You’ve probably heard that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. right now.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball involves collecting fermented cucumbers and meticulously shaving them in the shape of spheres. It’s a respectable pastime that has been honored for generations.
Okay, just kidding.
Pickleball is a racquet sport that’s played with a plastic ball, very similar to a whiffle ball, and a paddle. It’s played on a court that is the same dimensions as a badminton court and is essentially a hybrid of tennis and ping pong.
Typically, it’s played outdoors and many tennis courts have additional lines drawn to also be used to play pickleball, but there are also a growing number of indoor pickleball courts so players can play year-round regardless of the weather.
Who invented pickleball and why is it called pickleball?
The game was invented by Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum after they came home from golfing one day and noticed that their kids were bored and restless.
So they created a game using equipment they had around (a whiffle ball, ping pong paddles, badminton court) and the whole family fell in love with it. Initially, there weren’t many rules but they evolved as they went along (i.e. the non-volley zone aka “the kitchen).
Legend has it that the name "Pickleball" came from the Pritchard's family dog named Pickles, but Pickles was actually named after the game.
It was Pritchard’s wife, who was reminded of the term “pickle boat” used in rowing which means a thrown together crew that is often drawn at random from whatever rowers are available.
Why should you play pickleball?
Growing up basketball was my first love and still is, but pickleball has become my new favorite sport and obsession for a variety of reasons.
Here are 12 reasons why I became addicted to pickleball and why I think everyone should play it:
1. It’s a great way to get in shape and stay in shape
Most of us fall out of our exercise/work out routine because it’s hard to turn working out into a habit or hobby that we enjoy. It either gets boring, becomes inconvenient, etc.
But with pickleball, all you have to do is show up on the court and start playing. By default, you’ll be moving around the court, getting your heart rate up, sweating, and working out your entire body.
2. A natural and easy way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D and sunlight
Since pickleball is naturally played outdoors, you inevitably get lots of sun exposure which turns into Vitamin D for your body -- an essential ingredient to boosting your immune system and keeping you healthy overall. The sport also naturally lends itself to being outside and getting fresh air.
3. Meet new friends and be part of an awesome community
Pickleball is inherently a very social sport and has facilitated friendships faster than any other hobby I’ve previously had. It’s perfectly natural to approach strangers on a pickleball court and invite them to play with you. In fact, after visiting 30+ states, even at pickleball courts that we had only played at once or twice, local pickleball players would often ask us to play with them, which made us feel welcome in so many new cities.
4. There are courts wherever you go
We can personally attest to this as we’ve been living the digital nomad life for over a year and have traveled to and lived in over 30 states. In every state we’ve visited whether we were staying in a large city or small town, we’ve been able to find a pickleball court. It’s amazing how many courts there are around the country and how many more are propping up daily. The majority of these courts are also all free and part of public parks accessible to anyone.
5. It’s practically free to get started
As mentioned above, there are free pickleball courts to play on literally everywhere. All you need is a paddle, ball, and your typical workout clothes and running/tennis shoes. You can get a starter set with paddles and balls on Amazon for less than $50. But note that once you get more advanced, you’ll want to upgrade your paddle, gear, etc., but that’s definitely not an obstacle to getting started.
6. So easy, even your grandma can learn the game
And many grandmas do play pickleball really well! But it’s not just a sport for “old” people and the pickleball demographics are quickly changing. Nonetheless, it is simple enough for anyone of any age to learn and play the game. The rules are pretty straightforward for both singles and doubles and you’ll naturally get the hang of it after a few games. If you can understand all the rules of our most popular national sports like football, baseball, basketball, etc. then you can definitely understand pickleball.
7. All ages and genders can play and still be equally matched
This is a sport that truly brings together every generation and people from all backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if you were a previous tennis pro or someone with no formal sports background. It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young. In fact, one of the great things about pickleball is that the really skilled players can beat you with their technique, placement, and strategy rather than relying exclusively on their athleticism. It’s very common to see young 20 year olds get beat by 50+ year olds who simply know how to hit the ball better and control the game.
8. You only need 2 players to play
Unlike many other team sports like football, soccer, basketball, where you need 5+ players to play a real game, you only need a minimum of 2 players to play a singles game in pickleball and a maximum of 4 players to play a doubles game. So grab a buddy and head to the courts! Even if you don’t have a friend to play with, you can show up to the courts and play with others already there.
9. It’s competitive
One of the things I missed the most about playing sports in my youth was competing on a team and having a clear goal to work towards (i.e. winning playoffs, regionals, a tournament, etc.) and feeling accomplished when you achieve it. As adults, a lot of the sports we play are more recreational or just for fun. While you can play pickleball just for fun and recreationally, pickleball is also highly competitive and there are hundreds of tournaments being hosted around the country every month!
You can compete and win gold medals all you want and go on the pro tour once you get to that level which feels much more achievable than turning into a pro NBA player IMO.
10. It’s great for self-improvement
Another thing that’s great about the way pickleball is structured is that there’s a clear leveling system that ranges from 1.0-5.0+ with 5.0+ being the pro levels. Each level has a defined set of skills to be mastered. Thus, you can have a clear goal of working your way up to becoming a 5.0 player no matter where you start.
11. It’s the fastest growing sport
More and more people are learning the game of pickleball and its popularity will continue to grow. It might even have the chance to become an Olympic sport in the next decade. So by starting now, you’ll get the chance to be the cool kid who knows how to play pickleball really well as it gets more mainstream.
12. It’s fun and addicting
There’s a reason why pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the nation. It’s incredibly fun and addicting. I love the sound of hitting the ball. I love smashing it (yes, I was a banger and still find it hard to resist hitting a juicy ball in the air that is likely to go out). I love a great dink battle. No two games are the same and I can play for hours and not feel bored or tired. Ask anyone who loves the game and they’ll tell you the same.
What are your reasons for why you love pickleball and play the game? Let us know in the comments below!