Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing outdoor sports attracting players of all ages and from all over the world. But why is pickleball so popular?

Started in the 1960s, pickleball is a relatively new sport but growing at astonishing speed. Tennis courts are being converted into pickleball courts. Pickleball blogs and playing tutorials are gaining increasing and immense traffic. But why is this sport gaining so much popularity?

Pickleball is popular because it is a social sport that is also competitive. Players with all skill levels can play this game and quickly improve as it is easy to learn. Besides that, its popularity is credited to a new and exciting set of rules and affordability.

Overall, pickleball is popular because it gives people something new and attractive to experience. Pickleball was initially a sport for the old age group as it requires less mobility, unlike tennis. Although pickleball is a mixture of different sports, including tennis, badminton, and ping pong, it puts these sports out of business.

We are pickleball experts and have been playing the game for over a decade. Having seen thousands of new players starting their pickleball journey every year, we decided to put together this guide to justify the rising popularity of pickleball.

Why is Pickleball so Popular?

Below, we discuss the top reasons for the countrywide spread of pickleball matches and tournaments.

The Name - “Pickle” ball

Its uncommon and funny name attracts those who don’t know much about the game. While the ball is a very common part of any sports name, it is the “pickle” part that turns heads and raises a genuine concern: why “pickleball”?

The official version of the story is that the family who invented this game had a dog named pickle. The dog kept interrupting the play and picked up the ball when it went behind the bushes in their backyard. When they finally sat to decide on a name, they jokingly came up with pickleball, after their dog. Little did they know, the joke was taken seriously, so the game was named after their dog.

However, this is the official version that the USA pickleball association recognizes. The co-creators of the sport narrate another version of the story, which relates it to the pickle boat, known as the rowing story. Most people believe this story is the true version of the sport’s name origin, but the dog one is recognized officially for a better marketing angle. It’s safe to say that the tactic is working well for the bookmakers.

A Healthy Sport

Pickleball quickly became popular for aging adults losing their stamina and fitness but needed an activity that kept them fit and entertained. Pickleball is more about precision and technique instead of power. So adults enjoy playing this game as it does not demand too much of them but just the right amount of physicality they can enjoy in a particular age group. Moreover, the pickleball court is also smaller and you can play it in doubles. Unlike in tennis, there is not much running from side to side - a trait some people might not enjoy.

A Social Activity

Are you looking to diversify your social life? Pickleball presents you with a perfect opportunity to meet new people and have a good time together, playing an easy game that does not bring out much competitiveness. The best thing is that many people are looking for pickleball players to match up with either singles or doubles due to the growing popularity and demand. You will likely walk into a pickleball court on a Sunday evening and find many players open for a challenge.

Since the pickleball court size is small, players are playing very close to each other. The fact that there is not much running also gives you a chance to talk with other players and even laugh. Since laughter is the best therapy, people get it with pickleball in the best possible way!

Easy to Learn and Fun to Play

Besides being a fun sport, it is probably viral because pickleball is easy to learn. Other racquetball ballplayers are especially shifting to pickleball since it involves similar but easier and more straightforward techniques. But don’t worry if you haven’t played any sport before, let alone any racket sports.

It involves a lengthy set of rules, but they are easy and exciting to learn, making it easy to play pickleball. Moreover, pickleball is played with paddles having small grips that are easy to handle and large square-shaped surfaces to hit the ball. Furthermore, the ball is made from plastic, so you don’t need to put in everything you got to send the ball over the net.

Beginners find it quick to learn pickleball. Within a couple of hours and a few practice matches, they are hitting volleys back and forth, hooking them and making them feel appreciated.

A Great Sport for All Skill Levels

As we mentioned earlier, pickleball was only played by aged people earlier as it is an easy-going game and does not require much running. However, it is not limited to them as it attracts people from all age groups - children, teenagers, adults, middle-aged peeps, and senior citizens going as far as 85+ years old. Retired adults get a chance to keep up their fitness and social activities in a fun and different way than running crews or yoga groups.

On the other hand, children also find the game easier as the equipment is light and small court size. Nevertheless, teenagers and youngsters are attracted to the game as they can keep it mellow for a light activity or turn the difficulty up a notch and engage in competitive combat.

Family-Friendly

Another reason for pickleball’s popularity is its family-friendly nature. Do you have family over for a barbecue party? You can set up a pickleball court in your backyard if you have enough cemented space and fun family time playing pickleball while the barbecue is getting done. Pickleball can be played in doubles,  allowing engaging more family and friends together is a good chance.

But don’t worry if you don’t have space in your backyard. You can take your family to the closest recreational facility having a pickleball court. It is no coincidence that pickleball was invented by two families of friends in the backyard of their cabin.

Requires Small Courts

One of the most attractive features of pickleball is its smaller court size. A pickleball court has the exact measurements of a badminton court - 44 ft x 20 ft. It is easier and inexpensive to maintain, which is in the direct interest of the owners. This is why many tennis courts are being converted into pickleball courts and many tennis players are switching to pickleball.

The smaller court size is also beneficial from the players' point of view as they can cover more area with little movement, and it does not matter if they lack stamina. Besides that, a smaller court also encourages longer rallies, keeping the focus heightened for extended periods.

Requires Affordable and Minimum Equipment

Who wouldn’t love a game that is both - exciting and cheap. Pickleball paddles are made of different materials that vary in quality and are smaller than tennis and badminton rackets. Pickleball paddles can cost as high as $200. However, spending a fortune on the racket is not necessary if you are an amateur. You can get good-quality rackets for about $60-80.

The pickleball ball is also not so expensive as it's mostly made from plastic. The pickleball court is smaller, so maintaining them is cheaper than tennis courts. The affordability and minimalistic requirements of pickleball are another reason for its jaw-dropping popularity.