Pick Up a Paddle and Play Some Pickleball!

WASHINGTON — Hibernation season has come to a close and you may feel ready to get back outdoors for some exercise and socialization. You have likely heard of pickleball, one of the most popular and fastest-growing sports in the United States. Though its buzz is recent, the sport has been around since the 1960s. 

Here is everything you always wanted to know about pickleball but were afraid to ask.

All About Pickleball

What exactly is pickleball? The simplest way to envision it is that it’s a sport played on a court with a net, similar to tennis or badminton, but with solid, ping-pong paddles. 

Pickleball differs from tennis in that the court is smaller, the net is lower, the paddles are solid, and the ball is harder with small holes, similar to a Wiffle ball. You can play singles or doubles.

Pickleball’s popularity has rapidly increased over the last few years and the trend continues. There are now millions of players in the United States. It is relatively easy to learn for beginners of all ages, offers a social component, and is a fun form of low-impact exercise.

How to Play Pickleball

A game of pickleball is comparable to other racket sports. A player uses an underhand serve to hit the ball over the net and across the court and the opponent returns the ball, staying in bounds.

After the ball bounces once per side, a volley begins and continues, with the serving team initiating serves until a fault happens. A fault happens if the ball touches the no-volley zone, gets hit out of bounds, touches the net, or gets hit before one bounce on each side.

You can only score when you are on the serving team. Once the serving team faults, then the other team gets to serve. 

You win pickleball by at least two points, and games are typically played until 11, 15 or 21 points.

History of Pickleball

The first game of pickleball dates back to 1965. Washington state congressman Joel Pritchard and a friend wanted to play badminton, but couldn’t find the correct equipment. Instead, they followed badminton rules but used the equipment they could find: wooden ping-pong paddles and a plastic Wiffle ball. They played on asphalt and lowered their badminton net to a standard tennis height.

What started as improvisation became a game they continued to play with their friends and families, and they developed their own standard rules. Over the next several decades, it grew to where it is today. Here are a few key dates:

• 1984: The United States Amateur Pickleball Association was formed with an official rulebook. 
• 2005: The USA Pickleball Association was formed to continue advancement.
• 2010: USAPA formed the International Federation of Pickleball to help the sport grow worldwide.
• 2020: Pickleball surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2022: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association called pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the second year. 

From recreational to championship pickleball, there are now millions of players worldwide. The SIFA report states that 75% of “core participants” are over age 55, making it a great way to help older adults stay active and social.

Why Pickles?

There are two theories on where the name came from.

• Joel Pritchard’s wife states she called it pickleball because it combines elements of multiple volley sports, similar to the pickle boat in crew. A pickle boat combines participants from other boats. 
• Or, it was named after the Pritchards’ family dog, Pickles. 

Risk of Injury

Much of the research on pickleball is on the injury risk. When a sport is popular with beginners, participants may be overenthusiastic and play too fast or too soon. Research indicates that pickleball injuries sharply increased during its recent rise to fame, from 2013 to 2022. Falling during a game is the most common cause of injury, particularly for older adults.

Doing other exercises to improve your balance, agility, and coordination outside of pickleball may help you avoid a pesky fall during a game.

The Health Benefits of Pickleball

Here’s why a game of pickleball is good for your physical and mental health.

• Cardio Exercise for Heart Health: Pickleball is a fun way to reach the CDC’s recommended amount of cardio exercise for adults per week (150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise, or a combination of both). A 2022 study on adults over 60 playing pickleball measured their heart rates during a game. Over 70% of playing time was spent in the moderate-to-vigorous heart rate zone, making pickleball a qualifying sport to get your exercise minutes in.

• Social Activity for Mental Health: Whether you prefer singles or doubles, pickleball is not a solo sport. You can play with someone you already know, or join an existing game. Socializing is essential for mental and brain health, and increasingly so for older adults. A 2023 systematic review on the mental health benefits of pickleball found that players had improved well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness, with lower levels of stress and depression. 

• Outdoor Activity for Overall Health: Playing pickleball outside gives you fresh air and sunshine. Research indicates that exercising outdoors can double the cognitive benefits. 

. 

Play Pickleball Today

Ready to try the most popular, accessible sport this spring? Use the court and game finder function on the USA Pickleball website here. Put in your location, and find out where to play and with whom you can play. Remember to warm up beforehand and take it slow to avoid a fall.

Our website content, services and products are for informational purposes only. The Well News does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have medical concerns or questions, discuss with your health care professional.

You can reach us at [email protected] and follow us on Facebook and X