By: Silvana Wilson, Montclair State University
I stood on the green court on a 90-degree hot summer day with a large ping pong-sized paddle in my hand, sweat dripping down my forehead. My competitive nature was at its boiling point and I realized what the sport of pickleball is all about.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a game that is played on a smaller version of a tennis court. You can either play singles or doubles which means there will be two or four people playing on the court at once. Each competitor has a ping pong paddle in their hand and hits a plastic ball back and forth to the other side. The winning point is awarded to the competitor who either misses the ball on their side or if the opponent knocks the ball out of bounds. This is not a sport that requires vast amounts of agility and cardio such as tennis. It is easier and more manageable, making it a great sport for people of all ages, including kids and seniors. Pickleball is a combination of three different sports: tennis, ping-pong, and badminton.
How Pickleball Has Helped Me
A couple of my friends invited me to our nearby pickleball courts to partake in a game I’d never heard of or played before. We held pickleball rackets and balls as we marched down to the courts in a nearby town. What I saw amazed me -people of all ages were playing, kids and families, and seniors. Considering I used to play tennis competitively, I doubted that pickleball would be that fun for me. It seemed to be child’s play compared to tennis. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I had a ton of fun playing pickleball and I appreciated that the sport doesn’t take a huge toll on my body like tennis does.
When I used to play tennis, I would deal with knee problems due to the lateral movements and the rough tennis courts. However, with pickleball, it’s much easier on my knees and body overall. I worked up a sweat playing pickleball and came out with no body aches. Now I see why pickleball is being embraced by people of all ages – it’s such a flexible game! Compared to tennis, pickleball is much gentler on the joints. Not only that, but it provides more exercise and movement than a game like ping-pong might. If you play a sport that you find is too rough on your body, consider picking up pickleball!
Pickleball is Picking Up
In the year 2023, Pickleball was one of the fastest-growing sports. In 2023 alone there were over 35 million pickleball players and it was growing exponentially at a rate of 158% over the last three years. Even in New Jersey, there is a website dedicated to pickleball which provides information about the sport, find courts, tournaments, and clubs.
During Write on Sports summer camp in 2023, Pickleball Palace co-owner and pickleball pro Rebecca Lederman was a guest athlete along with SportsJam with Doug Doyle host Doug Doyle for students to interview. Ms. Lederman shared how she transitioned from tennis to pickleball and why she loves the game. “[another reason] why pickleball is so much fun is because you are in closer proximity with someone closer across the net, I can be having a conversation with them while I’m hitting the ball, whereas in tennis I’m in my own little world”.
This sport appeals to everyone – even celebrities such as Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and even former NFL star Larry Fitzgerald have been participating in pickleball. It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are; anyone can participate in this sport. Pickleball is expected to gain more popularity in the coming years as more people realize how fun and beneficial this game can be as an exercise.