If you haven’t heard of pickleball, you’re behind the curve. This trending sport — said to be a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong — is taking the world by storm and is the fastest growing sport in America for the third consecutive year. Given the game’s recent spike in popularity, we couldn’t resist a deep dive. We enlisted the help of competitive pickleball devotee Betsy Kenniston, lovingly known as Crazy Pickleball Lady, to get some insight into the fuss.
The History of Pickleball
Word has it the game was introduced in 1965 by a couple of guys on Bainbridge Island, just outside of Seattle, who were simply trying to find a solution to their family’s summer boredom. (Really.) They had access to a badminton court and a hodgepodge of gear, including ping pong paddles and wiffle balls. And thus, pickleball was born.
Easy to learn, pickleball caught on quickly, and less than a decade after its inception, there were pickleball tournaments popping up left and right. Today, it’s become a beloved tradition in families and social circles all over.
“With nearly 9 million players in the country, at least according to USA Pickleball, I’m still amazed when I hear someone ask, ‘What’s pickleball?’” says Betsy, who picked up the sport in 2012 at age 55 when her retirement date was on the horizon. “It was the beginning of my love affair with pickleball, and it continues today.”
Misconceptions About Pickleball
Before we go any further, let’s clear up a common myth. Some folks dismiss pickleball with the off-handed assumption that pickleball “is for old people.” And while it is quite popular among seniors due to its simplicity, accessibility, and social aspect, you might be surprised to hear that pickleball is making its rounds from Gen Z to baby boomers. In fact, the largest pickleball-playing demographic is those aged 18 to 34.
“Pickleball is no longer just a game for ‘old people,’” says Betsy. “More younger players are showing up to play every day. It’s not uncommon to see families playing or teenagers and young adults mixing in with senior citizens, all having a blast!”
Players of all ages are showing up en masse to play pickleball.
And not that you need a bunch of celebrities to convince you to jump on the bandwagon, but it seems a lot of them are on board in a big way, too. Bill Gates, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Kardashians, Stephen Colbert, and Ellen DeGeneres are some of the big names spotted on the court in recent months.
“Pickleball isn’t just a game played at the neighborhood park anymore,” Betsy tells us. “Over the years, I’ve played in nearly a hundred tournaments in the U.S. and Europe … There are several professional tours, including a senior pro tour. There’s even a team tour with well-known celebrity owners such as Mark Cuban, LeBron James, Michael Phelps, and Tom Brady. You can watch professional pickleball on YouTube and sometimes on network TV. Professional players have sponsors and earn a living playing pickleball. There’s even hope and work towards elevating pickleball to become an Olympic sport in the next five to 10 years.”
For the Love of the Game
But what’s all the fuss about?
“First of all, it’s fun!” exclaims Betsy enthusiastically. “It’s easy to learn, and the equipment required to get started is inexpensive. For older adults with less mobility or various health issues (hips, knees, hearts, lungs, etc.), the game’s smaller court is much easier to cover than a tennis court, but pickleball still requires a healthy amount of movement, so players can get a good physical workout. And its quirky scoring system keeps players mentally on their toes.”
Still, it isn’t just pickleball’s health advantages that have everyone scrambling to join a team (Betsy belongs to three!). In large part, it’s the camaraderie, community, and shared love of the sport.
“It’s a very social game,” explains Betsy. “Players rotate in and out of games and play with different partners each game — unlike tennis, where four players book a single court. Often, there are more pickleball players than courts to accommodate them, but everyone makes the best of the time between games. Then, after play, players gather at a local lunch or dinner spot or watering hole. And that’s good for local businesses.”
Bars and restaurants are emerging that are dedicated to pickleball, and even nude pickleball is becoming a thing! Yep, you read that right.
How to Play Pickleball
So, how do you play the game? “Players use a solid paddle — similar to a ping pong paddle — and hit a plastic ball — similar to a wiffle ball — back and forth across a low net, something like tennis,” says Betsy. “The court is small, about the same size as a badminton court, and vastly smaller than a tennis court.”
Pickleball paddles resemble large ping pong paddles, and the balls are similar to wiffle balls.
The rules have some similarities to tennis and some distinct differences: The game is commonly played in doubles (teams of two) but can be played with singles. The serve is diagonal, but it must be underhanded. Only the serving team can score, and while games are typically played up to 11 points, winning requires a margin of two points. (Visit USA Pickleball for a complete set of rules.)
The Future of Pickleball
Pickleball’s meteoric rise is not without growing pains. “Pickleball has grown faster than its infrastructure,” Betsy admits. “Although new courts are being built in communities across the country all the time, keeping up with player demand has proved to be impossible.”
The record-breaking number of new players is saturating the market, causing overcrowding issues. “With fewer courts than demand requires, conflict can arise within pickleball clubs,” says Betsy. “Skill levels can vary drastically from the newest beginner to more advanced skilled players. Understandably, players want to be able to play with similarly skilled players, but this can create a wall of exclusion.”
Additionally, the sport draws one very specific complaint from residents in close proximity to courts. “Communities across the nation are being asked to build new courts or convert unused tennis courts,” says Betsy. “A major problem with many ‘Build More Courts’ campaigns is the proposed locations. With fun comes noise. Along with conversation chatter, cheering, laughing, cries of disappointment from a bad shot, and other ‘human noise,’ pickleball comes with a very unique sound. A hard ball hitting the surface of a solid paddle creates a ‘pop, pop, pop, pop’ sound. And it’s constant as long as there are players on the courts. This has created more resistance than ever from neighbors.”
Pickleball courts are cropping up nationwide, including those renovated from unused tennis courts.
Nevertheless, these complications aren’t deterring the legions of fans embracing the sport. Expansive indoor facilities offering multiple courts are cropping up everywhere. Even the paddle manufacturers are doing their best to move pickleball forward. “Paddle companies are designing more models that are considered green or quiet,” says Betsy.
Something tells us pickleball will find a way. Either way, the country’s enthusiasm for this sport has given us all the motivation we need to join the masses.
“Grab your court shoes and a water bottle,” encourages Betsy, “and head out to your local pickleball courts! Then, prepare to embrace your newest addiction.”
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