# Notational Analysis of Men's Singles Pickleball: Game Patterns and Competitive Strategies
## 1 Introduction  
Pickleball, a relatively new sport in the realm of racket sports, has experienced exponential growth since its creation in 1965 [1]. Conceived on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by [PERSON], [PERSON], and [PERSON], this sport merges elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Initially designed as a recreational family activity, pickleball has significantly evolved, becoming a competitive sport with a growing global community [2]. Its popularity has particularly surged in the United States, where millions of people play it both recreationally and competitively [3]. This expansion has led the sport to other countries, consolidating its presence in various regions around the world. Its growth is partly attributed to the sport's dynamics, including its ease of technical learning due to the dimensions of the playing area and equipment, its strong social nature, affordable access for all, less demanding technical requirements compared to other sports, as well as physical demands that can be adapted to different ages and fitness levels [4]. Despite this rapid expansion and growing global acceptance, scientific research on pickleball has been limited to date. Most of the available publications have primarily focused on aspects related to health and leisure, especially highlighting the positive impact of the sport on older adults [5]. These studies have emphasized the physical and mental benefits associated with regular pickleball practice, such as improvements in coordination,balance, agility, and psychological well-being, particularly in older individuals [1; 6; 7]. Topics related to injuries [8; 9] and the inclusion of pickleball as an alternative sport in physical education classes [10; 11] have also been addressed. However, while these findings are valuable, they have left a significant gap in terms of notational analysis and competitive performance optimization, which are critical areas for the development of advanced training and gameplay strategies. In contrast, sports like tennis and padel have been the subject of a wide range of notational studies that have allowed for a deep understanding of their game dynamics [12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17]. These studies have provided key data on service effectiveness, rally length, finishing zones, and other critical aspects of the game, which have enabled coaches and players to continuously improve their strategic approaches [18; 19]. Even other racket sports, such as table tennis and badminton, though to a lesser extent, have been the subject of detailed analyses that have contributed to the evolution of their respective training and game tactics [20; 21; 22; 23]. In the case of tennis, for example, it has been extensively documented how court surface influences rally dynamics and service success probability, guiding the development of specific strategies for each type of court [24; 25]. Despite the similarities pickleball shares with these sports, the lack of exhaustive notational analysis has so far limited the understanding of its specific characteristics and the ability to systematically enhance performance. This highlights the need for research focused on unraveling the specific dynamics of pickleball, both in singles and doubles, to establish training strategies that optimize performance in competitive contexts. This study aims to fill this research gap by conducting a detailed notational analysis of this sport, with the objective of generating precise and relevant data to guide high-performance training. Through this investigation, the goal is to establish a solid knowledge base on key game variables, such as rally length, common ending points, and shot directions that lead to winners or unforced errors. Additionally, the most characteristic playing patterns for winning points are identified, distinguishing between the server and the returner. This will enable a better understanding of game dynamics and help optimize training strategies.