Pickleball: A Fast-Growing Sport for All Ages and Physical Abilities
Pickleball, the fast-growing racquet sport, is quickly gaining popularity in the United States. With an estimated 3.13 million people in the U.S. playing pickleball in 2017, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, it has become one of the fastest-growing sports. Many municipal tennis courts are doubling as pickleball courts with the easy addition of another set of lines. The popularity of the game has now reached 36 million players, according to a recent New York Times report, a number that’s tripled over the past seven years.[0]
The game was created by three enterprising dads from the Seattle area in 1965, and its name is said to have originated from one of their dogs, Pickles.[0] It is played with a wiffle ball-like plastic ball, with paddles that look like their ping pong cousins only twice as large.[1] Most people feel secure playing this game, resulting in its overall success.[0] Pickleball is often played on a court roughly half the size of a tennis court, and the game is easier on aging knees because it requires more lateral movement than forward/backward.[0]
Pickleball has many benefits for those in the 65-and-over crowd, but the majority of players in the United States are aged 54 and younger, according to USA Pickleball. It is a great activity for all ages and physical abilities, and can easily be played on a tennis court.[2] The game is popular for its gentler and more social nature as well as its low cost.[0] Once you have acquired the necessary equipment, playing on outdoor courts is usually free of charge, while indoor courts may require a small fee.[0]
St. Louis recently announced that it will be bringing a Major League Pickleball team to the city, with Richard Chaifetz’s son, Ross, involved in team management.[3] Dual-use courts have also been created for pickleball at Hall Park, where six courts can be set up for a total of 24 players.[4]
Pickleball is a great activity for all ages and physical abilities, and it can provide many physical and mental health benefits. It is an easy game to learn, fast-paced, social and appeals to all ages and physical abilities.[2] Pickleball can help ward off depression as well as improve fitness, according to two new studies on the game’s health benefits.
0. “‘You get old when you stop playing pickleball' | News | yoursun.com” www.yoursun.com, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.yoursun.com/venice/news/you-get-old-when-you-stop-playing-pickleball/article_01ea6c38-98f6-11ed-a2d5-87bc5e9fe5ee.html
1. “Pickleball mania takes hold in the Isle area | Mille Lacs Messenger …” www.messagemedia.co, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.messagemedia.co/millelacs/pickleball-mania-takes-hold-in-the-isle-area/article_72af1e76-9740-11ed-8b32-47770026367f.html
2. “The Rise of Pickleball | Moffly Media” mofflylifestylemedia.com, 26 Jan. 2023, https://mofflylifestylemedia.com/the-rise-of-pickleball/
3. “Pro pickleball team owned by Chaifetz heading to St. Louis | Pro …” www.columbiamissourian.com, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/pro_sports/pro-pickleball-team-owned-by-chaifetz-heading-to-st-louis/article_96586a15-33b6-5506-82b8-f9edac09254c.html
4. “Pickleball pilot program sparks excitement in Milpitas | The Milpitas …” milpitasbeat.com, 26 Jan. 2023, https://milpitasbeat.com/pickleball-pilot-program-sparks-excitement-in-milpitas/