The fastest-growing sport you’ve never played – but should
OK, let’s be honest. Could the sport have a sillier-sounding name – Pickleball? And it involves a nostalgic sphere of childhood typically associated with plastic bats and neighborhood bragging rights: the whiffle ball.
Yet from this odd pairing comes the fastest-growing recreational sport in America that almost 3.5 million players are rushing to the court to enjoy.
“Today’s the club championship,” exclaims John Hambel, a pickleball enthusiast and member at Porters Neck Country Club. “We’re finishing up the ladder league and I’m playing in the mixed doubles finals. I started playing about three years ago. It’s very addictive.”
Porters Neck is one of many McConnell Golf properties featuring pickleball. In fact, nine clubs have retro-fitted tennis courts or dedicated pickleball courts, and host either formal or informal play, from open-morning sessions to community-wide leagues.
“I’m proud we’re on the front end of this sport,” says Kyle Thortsen, Corporate Director of Tennis Operations at McConnell Golf. He admits he was initially hesitant, but has witnessed the sport take off like an overhead smash from the edge of the kitchen (that’s pickleball lingo for the non-volley zone). “It’s coming and it’s coming fast. It’s getting a whole new group of membership involved, people who weren’t involved on the tennis courts before.”
Last year marked the 55th anniversary of pickleball, a sport that showcases elements of tennis, racquetball and Ping-Pong, as well as whiff of badminton. Pickleball’s popularity has soared in recent years, especially with aging Baby Boomers who want to remain active – indeed, 34 percent of those who play are 55 and older.
The short, 15-minute games usually feature high-cardio, low-impact and lots of social interaction.
“My wife and I have been at Wakefield for 14 years,” says Patrick Newton. “I could count the number of times I’d been on the tennis courts on one hand. But I attended a Saturday morning pickleball clinic for beginners, and was hooked! I now play with several regular groups and we just finished our first season with men’s, women’s and mixed couple’s leagues.”
The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation boasts more than 100 pickleball players. Thortsen says the attraction is the game is so easy to learn.
“Pickleball is a sport that you don’t have to be the best athlete to play,” he explains. “Anyone can pick up a paddle, have fun and learn in 20 minutes, which is not something you can say about most sports.”
Depending on intensity, play can be easy on the body too. “I’ve had a lot of surgeries on my knees and feet,” chuckles Newton. “My joints can’t participate in traditional high-impact sports, but this is something I can do. It’s fun, competitive and not overly physically demanding. Pickleball is truly fun for all ages, from little kids, to teens, to senior adults.”
As for Hambel in the Porters Neck Club Championship? Win or lose, he knows he’ll be back for more.
“With short games, you’re always switching partners and meeting people,” he says. “It’s extremely social. You’ll make great friends. My whole social circle is now predominantly pickleball players. We’re all different levels and on our favorite night, we finish around 8:30 and go to the pub.”
No doubt to share stories of victory on the court.
ORIGINS OF THE GAME (AND NAME)
In 1965, three families were visiting Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, when the dads grabbed left-over sports gear to entertain their bored children. They lowered the badminton net, and invented a game using whiffle balls and Ping-Pong paddles.
As for the conception of the name? Some recall one of the moms on the island commenting on how the game’s genesis reminded her of the “pickle boat” in crew that uses oarsmen left-over from other boats, while others recall the family dog Pickles always chasing the ball and running away with it.
PLACES TO PLAY
- Brook Valley Country Club
- Country Club of Asheville
- Holston Hills Country Club
- Old North State Club
- Porters Neck Country Club
- Providence Country Club
- Sedgefield Country Club
- Treyburn Country Club
- Country Club at Wakefield Plantation
THE REAL DILL
- 64 percent of “core” players, who play at least eight times a year, are 55 and older.
- The South Atlantic is the fastest-growing region of players, with an average annual growth rate of 19.5 percent.
- USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body, tested and approved 134 paddles and 10 balls in 2019.
- Paddles are about twice the size of a Ping-Pong paddle. Early paddles were plywood. Today, paddles range from $8.88 at Walmart to $2,950 for Chanel’s Black Wood “CC” Paddle Ball Set.
IN THE KNOW
- Gear: All you need is a paddle, a ball and place to play.
- The Kitchen: The non-volley zone that extends seven feet off the net on both sides. Players cannot volley (take the ball out of the air) inside this area.
- No-Man’s Land: The area between the kitchen and baseline. Try to avoid getting stuck in this area, as it opens up angles for opponents to strike the ball past you.
- Scoring: Typically, games are played to 11, with a team gaining a point each time they win a rally while serving. Scores are called with a series of three numbers: the serving team’s number of points, the receiving team’s number of points, and the team member serving. A score called of 6 - 3 - 2 means the serving team has six points, the receiving team three points, and the second server on a team is serving.
