What is Pickleball?
Pickleball has become extremely popular. Pickleball, often described as a combination of tennis, Ping-Pong and badminton, grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America's fastest-growing sport.
From its early roots on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, where Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum created the game to entertain their bored children during the summer of 1965, there are now nearly 21,000 pickleball courts in the United States, with 85 new pickleball courts opening each week until early 2020.
The popularity of the sport in community centers, PE programs, YMCA facilities, and retirement communities has contributed to its spread.
Its success can be attributed to America’s aging and retired baby-boomers, who wanted an active competitive sport with fewer physical demands than tennis, squash, and racquetball.
Pickleball is played on a miniature tennis court using a paddle ball-style racket and a plastic ball.
The sport needs less running and overall strength, as well as less strain on aging joints.
It is a game that favors skill over strength, but with enough toughness to keep players of all skill levels interested.
Over 75% of current participants are baby boomers and retirees, although the sport is fast developing among younger players.
