Despite its funny name, Pickleball has grown in popularity since its introduction in 1965. It’s fun and addictive regardless of your skill level.
Pickleball was originally started in Washington by 2 parents to entertain their kids. It was an amalgamation of various games they had on hand. The name itself comes from the oar cucumber boat, not the actual cucumbers. A sign of its popularity is that it became the official sport of Washington State in 2022, and we hope it continues to grow around the world in the future.
It has been cited as one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. But what is pickleball? In this article, we will explain exactly what it is and how it managed to garner such a large following.
What is Pickleball?
As mentioned above, Pickleball was originally a combination of other sports equipment:
- The original ball in the pickleball was a shuttlecock, but this was quickly replaced with a wiffle ball. This ball is made of plastic and has lots of holes, which is why it was called the Pokeball when the sport came to Hawaii. That’s because “puka” means “hole” in Hawaiian.
- The first pickleball game was played on a badminton court.
- The net resembles a tennis net. Originally it was a badminton net lowered to waist height.
- Rackets are usually made of wood or graphite, similar to those used in table tennis.
Pickleball is a relatively fast-paced game where you only need to score 11 points to win. You can also play doubles or singles like tennis, so you can also play a round in pairs.
Although it’s an easy game to understand, there are 7 pickleball rules that you should know if you’re just starting. Most of these rules apply only to Pickleball. Even if you have previous experience with other racquet games, it’s still a good idea to familiarize yourself with them.
Factors responsible for its rise in popularity
Arguably the main reason this game is grown in popularity is that it is easy to learn. This makes it accessible to all types of people, regardless of skill level. If you want to play racquet sports but don’t know where to start, Pickleball is your game.
Cost-benefit
Pickleball requires little upfront cost as the basic equipment consists of a ball, racket, and net. Given the nature of this game, you probably already own most of the equipment or have easy access to it.
Any place
Pickleball benefits from being able to be played both indoors and outdoors. It’s common to find pickleball courts in community centers, public parks, and YMCAs across the United States. This has helped increase its popularity as it is available to many people.
All skill levels can play
Although popular with older people, Pickleball was originally developed for children to play with. This shows how diverse the Pickleball player base is. It also highlights it as the perfect family sport.
Even professional tennis players participate in pickleball. That’s because it’s a simple and fun sport that’s ideal for maintaining your skills between games.
Health benefits
This game has provided great exercise. Pickleball is less physically demanding than tennis, making it better for those with less stamina. It is said that an hour of pickleball can help burn up to 350 calories.
As a low-impact sport, it is also great for people with minor injuries.
Social aspect
It is also an incredibly social sport because the courts are small enough to chat while playing. Pickleball is a great way to make like-minded friends.
Conclusion
Since pickleball is a combination of other sports, if you play any of the other sports you will automatically have some pickleball experience. Pickleball, while useful, is so easy to learn that you don’t need any prior knowledge.
Pickleball has quickly grown in popularity in the United States. From 2016 to 2019, the number of active pickleball players is reported to have increased by 10%. In 2020, it then increased by a further 21.3%.
