On June 11, 2024, Reebok went where no other fitness apparel brand has gone before. The latest edition of the Nano collection is upon us, unveiling the Nano Court training shoe, the first designed with a priority focus on pickleball, padel, and tennis.
The Nano’s Court’s design prioritizes “grip, strength, and stability.” The Nano Court campaign features pro pickleball champion “Hurricane” Tyra Black to welcome Reebok into the world of court sports.
Reebok Nano Court Key Features
- FLEXWEAVE Pro Upper — FLEXWEAVE knit upper with zoned stability yarns for added support.
- ToeTection Guard — added durability at the toe box top to prevent wear and
tear from toe-drags on the court. - GRIPTONITE Rubber Outsole — multidirectional outsole traction in a herringbone design for a grip and feel on any surface.
- Floatride Court Foam — an all-new Floatride Foam compound developed specifically for court sports for responsive energy return.
- 360’ Comfort Booty — anatomical booty upper construction for a locked-in fit.
- Drop | Weight — 14mm | 12oz
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What Is Pickleball?
Games are set up in a similar fashion to tennis. Using a pickleball paddle, the serving player serves the pickleball underhand cross-court (i.e. across the center line of the court).
Pickleball Court
According to USA Pickleball, “A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court and measures 20×44 feet.” Here are some logistics of the game:
- The same court is used for both singles and doubles play.
- The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle.
- The court is striped, similar to a tennis court, with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net (referred to as the “kitchen”).
- Courts can be constructed specifically for pickleball or converted using existing tennis or badminton courts.
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How to Play Pickleball
The pickleball must bounce on the court for both the serve and the return of the serve. This is known as the “two-bounce rule.” A volley ensues after the completion of the two-bounce rule.
Pickleball Faults
A rally is concluded when a fault occurs:
- A double-bounce of the pickleball.
- Hitting the net.
- The pickleball hits a player anywhere other than below their paddle-side wrist.
- Hitting the pickleball out of bounds.
- Stepping into the Non-Volley Zone.
“The Kitchen” aka Non-Volley Zone
Unlike other paddle-based court sports, pickleball includes a 14-section in the middle of the court, extending seven feet into each side’s territory, known as the Non-Volley Zone; colloquially known as “The Kitchen.”
If a player hits the ball in the Kitchen or their momentum carries them into the Kitchen during a volley, the rally is over and the point goes to the opposing side.
The Reebok Nano Court will be available on June 20, 2024, for $120 USD on Reebok.com and select retailers worldwide in unisex and women’s colorways.
Featured image courtesy of Reebok.
