If you see people holding rackets and hitting a ball back and forth over a net at your local park, they may not be playing tennis. Nope, they actually might be playing pickleball. What’s that?!
Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The racket is flat and solid, the ball is similar to a wiffleball you might remember playing with as a kid, and the rules are unique but easy to understand and follow.
(Fun fact: Rumor has it that founder Joel Pritchard named this game after his dog Pickles who used to run off with the ball while everyone was playing. So wholesome!)
Pickleball has been around since 1965, but it’s more popular than ever right now across the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world. Participation is up 39% over the last 2 years, with almost 5 million players. Plus, there are now three official pickleball leagues in existence.
Even entrepreneur and media mastermind Gary Vaynerchuk predicts the sport will blow up. “I’d be flabbergasted if there wasn’t a substantial league that was a viable business in 15 years in America and around the world in pickleball,” he told Sports Business Journal.
So why is pickleball picking up in popularity now? We don’t know for sure. Maybe because more people are health conscious and going outside since 2020. Maybe because the game is fun and accessible for people of all ages and skill levels. Either way, whether you’re looking to get outside, be more active, or come up with a new way to entertain your BBQ guests today, consider joining millions of others by playing a game of pickleball with your pals.
Tl;dr – Pickleball is a fun, fast-growing sport for people of all ages and abilities that’s becoming more popular as time goes on. All you need is a pickleball set, access to a backyard, local park, or rec center, comfy clothes, and a competitive streak, then you’re ready to play ball!
