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64 64 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2020 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2020 | Even casual sports fans will recognize many of the classic signals that an athletic event is about to commence — from the ref yelling "Jump Ball," to the umpire's cry of "Play Ball," all the way down to the starter's pistol at the Olympic sprints, the world knows it's game on. Pickleball has its own unique opener: "Zero, Zero, Two, Start!" OK, so the whole world may not recognize that distinctive phrase. Yet. It signifies one of the peculiar rules of our peculiarly-named game. In doubles play which is what Sun Lakers play almost exclusively, the sport dictates that the first team to serve will get only one member of the team to do so on the opening series. No matter how many points that server may preside over, once the opponents score a side-out, the serve passes to that other duo. On all further serve opportunities, each member gets a turn. But not so on the opening volley. Pickleball is all about evening the playing field. The "kitchen" area (the seven-foot zone in front of the net on each side) is there to prevent aggressors from rushing the net and slamming the ball. The under-handed serve style is there to prevent the kind of smashing so popular at Wimbledon. So with the "two-bounce rule" which requires the ball to bounce on EACH side of the net when served. Again, this means players have to stay back, controlling the instinct of some to charge into the fray with all guns blazing. They must await the serve and the return of serve at the back of the court, no matter how much they want to attack. All of this is what makes pickleball so amenable to families, to youngsters, and yes, to seniors, who may not have had a lot of chances to play court sports. So, the server calls "Zero, Zero Two." Maybe adds "Game-On!" Or "Start!" This acknowledges that, for that initial serve, she or he is the second of the team's two servers. This reduces any edge the opening side might have. When the other team gets the serve, they will declare "Zero, Zero, One" ("Zero, One, One, etc" if they are down a point(s).) We recommend that beginners leave the niceties of these scoring rules to their partners when they are learning the game. It can be bewildering and the important thing is to get comfortable on the court and just striking the ball squarely. But if you hear "We will kick off," you aren't at the right venue. See you on the (Pickle!) courts! Pickleball Club

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