Pickleball popularity soars

If you’re looking for a new sport that is easy to learn, low-impact and comes with a side of new friends, pickleball might be your answer.

The sport was invented in 1965 by a group of dads in Washington State and by 2021, grew to nearly 5 million players in all 50 states. It’s a mix of badminton, tennis and ping pong, played with a paddle and a perforated ball, similar to a Wiffle ball. It can be played inside or outside, as singles or doubles and can burn about 350 calories per match, according to one study.

For many players, the game’s appeal goes beyond fitness. It’s just plain fun.

Count Janet Imbrogno of Lombard, Ill. among that group. She and her husband, Joe, saw pickleball being played at their park district’s athletic center while they walked the indoor track. They took a few lessons at the facility and were sold.

“He kind of had to drag me,” she says. “But the more we played and competed, I felt like a kid again.”

The couple and other local players, who meet several times a week and even communicate via a team app, say the game is easy to learn and other players are willing teachers.

“This group was extremely welcoming and extremely kind to new players,” says Kathleen Rodak, also of Lombard. For her, pickleball takes her back to her high school athletic days, but is less strenuous. “It’s just nice to be active and do something where I can break a sweat, but it’s not a boring treadmill.”

The sport grew nearly 15% from 2020 to 2021, following a more than 20% increase the prior year, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association Single Sport Report on Pickleball. While once thought to be a sport for the older set, the average age of players — currently about 38 years old — is dropping and the fastest growth is among players under 24.

The indoor courts where Imbrogno and Rodak play — within a local park district athletic center — started with weekday morning pickleball times. But that schedule was later expanded to include evenings and weekends. As demand increased, the indoor courts were recently joined by three new outdoor courts added during a park renovation. And Joe McCann, Lombard’s director of recreation, plans for more, working to ensure equitable access.

McCann says the park district noticed the increasing popularity of pickleball when planning the indoor athletic facility several years ago. That popularity continues to grow. Even after adding outdoor courts, the district continues to field calls for more. The social aspect, he says, cannot be discounted.

“They’re definitely a community for sure,” he says of local players. “Part of the reason for the growth is the socialization.”

McCann also notes that the sport is likely less intimidating because it incorporates aspects of other known sports. “It’s kind of a hybrid, and it has flexibility,” he says. “It’s probably a little less impact than tennis. It definitely can be a great workout.”

Susan Baez, of nearby Villa Park and known as the local pickleball “ambassador,” agrees that pickleball can be a welcome alternative to more high-impact sports.

“There’s a lot of finesse in pickleball,” she says. “It’s not about who hits it hardest. Someone who has a limited running ability can place the ball.”

Baez also said the game changes depending on who is playing in each match. One fun aspect, she explains, is that doubles games rotate, so you can be playing with one partner in one game, but may play against that partner in the next.

As it evolves on the court during each match, the game also evolves overall. Professional athletes are now playing and even buying pro pickleball teams. The game continues to grow on all levels. It’s for all ages and skills, says Baez.

“People can bring their kids, and everyone can enjoy it.”