Want to try the American sport the fastest-growing American sport? Prepare your paddle. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2022 Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report, pickleball has 4.8 million participants countrywide and has grown at a pace of 39.3% over the previous two years. In fact, for the second year running, this hybrid of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong has volleyed itself into the top spot for the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
Professional pickleball player Parris Todd, a former competitive tennis player who turned to pickleball during the epidemic and hasn’t looked back, believes that it is social, a ton of fun, and simple for the entire family to play. Additionally, benefits to health extend beyond physical activity.
How it all started?
In Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum invented pickleball. The idea was first developed by the three neighbors as a game to occupy their bored children on a rainy day using some used Ping-Pong paddles and a perforated ball on a badminton court.
But in a 2015 interview with the Pickleball Channel, McCallum—at the time the last living inventor of pickleball, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 93—explained how it soon turned into an activity for adults.
“Well, frankly, the early kids got pushed out,” laughed McCallum in his Pickleball Channel interview. “We had no purpose … nobody said, ‘Let’s sit down and make this a game.’ There was no conversation like that—it was strictly for our own pleasure.”
But over time, they gradually created what is now known as pickleball—admittedly with a lot of disagreements regarding the rules and scoring. And it took off in ways they had no idea they would see.
The first permanent pickleball court was built by 1967, and the first corporation to safeguard the invention of pickleball was established in 1972. The USA Pickleball Association oversaw the activity by 1984. And what was once a rainy-day pastime has grown into a global craze today.
What made pickleball an instant hit?
What caused the massive increase in pickleball play? As a pandemic-friendly activity, COVID-19 had no adverse effects on its development.
“During the pandemic, many Americans were seeking ways to stay healthy and active near their homes,” says Laura Gainor, director of media relations for USA Pickleball. “Due to the pickleball court being a quarter of the size of a tennis court, it’s easy to create a court in your driveway, in a parking lot, or within a gym space, so many people were introduced to the sport during those unprecedented times playing with their family of four in the driveway.”
However, pickleball’s popularity was growing even before the outbreak. In fact, over the past five years, the number of participants has increased. Many athletes say it’s an excellent exercise that doesn’t feel like one. Additionally, pickleball is said to be less taxing on the body than tennis and other racquet sports, especially on the knees and hips.
Another major draw is that anyone may participate. Gainor claims that because the game is multi-generational, grandparents are playing with their grandchildren, and young individuals in their 20s and 30s are having fun playing with their parents.
What equipment is needed to play pickleball?
Pickleball has a few requirements, but you do need some basic equipment to get started.
Unlike tennis and badminton, pickleball is played with a flat paddle rather than a strung racket. Although McCallum himself cut the first paddles from wood, the modern versions are available in a range of sizes and levels of thickness to suit your preferred playing technique. The paddle’s length is limited to 17 inches, though.
Similar to a wiffle ball, the one used for pickleball is made of plastic and has anywhere from 26 to 40 holes. The holes are more lighter and simpler to hit than tennis balls, but they also produce greater drag. They are also to blame for the game’s slightly slower tempo. The ball must be a single color (apart from any logos), and it typically has a diameter of 2.87 to 2.97 inches.
A 3-foot-long net that is 34 inches tall in the center is also necessary for the activity. Additionally, you require a court area that should be 44 feet long and 20 feet broad.
How to play pickleball?
Both singles and doubles games in pickleball are played on the same-sized court. The only significant distinctions between singles and doubles relate to serving guidelines and scoring.
But at its most fundamental, the game is played as follows: The ball is served underhand over the net and diagonally onto the opponent’s service court by one pickler (the unofficial term for players). Once a player hit back, the ball is then swung back and forth over the net. Only the serving team may score points. Each game goes to 11 points, but you must win by two points.
The “kitchen,” a no-volley area, is situated 7 feet from the net on either side. Volleying is prohibited in this no-volley zone.
Three-game matches are the standard “tournament” structure, but other formats, including round robins or challenge courts (where a player remains on a court until they lose a game), may be used, depending on the location. However, if you’re not playing in an official pickleball club, you can use whatever match structure suits your needs.
You may read more about the official regulations on the USA Pickleball Rules Summary page.
Health advantages of pickleball
Playing pickleball has several health advantages, not the least of which is that it is a rapid picker-upper.
Not only is the “fun factor” obvious but playing pickleball has also been linked to lower levels of depression, according to a recent research of 153 older persons published in the journal Leisure Studies[2]. According to additional research, it might also enhance cognitive function.
Pickleball can physically assist in improved hand-eye coordination, which is necessary for daily activities like eating and driving. Pickleball is also said to improve agility, coordination, muscle strength, and function, according to research.
Where to play pickleball in the US?
Pickleball is undoubtedly here to stay. The International Federation of Pickleball has members from about 70 nations, and there are plans to incorporate pickleball as a demonstration sport at the 2028 Olympic Games.
With so many new participants, the United States is working hard to meet the demand for courts. Because of this, numerous homeowner organizations (HOAs) and hotels like the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott are creating new pickleball courts or converting unused tennis courts According to USA Pickleball, there are presently about 10,000 locations where you can play.