Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, is the fastest growing sport in America. Invented in the 1960s by three fathers in Seattle, Washington, the sport initially gained traction among older segments of the population, mostly people aged 55 years and above. Over the last decade, however, the sport’s popularity has picked up among younger people.
From 2015 to 2020, the sport grew at an average annual rate of 11 percent, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Focusing on that last year from 2019 to 2020, the sport grew 21.3 percent, with 4.2 million people playing it at least once that year, about the same number of people who play lacrosse and ice hockey combined. Close to half of these people (47.9 percent) were aged 34 years and under.
There are many reasons for the sport’s tremendous growth. One is that it is easier to learn and start playing than similar sports. Pickleball has a shorter learning curve than tennis, for example. It is played on a rectangular court measuring 44 feet by 20 feet. Much like a tennis court, the rectangle is divided into two sides by a net and has two sidelines and two baselines. Just behind the net, on each side, is a no-volley area called “the kitchen.” A line marks the end of the no-volley area on each side of the net, and the area behind it is split into two service courts by a centerline.
The sport is played with a plastic ball and hard paddle. In a doubles game, players stand on one of the service courts on both sides. Every point played begins with a serve. One player makes an underhand serve from behind the baseline into the opposing team’s service court. The ball must clear the net and bounce on the opposite side’s service court before the other team can return the ball. The ball must not land in the kitchen. Further, in pickleball, the ball must bounce at least once on either side before players can begin volleying it (hitting it before it bounces on the court). Players can then keep volleying until one side hits a ball that goes into the net or out of the court. Rallies also end when one side lets the ball bounce twice on their side.
In pickleball tournaments, games typically last 15 minutes. However, outside tournaments, teams play for longer periods. Doubles is the more popular game, but singles is also played. While the sport is not as grueling as tennis, it is a fast sport that involves a lot of body movement, hand-eye coordination, and mental toughness. Therefore, even a 15-minute game can work up a good sweat.
Aside from being easy to learn, pickleball is also easy to get started in. It requires minimal equipment to set up. Balls, paddles, and nets are all available at affordable prices, and the game can even be played on tennis courts in parks, once players erect a pickleball net. Thankfully, pickleball players don’t have to contend with playing on tennis courts only. Following the sport’s rise in popularity, community parks everywhere are building dedicated pickleball courts, and schools are including it in their physical education classes. Today, there are more than 8,500 pickleball locations across the country, according to USA Pickleball.
Finally, pickleball is also popular because it is a family sport. It’s a game you can play with your friends and family, young and old. USA Pickleball expects the sport will continue growing in popularity and could possibly, one day, become an Olympic sport.
From 2015 to 2020, the sport grew at an average annual rate of 11 percent, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Focusing on that last year from 2019 to 2020, the sport grew 21.3 percent, with 4.2 million people playing it at least once that year, about the same number of people who play lacrosse and ice hockey combined. Close to half of these people (47.9 percent) were aged 34 years and under.
There are many reasons for the sport’s tremendous growth. One is that it is easier to learn and start playing than similar sports. Pickleball has a shorter learning curve than tennis, for example. It is played on a rectangular court measuring 44 feet by 20 feet. Much like a tennis court, the rectangle is divided into two sides by a net and has two sidelines and two baselines. Just behind the net, on each side, is a no-volley area called “the kitchen.” A line marks the end of the no-volley area on each side of the net, and the area behind it is split into two service courts by a centerline.
The sport is played with a plastic ball and hard paddle. In a doubles game, players stand on one of the service courts on both sides. Every point played begins with a serve. One player makes an underhand serve from behind the baseline into the opposing team’s service court. The ball must clear the net and bounce on the opposite side’s service court before the other team can return the ball. The ball must not land in the kitchen. Further, in pickleball, the ball must bounce at least once on either side before players can begin volleying it (hitting it before it bounces on the court). Players can then keep volleying until one side hits a ball that goes into the net or out of the court. Rallies also end when one side lets the ball bounce twice on their side.
In pickleball tournaments, games typically last 15 minutes. However, outside tournaments, teams play for longer periods. Doubles is the more popular game, but singles is also played. While the sport is not as grueling as tennis, it is a fast sport that involves a lot of body movement, hand-eye coordination, and mental toughness. Therefore, even a 15-minute game can work up a good sweat.
Aside from being easy to learn, pickleball is also easy to get started in. It requires minimal equipment to set up. Balls, paddles, and nets are all available at affordable prices, and the game can even be played on tennis courts in parks, once players erect a pickleball net. Thankfully, pickleball players don’t have to contend with playing on tennis courts only. Following the sport’s rise in popularity, community parks everywhere are building dedicated pickleball courts, and schools are including it in their physical education classes. Today, there are more than 8,500 pickleball locations across the country, according to USA Pickleball.
Finally, pickleball is also popular because it is a family sport. It’s a game you can play with your friends and family, young and old. USA Pickleball expects the sport will continue growing in popularity and could possibly, one day, become an Olympic sport.
