Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, ping pong, and badminton into one family-friendly game. It can be played indoors and outdoors, and is played with a perforated, hollow plastic ball and paddles over a 34-inch-high net. The game can be played singles or doubles, and the court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, measuring 20×44 feet. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. The hard plastic ball used in pickleball produces less bounce than tennis balls. On each side of the net is a 7-foot area known as the non-volley zone (or the kitchen), where the ball must bounce before it is hit.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 as a childrens backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington state. It was named after the Pritchard familys dog, Pickles, who would chase after the ball and run off with it. Between 1965 and 2020, pickleball became a popular sport in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and began to grow in popularity elsewhere. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, the sport was named the fastest-growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, and by 2023 it was estimated to have over 4.8 million players.

Pickleball has specific rules, paddles, and court dimensions that distinguish it from other racket sports. While it resembles tennis and table tennis, it has its own unique features. Pickleball is a fun, social, and friendly game that is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game. Advocates of the sports growth say that pickleball is an activity that can provide exercise and social connections for players of all ages and skill levels.