Block scorekeeping for pickleball

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to scorekeeping in the sport of pickleball, including side-out and rally scoring, for both singles and doubles games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pickleball is a ball and paddle sport in which single players or two-player teams compete on a hard-surface court that is bisected by a net. The object of a game of pickleball is to outscore the opposing player/team through the successful rallying of the ball over the net. Points are awarded to the serving player/team winning a rally (side-out scoring) or the player/team winning a rally irrespective of which side was serving (rally scoring). The first player/team to score a prespecified number of points, such as 11 or 21, wins the game. The record of an ongoing or completed pickleball game is typically captured using a line scorekeeping method, such as the side-out scoring example presented in Table 1 below.

In the line scorekeeping method, the ongoing or final score for each game is recorded in rows representing each player/team. Normally, no other information or data about the game(s) is recorded using this method. Pickleball games can also be recorded using box scorekeeping, a method in which every serve, rally, outcome, time out, and other activity is captured in a cumulative vertical tally, resulting in a scorecard of considerable complexity and size.

The current methods for recording a game of pickleball are either too minimal (line scorekeeping) or too maximal (box scorekeeping) to function as an overview of the action of play. Line scorekeeping does not capture the dynamics of a game, while box scorekeeping is too data-intensive to convey a concise survey of a game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following invention presents a novel method for scorekeeping in pickleball that improves upon existing scorekeeping systems. The disclosed method, termed block scorekeeping, includes a means (via a scorecard) of recording consecutively awarded points by a player/team in discrete blocks of scoring data. The present invention has distinct advantages over the prior art, including an abridged overview of the dynamics (“back and forth”) of a game that is visually easy to comprehend. A block scorecard permits a quick visual analysis of the temporal performance of each player/team in a pickleball game in contrast to line or block scorecards.

In one aspect of the disclosed subject matter is parallel rows of information showing the names of the players and game number for a match (typically one to five games) of pickleball. The disclosure is applicable to both singles and doubles matches and games that employ either side-out or rally scoring.

Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the ability to chronicle uninterrupted scoring sessions for each player/team, which are recorded in a linear and alternating manner.

Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the consecutive cataloging of blocks of scored points by alphanumeric means.

Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is a tally of the final score for each player/team at the completion of a game.

Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the ability to display cumulative tallies of the blocks of scored points for each player/team over the course of a game.

These and other aspects of the disclosed subject matter will be apparent from the description herein. Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an example embodiment of a scorecard completed by block scorekeeping in a game of pickleball.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts an alternative example embodiment of a scorecard completed by block scorekeeping that includes cumulative tallies of points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention enables a novel expression of scoring recordkeeping in the sport of pickleball. The invention is depicted as a scorecard comprised of rows and columns to display player names, game numbers, blocks of scored points, and final scores.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, flat representations of the invention in the form of a scorecard 3 are illustrated.

In one embodiment, FIG. 1, the names of the players of the two opposing sides 4, 5 are entered into the first column of their assigned row. The player/team that serves first in the game is assigned the first open row, while the player/team that receives the first serve is assigned the second open row. The game number 6 is entered into the column adjacent to the players' names.

In one embodiment, FIG. 1, blocks of the first consecutively scored points 7 are entered into the column adjacent to the game number of the row corresponding to the player/team that was awarded the points. The subsequent block of scored points 8 awarded to the opposing player/team is then entered into a new column adjacent to the first scoring block but in the row corresponding to this player/team. This process is repeated until the game is completed. The columns for the individual blocks of scored points have a sequential alphanumeric heading 9, for example, A, B, C etc.

In one embodiment, FIG. 1, the final score 10, 11 for each player/team is entered into the last column in the row corresponding to each player/team.

In one embodiment, FIG. 1, blocks of scored points are entered either during the game or after the completion of the game.

In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 2, each scoring block cell is bisected diagonally 12. The block of scored points is entered into the left (top) panel 13 of the split cell, while the cumulative tally of points is entered into the right (bottom) panel 14 of the split cell.

In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 2, the final cumulative tally of points for each player/team is entered into the right (bottom) panel 15, 16 of the split cell of the final scoring block for each player/team, and the final score is encircled for emphasis.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.