself a gearD pickleball paddle today.
We hope this ultimate guide to Pickleball in New Zealand has answered all of your pressing questions about the latest craze to sweep Oceania. If you have any more questions about how to play pickleball in NZ, check out our other blog posts, or shoot us an email!
