From five-year olds and nonagenarians to celebrities and industrialists like Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Melina Gates, and the Kardashians, they’re all jumping onto the pickleball bandwagon! This sneaky-fast hybrid combination of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong has seen a massive surge in popularity in recent times.
Pickleball was created way back in 1965 by three fathers who were attempting to keep their restless kids occupied on Bainbridge Island, which is only a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. This hybrid sport can be played on an indoor or outdoor court. In comparison to other sports, it is physically lesser demanding, has a low entry barrier, and a small (but never zero) risk of injury.
A Shot At Good Health
It should come as no surprise that pickleball contains a health aspect. It’s a great form of low-impact workout. Even though it may not always feel like a strenuous workout, sometimes having fun can help you forget that you are actually working out.
Game On
The rules are pretty much the same as ping pong, badminton and tennis. The opponent scores a point if the ball crosses the boundary line or bounces twice on the court. Doubles or singles are available for play. The net is roughly three inches lower than a tennis net, and the courts are the same size as those used for badminton. There’s nothing fancy about the equipment used. The racquets are more robust and somewhat larger than ping-pong paddles and a Wiffle ball is used to play the game. The best feature of pickleball though, is how simple it is to learn for players of all ages!
Pickleball has also been adapted for players of various abilities, including wheelchair pickleball. With a few minor modifications, wheelchair/adaptive pickleball regulations are quite similar to pickleball rules.
The Obsession
It’s easy to pick up the game, but what factors do we attribute to its popularity? For one, it is challenging. While it is easy to become an intermediate player, it is quite difficult become an expert at the game, which means there’s always room for growth. The best way to nail it, is to play regularly.
A Social Sport
Pickleball is truly for everyone and what makes it even more special is your encounter with all kinds of people out on the court. Furthermore, because of the court’s (small) dimensions, you will be in close proximity with other players. As a result, you will get the opportunity to interact socially with other players on the court. Since pickleball mostly involves open play, chances are that you will be meeting new people every day or perhaps playing with the same players each time. Either way, you’ll get to socialise while playing the game.
Pickleball has gained a lot of popularity over the past several years for a variety of reasons, but one of the main factors attributing to its popularity is its inclusive nature.
Image source: Forbes, The Bridge, The Atlantic, Recess pickleball, Tribeza