Pickleball Fundamentals

by USA Pickleball Association, Mary L. Littlewood

Fast, fun, and Simply step onto the court and it will be clear why pickleball is booming in popularity.

Pickleball Fundamentals is the first book written and endorsed by the USA Pickleball Association. It will teach you the basics of the sport so that you can join the fun on the court right away.

Learn proper execution of the sport’s essential skills and tactics. All the shots—groundstroke, serve and return, volley, dink, lob, overhead smash, and drop—provide a base for solid technique.

More than 40 drills and gamelike activities will speed your learning while improving performance. You’ll also find competitive tactics for various scenarios and strategies for both singles and doubles play.

So whether you are new to the sport or one of the growing number of pickleball fanatics, Pickleball Fundamentals is the best way to master the basics and compete with confidence.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2015

Reviews

[Love of Hopeless Causes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my reading intro to the sport. Overall it's competent, but I suggest people skip the drills and then read them at the end. The scoring explanation should have been expanded or modified since it still took several games for me to get it. I've lost twenty pounds this year and consistently enjoy playing. Recommended for all athletic levels including mobility impaired.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes Pickleball sound like a lot of fun for all ages and easy for anyone to learn the basics. I am a fan of an index for quick reference, but the book is well organized with excellent, diagrams, photos, charts and illustrations to enhance the text. Pickleball is a combination of several raquet sports. This book provides practical information for the beginner to the competitive player, including appropriate safety precautions, drills and solutions for problem areas. It not only shows the skill strategy, but how to defend it as well. Players and coaches alike can get useful information from this test to improve their Pickleball skills and strategies.

The author, Mary Littlewood, has in impressive resume with a history of experience and accolades to support her knowledge. After reading Pickleball Fundamentals, I am interested in looking at her other writings as well.

[Karen & Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to find this book because we are adding this sport to our church FOCUS sports camp for the first time this summer and I will be the director for it. I was looking for a complete book that included tips, instructions and drills. This book has it all! It covers all the different shots and gives an explanation of when they should be used in a game. Everything that is addressed is also shown with pictures or diagrams to help the reader understand. It even has checklists as to what adjustments to make when you find yourself making the same error repeatedly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about learning to play Pickleball well or anyone who is in a position to teach others how to play. (Karen's review)

[Paul P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using this book as a stand in for the 2021 Official Rulebook by USA Pickleball and IFP Pickleball, which isn’t listed in the GR database. The rulebook is straightforward and helpful.

And yes, I’m claiming a rulebook as my 15th book of the year!

[Steadman Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference for those that have played pickleball for a while. The points on strategy are as relevant now as they were when the book was written.

If you haven’t played much, watching videos may be a more effective way to learn.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basics are covered here along with some good drills to improve your game.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the drills that are listed in the book. Great way to practice, warm up and get better at playing pickleball.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed perfectly fine but not particularly enjoyable to read.

[Vida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing takes the place of play (a lot) and this book will help with strategy. Lots of basics are explained and the book is filled with drills.

[Budd Margolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic review of the sport.