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Pickleball is getting popular day by day now. According to a rough survey, the growth for this beautiful game has increased by about 40% in just the last 3-4 years. This game is getting popular in the United States, and many recreation centres have added pickleball courts in their areas. Just like any other racket sport, it has grown quite impressively in recent years. What made this decades-old game rise again, and what could be the future of this amazing game?
In this guide, we will talk about pickleball and discuss things that caused this game’s popularity to rise. How could this fastest-growing sport make a mark in the future? All of this is going to be discussed in this guide. Keep reading!

What is it Like Playing Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines games like badminton, tennis, and ping-pong. The game is usually played among four players (it could be played between two players, too, but the four-player version is more fun). The paddles in this game have a smooth surface, and the balls have holes. Some versions of the game use dented hole balls as well.

The game was invented in 1965 by a group of people to have a good time on Bainbridge Island. The paddles used in this game have a flat surface, as the inventor himself used. He used to cut wood and make paddles himself.

Most people consider pickleball a game just for kids to keep them busy. However, the convention changed, and it also became a good activity for adults. Now, this game has diversified equipment to play with. The paddles used now are of really good material, and the balls have better quality. The length of the paddles is approximately 17 inches, and they are not allowed to get lengthier than that.

The Reasons Why Pickleball Becomes So Popular

Pickleball is a gun game to play. People of all ages play this game, and due to its popularity, the USA Pickleball Association calls it highly contagious and beneficial. According to another survey by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has gained over 4.8 million new players who joined the game in 2022 only. Here are a few of the reasons why pickleball is so popular.

 

1. Pickleball is a Great Exercise

Pickleball is a sport that needs agility, strength, movement, hand-eye coordination, reflexes and much more. So, pickleball can’t be beat if you are looking for some kind of workout. Few people have this kind of trauma that they can’t stay at the gym for half an hour to do stressful workouts. They need something that encourages and relaxes them during their workout.

Pickleball offers that kind of opportunity to exercise through this game. It keeps the mind and body fresh. This game is wonderful for older people who love to play tennis but can’t due to their hip, knee or joint issues. Although tennis lovers have other skills like movement and hand-eye coordination, they only need the power to hit shots. A lot less power is needed to hit your shots due to the plastic ball. So, it is quite a game for older players as well as younger players. It could be a healthy workout routine for such people.

Pickleball-for-Seniors

Pickleball for Seniors

Source: https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/travel-recreation/recreation/pick-pickleball-how-and-where-to-play-the-popular-sport/

 

2. Pickleball is Ideal for All Skill Levels

If you’re a young, seasoned player who wants to get rid of your daily playing routine, pickleball is a good replacement for you. It offers joy and competitiveness at the same time. Due to the similarities between ping-pong, tennis, and badminton, it is relatively easier for players to understand the rules of this game.

It offers multiple advantages even if you’re not a regular pickleball player. It grinds your skill set and helps your body get into good shape. So, if you’re a beginner, pickleball has plenty to offer.

 

3. Pickleball is a Great Social Activity

The pickleball courts are smaller than tennis courts when compared. One tennis ball court could easily have four pickleball courts in it. So, the players are comparatively closer to each other. They can talk to each other while playing the game. It is a social sport for sure.

According to the survey, businessmen like to play this game and hold their conversations while playing the game. It allows them to discuss things and play at the same time. This is quite funny to say, but it is true.

So, if you’re a family man who can’t manage to sit and spend some time with your family, pickleball is a good routine for you to spend time with your family. You can engage your kids and have fun while playing the game. It makes your kids more attached to you.

Pickleball-Paddle-and-Pickleball-Ball

 

4. Pickleball is a Low Impact Game

Pickleball is not as aggressive as any other game being played worldwide. If you are having an issue with your knees or joints, you can easily play the game as it has low impact and lesser chances of injuries during the game. You won’t feel hurt even if you get hit by the ball due to its lightweight.

Pickleball is not as aggressive as any other game being played worldwide. If you are having an issue with your knees or joints, you can easily play the game as it has low impact and lesser chances of injuries during the game. You won’t feel hurt even if you get hit by the ball due to its lightweight.

 

5. Pickleball Courts are Smaller and Game has Affordable Equipment

The size of the pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court. One tennis court can easily fit four courts for pickleball. Due to the smaller court size, it is best suited to all age groups.

The size of the pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court. One tennis court can easily fit four courts for pickleball. Due to the smaller court size, it is best suited to all age groups.

The equipment used in this game is quite affordable. All you need is a paddle and a plastic ball, and you’re good to go. The paddles are just like ping pong paddles having a flat surface and made up of graphite. The wiffle ball or perforated plastic ball used in the game is not expensive either. The demand for these balls and paddles tells us a huge sign about the growth of this game. So, everyone can afford the equipment needed to play this game.

