![A dilly of a trend: Why everyone鈥檚 talking about pickleball - hero](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcff9b9-bf2e-50b6-b013-e6d0d451297c/665f77728422f.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
No matter how you slice it, pickleball is a big dill.
The craze that鈥檚 currently sweeping the nation, pickleball is played on a court between two or four people hitting a ball back and forth over a net with paddles 鈥 think tennis meets ping pong with a little bit of badminton thrown in for good measure, and you鈥檝e got the right idea. The first team to earn 11 points wins. A recent Sports & Fitness Industry Association report estimated that the United States was home to more than 4.8 million 鈥減icklers鈥 (a.k.a. pickleball players) in 2022, making it the fastest growing sport in the country for several years running.
![A dilly of a trend: Why everyone鈥檚 talking about pickleball - 2](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/b1/db1fbd43-526e-5edf-931f-8f798a55b984/665f7777e969e.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
The widespread appeal of pickleball
Although it鈥檚 been around for decades, the pickleball trend gained lots of momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic as people sought out safely distanced options for friendly outdoor recreation. Simple rules and a low-cost entry threshold make the sport with the funny name easy for beginners to pick up, and appropriate for all ages. All you need to get started is a signature oblong racquet, the lightweight pickleball itself, a court and one to three other players.
People are also reading…
The biggest reason people tend to love pickleball, though, is that it鈥檚 just plain fun to play! The wholesome vibe and culture of the pickleball community are extremely welcoming, and most players enjoy the highly social aspects of interacting with fellow enthusiasts. Most participants opt for doubles play over singles play for this very reason. The more the merrier!
![A dilly of a trend: Why everyone鈥檚 talking about pickleball - 3](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=150%2C127 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=200%2C170 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=225%2C191 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=300%2C255 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=400%2C340 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=540%2C459 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=640%2C544 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=750%2C637 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=990%2C841 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C879 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1019 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C1132 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1254 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/f5/5f523c8c-80f8-5aaf-8de1-e5723caa7f6f/665f777a952d4.image.jpg?resize=1562%2C1327 2008w)
All skill levels are welcome
Whatever your ability, you shouldn鈥檛 have any trouble finding well-matched pickleball players to compete with across a wide range of skill levels. And as with any sport, the more you play, the better you鈥檒l get.
Because pickleball isn鈥檛 as strenuous as other sports, like tennis, and doesn't require as much movement due to the smaller court size, you don鈥檛 have to be a trained athlete 鈥 or even in great physical shape 鈥 to enjoy playing it. However, it will get you moving enough to reap the rewards of low-impact cardiovascular exercise and carries a low risk of injury, making it an appealing activity for older players age 60 and up.
![A dilly of a trend: Why everyone鈥檚 talking about pickleball - 4](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/3d/73dd934b-f425-5343-b9ef-20f3c2ccb9e9/665fb5df68bb8.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
Court is in session
Thanks to the game鈥檚 booming popularity, pickleball courts have popped up at many outdoor public parks and indoor gym facilities in major American cities and even small towns. A simple online search should be enough to uncover several locations in your area. It鈥檚 a safe bet that you鈥檒l probably find a pickleball court wherever racquetball sports are played. Some spots, particularly membership-based clubs, may require you to make a reservation to play. Want to test your skill and see how good you really are? Tournaments are available for those who want to compete against other players for prizes, titles and bragging rights.