With the sun high in the sky, it’s guaranteed to see a plethora of players active at your neighborhood courts. At first glance, you might assume that the tennis courts are booming; however, the majority of players are holding pickleball paddles.
Some might question why the sport has gained so much popularity in the last few years.
In 1965, Joel Pritarch, a Washington congressman, wanted to play a game of badminton with his family, but couldn’t find the right equipment. According to USA Pickleball, he improvised and used table tennis paddles and a plastic ball. Using rules similar to badminton, Pritarch started playing the pickleball style we see today.
In 2020, despite the ongoing global pandemic, more people started to get out onto pickleball courts.
Kate Nichols, a physics teacher at Ida B. Wells and avid pickleball player, started playing during the pandemic. One night a week, she met up with other parents and adults at her neighborhood court to connect socially, exercise and get outside; playing the sport became an outlet to offset the gloomy atmosphere the pandemic caused.
Now, even with the decreased presence of COVID-19, the love of the sport has not been lost; people are continuing to play with friends and improve.
Many are drawn to the sport because of all the opportunities offered.
Evan Totten, a senior at IBW, first started playing in the summer. Initially playing tennis, he and his friends found the need for an easier sport. “Pickleball was just so easy, so fast.”
“It’s a great entry-level sport. If you’ve never considered yourself athletic or even if you’ve never held a paddle, it’s a really easy sport to get into and it’s really fun no matter how good you are,” said Nichols.
Aside from the controversial sound it makes when struck, the ball offers positives to new players. Slower than a tennis ball, the pickleball ball travels at a rate that proves easier for beginners to take part in the sport.
Maddy Garfinkle, a junior and social media manager of the IBW pickleball club, likes having a low-pressure environment where she can enjoy the sport and just have fun.
The game can be nice for socializing and spending time with others. “You can all talk. On a tennis court, you’re so far away, there’s less chatting,” said Totten.
Playing with others also brings a different relationship. Letting yourself be competitive and playful with each other can be a release for negative energy.
But don’t be fooled, pickleball can also be a highly competitive sport. With more entries into the sport, more players are improving and the competition is broadening.
“Obviously people played [before] but now it’s like a real, swirling [thing]. We’re getting more expensive paddles, pro pickleball athletes… getting paid to play,” said Garfinkle.
Competitive leagues are evolving and getting bigger: You can join clubs and teams for the sport. Also, viewing is stronger, having direct channels just to watch pickleball.
With higher popularity, a rising issue is space and courts. Many lol tennis courts have been remodeled into pickleball courts, sparking controversy.
“I mean it’s a shame to have community resources that aren’t used. So if there’s a demand for pickleball, then I think that’s the right thing to do,” said Nichols.
The IBW pickleball courts are more populated than ever since their conversion in 2021. With the remodel from tennis to pickleball came four courts instead of just one.
At Gabriel Park, they recently converted a few of their courts for pickleball last spring. While it’s good for local pickleball enthusiasts, it’s also a downside for the IBW tennis team, who train and have matches there.
Though, compromise can be found — there are ways the courts can be used by both sports without being permanently changed. Having adjustable nets or using the same courts are possible solutions.
Setting aside the stereotype that only elderly play the sport, pickleball is also gaining traction with teens.
Rut Urbatzka, a German exchange student at IBW, is a beginner to pickleball and noticed much more interest in the sport in the United States. Playing at the South West Community Center (SWCC), Urbatzka has met many locals and noticed the difference in players. “At the first practice where we were, there were just adults, and then at the second practice there were more teenagers.”
You can find IBW teens playing at the school’s pickleball courts, local courts like Gabriel Park and the SWCC.
On a sunny day at lunch, you can find many IBW students out and moving their bodies. Being away from academics and getting a breath of fresh air, presents benefits, “I always feel super energized after I play… it’s a nice little pick me up and break from being in school,” said Garfinkle.
The Pickleball club meets on Fridays at lunch at the IBW pickleball courts, and you’ll often find students and teachers playing alongside one another during lunch too. Pickleball is a blooming opportunity and sport that offers inclusivity to all ages.