Pickleball Court V.S. Tennis Court
Pickleball Court V.S. Tennis Court

Source: https://sportsedtv.com/blog/pickleball-court-vs-tennis-court-the-differences

 

6. Pickleball can be Played Both Indoors and Outdoors

USA Pickleball Association has worked hard to build pickleball courts in parks and recreation centres to provide maximum access to the game around the country. Due to smaller court sizes, the game is easier to play both indoors and outdoors. Recreation departments have managed to build new courts in different areas to promote USA Pickleball. As America’s fastest-growing sport, it has marked its name.

People have built pickleball courts in their homes for this particular reason, causing their popularity to rise more and more.

 

7. The Rules of the Game are Easy to Understand

Have you ever wondered why there are very few Chess players worldwide? We don’t mean they are very little, but anybody can’t play it. This is just due to the game’s rules; you would be unable to understand the game in a day due to its complex rules.

Have you ever wondered why there are very few Chess players worldwide? We don’t mean they are very little, but anybody can’t play it. This is just due to the game’s rules; you would be unable to understand the game in a day due to its complex rules.

Games with simpler rules are more attractive to the audience because they know what they see. If there is an ambiguity, no one pays attention to that game.

Two-Bounce-Rule-of-Pickleball

Two-Bounce Rule

Source: https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/rules-summary/

 

8. Pickleball Could be Played in Doubles and Singles

This fun game could be played in singles and doubles, just like we see in the case of tennis and badminton. The doubles are generally played and are good for all age groups. A singles game is fun, too, but you need to be more active even though the court is smaller.

The mixed double is also being played to make the game favourable for both genders. The international female pickleball players also have their names on top in this game. Anna Leigh Waters is one of the most famous pickleball professionals who brought up her name among the top players at a very young age.

 

9. Pickleball is a Fast-Paced Game

There is a reason why pickleball is more popular than tennis. Tennis takes longer to complete, and the game’s pace is too slow. Pickleball has the same number of points, but due to the smaller size of the court, a set is completed comparatively earlier than tennis.

Tennis is also an aggressive game, but it is only made for young blood. It requires fitness, and you can’t be weak mentally or physically to be a tennis player. On the other hand, you would see people of all ages playing pickleball. The rules of pickleball make it more popular and help players get fit.

Tennis is also an aggressive game, but it is only made for young blood. It requires fitness, and you can’t be weak mentally or physically to be a tennis player. On the other hand, you would see people of all ages playing pickleball. The rules of pickleball make it more popular and help players get fit.

 

10. Pickleball Became a Good Activity During Covid

COVID-19 has affected many people’s lives. They couldn’t go outside due to heavy restrictions opposed by governments worldwide. People were stuck inside their houses or in the nearby areas. They were not able to visit recreation centres like parks and playgrounds.

Pickleball became popular when people used a part of their houses to have a pickleball court and play the game. It became a huge activity for the people and fun to spend their hectic day in their homes. The popularity graph has risen when we compare COVID-19 days with the before COVID-19 time.

Pickleball became popular when people used a part of their houses to have a pickleball court and play the game. It became a huge activity for the people and fun to spend their hectic day in their homes. The popularity graph has risen when we compare COVID-19 days with the before COVID-19 time.

Indoor-Pickleball-Court

Indoor Pickleball Court

Source: https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/travel-recreation/recreation/pick-pickleball-how-and-where-to-play-the-popular-sport/

The Future of the Pickleball

According to the news circulating, the USA is making efforts to bring pickleball to the Olympics till 2032, which is supposed to be hosted by Australia. For this to happen, players from different countries must have good game skills. If the game is added to the Olympics now, there couldn’t be competition for the USA as it has grown in the States and has plenty of professionals.

There are opportunities here and there in some countries, but promotions need to be made to lead to a focus on the game around the globe. The major league pickleball competition with greater rewards and recognition will also boost the game in the future. The professional pickleball association in the USA played a huge role in bringing pickleball where it is now.

The game has all the qualities and competitiveness that a good game could offer. This is why pickleball is so popular and getting acknowledged by the professionals. There are teams owned by some of the professional stars like LeBron James, Drew Brees, Ben Johns, Naomi Osaka, Tom Ricketts, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Eva Longoria and many more.

Conclusion

Pickleball has been the eyeball for most countries for the past few years. There have been a lot of countries supporting the game and have plenty of international players, too. There are events happening worldwide to support the game where professional players participate in these competitions.

So, here we have discussed all the points about why pickleball is so popular and getting attention day by day in most countries. The game will be recognized by all countries when it is introduced in the Olympics. This opens up many opportunities for players from all over the world to participate in competitions to win the gold for their countries.

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