Who here plays pickleball? 🏓

Fastest growing sport at the moment. Insanely fun but it gets a lot of negativity for what?

No, I play real tennis. I'm not good or anything but no, I have never played pickle ball.

It is huge and growing all over the world.  I travel a lot and see pickleball courts that started cropping up a few years back all over.

I have played tennis my entire life at a very decent level, table tennis maybe even better, racquetball, and dabbled at squash.

But for weird reason I have swerved pickleball when asked.  Maybe feel it is the shuffleboard of tennis for older folks.

But these folks are very serious about it.  I am sure sooner or later I will find myself on a court.

A few years ago I was at a sportsbar and they were showing it on TV.  I had never even heard of it before.  They had fans in stands and everything.

Then I am in a park in South America to play basketball and see more people on pickleball courts than tennis courts.

They say it is easier for folks that have injury issues and stuff.

Then I am told that learning the scoring at first is unusual.

But I am very interested to try it sometime.

I just think some folks do not take it as a 'serious' sport.  But it seems like a good workout and, like I said, I know folks that take it very serious.

There are several groups, in fact, that are going in the morning to play -- they go every Sunday and once or twice during the week. Leagues and all.

@Raiders22

 Badminton?

@StumpTownStu

 Maaaaybeeee three times in my lifetime -- but likely just twice.

You?

Definitely more than 3 times but still only very sporadically over the years. I did play it for like 6 weeks straight, 4 days a week one year in gym but I would usually skip to go lift fot football. Aside from that, only a handful of times at a picnic or something.

not in my region. where is it growing fast?

@maxwagers781

 Everywhere.  Including your region.

https://www.pickleheads.com/blog/pickleball-statistics

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/pickleball-popularity-explodes-with-more-than-36-million-playing.html

https://thepicklrnation.com/en/world-state-pickleball-figures-outlook/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddboss/2024/09/20/international-pickleball-growth-set-to-move-forward-with-world-pickleball-ventures-fund/

There is no question that pickleball is here to stay in the US and in Canada (who quietly have membership numbers that nearly eclipse those of USA Pickleball).

However, the world is a big place, and there’s an awful lot of people out there who might also take to pickleball in the same way we have here. Over the past couple of years, we’ve started to see more and more interest in the sport internationally.

@maxwagers781

Sorry.  That was terse and maybe seemed rude.

It may be that you just have not paid attention or noticed it.  But these courts have been cropping up or converted in a lot of places that I go to.

@Raiders22

 It’s been around but haven’t been paying attention. Looks fun to have a few drinks and get together with other people and be social. But you need a court and pay for a membership. $80 for lessons! That’s more expensive than the gym. 

@maxwagers781

 Wow!  No idea it was not just public courts.

The way these folks here take it -- I think they wait until afterwards to drink.  It ain't just social but very competitive.

@Raiders22

 indoor court to accommodate the seasons I guess. a large gymnasium that can hold a gathering. definitely would need concession stands for food. seems like a good time out with the peoples 

Does playing with you own pickle count while enjoying the wonderful stories provided on bangbros dot com? If so, I have net vollyed on many of occasions....In fact, I may have invited pickle ball without even knowing.....severe paddle strokes

Pickle ball is the same as badminton, but badminton is funner to play.

I play racquetball everyday  But the guys I play with after 90 minutes of racquetball go over to play pickle ball for an hour Not as intense as racquetball esp/ because they play doubles but its a great fun game. Many malls that have closed down have opened up pickle ball courts in their malls . Very popular because you don't have to cover as much territory on the court. But racquetball is a much better workout  But its fun and we are using our muscles and being active. My wife still likes yoga and swimming at the YMCA but they are putting in 4 pickle ball courts next month at her Y. Pickle ball is fun esp. when your playing it with people you are friends with or know . But I am a " pool" of sweat after playing intense racquetball every morning  No comparison to the workout. 

Yep, I love playing pickleball! Sometimes I play with my cousin, and it's such an interesting and enjoyable sport.

Just started playing it this year, and it is a really fun sport.  I played tennis as a kid, and a lot of Badminton from High School through my 30's.  The scoring and play is very similar to badminton esp. doubles.  Was amazed at how easy to pick up, and if you ever played any racquet sports, you'll pick it up in a couple hours of playing.  The rules are mostly simple, but the "kitchen" rule and the 2 bounce after the serve rules are the hardest to adapt to.

If you do decide to start playing, suggest you invest in a mid-level paddle.  My wife bought us the Sportcraft brand set for $20 and the paddles are awful.  My friend lent me his $40 (USD) paddle the second time I played and it was night and day.  Bought a $50 paddle next day, and three months later upgraded to a $100+ paddle from Vatic.  The higher you go, you get a paddle that is much easier to control spin, and it plays more like a "racquet" in that there is a large sweet spot, so you can  mis-hit on the edge of the paddle and still get some power.

Good little workout for an hour or two.  And yes, here in New England area, they are painting Pickleball lines on all the existing tennis courts, and pickleball is more popular by 3:1 ratio.

@Box and one

 100% 

Can't speak much about pickleball as I have never played it but Racquet ball? Wow! An intense and and a awesome challenging workout to say the least.

The game is for Boomers & unathletic safe space dwellers.

It's becoming a big fruity cult