Pickleball

It seems like you can't get away from it. Left and right, there is always someone lining up to play. Always the tech bro acting like they were the first ones to pick up a paddle. The recreational Djokovic is always ready to prove that they are still young. But where, and how, did Pickleball come this far? From a small island off the coast of Seattle to the fastest-growing sport in the nation, Pickleball has won the hearts and hate of many. Today's post will be a fun, fact-free word dump on what I think makes this game so popular.

The Name

I mean, all I'm saying is that half the reason I tried it was for the name itself. Is it a food? a sport? a weird hybrid? The moment you hear "Pickleball" you're hooked; not because you know what it is - but because you don't. You would sign up just to find out if there’s a giant pickle involved. Spoiler alert: there isn’t, but by the time you realize that, you're already in too deep trying to explain to friends that it isn't a cucumber-based activity. It's the perfect bait-n-switch, and it works like a charm.

The Goldilocks Zone

Is anyone familiar with the story of Goldilocks? Pickleball is to sport what porridge is to Goldilocks. It's built for those who find tennis too demanding, table tennis too technical, and chess too intellectual. It is a genuine, "just right" activity. If you're old and can't move - no worries! You can shuffle around to cover most of the court. You get all the glory of a sport without the hassle of moving more than absolutely necessary.

That Winning Feeling

The best part about Pickleball is how much of an ego boost it is. A traditional sport requires years of practice and conditioning to be good. I consider myself to have above-average hand-eye coordination and yet the first time I went to the batting cages I struggled to hit past the would-be infield. Conversely, the learning curve of Pickleball is flatter than Kansas (never been, heard it's flat). What this means is that in mere hours, a moderately athletic person can go from total beginner to somewhat competitive. Furthermore, if like most people your group started at a similar time, you will all be bad together and, counterintuitively, it will feel like your matches deserve airtime. It's a game of equal opportunity failure, which makes it so easy to pick up and narrows the skill gap considerably. Like anything, there are levels to the game, and by no means is it easy to turn pro. But for the layman, going from zero to hero has never been easier.

Exercise in Disguise

By no means is this blog post hating on Pickleball. I think it's amazing - in fact, I actually own five paddles (don't ask, long story). However, it isn't the most intense of pastimes. Don't get me wrong, it certainly can work up a sweat... if you want it to. For most people, Pickleball is a sport of dinking and chatting. Therein lies the benefit. It's the new water cooler: a place where people can connect, chat, and get some movement into their otherwise busy days.

So that's why I think the sport has grown to what it is. Sure there are a lot of haters, and sometimes I am one of them. I don't agree that it holds a candle to the racquet sports it was inspired by. But it filled an important gap in the athletic community. A sport that is truly open to all, with low floors, high ceilings, and everything else being "just right."