Six years ago, I stumbled upon a game quite by accident, that I’m proud to say has enriched my life: pickleball.
Unless you’ve been totally secluded the past year or so, you’ve heard some mention of the fastest growing sport in the world.
I found it when I took my inline skates, a bucket of pucks and my hockey stick to Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays to work up a sweat, and found 30-plus people playing this weird paddle game with a plastic ball, on five courts the town had painted on the rink’s surface.
I asked what this was, and was told it’s pickleball, and to come on in and try it. Having played tennis in college and racquetball for years, I have some serious racket skills. So, I did try it and I fell in love with it that day.
Later that afternoon, I was at Dick’s Sporting Goods buying my first paddle (not a racket) and I’ve been playing regularly ever since.
But why pickleball and why now? Why has this game captured the American sports scene?
Courts are going up nationwide, and the popularity is only increasing. When I stumbled upon it, pickleball was a geriatric sun belt game. The reason for the rise is simple: Younger players have found it, and the popularity is increasing to the point I feel it will be a high school sport and could be in the Olympics very soon.
Roughly 400,000 players were participating in this niche sport with the funny name six years ago. Now, it’s over 4 million and climbing. Even if the boom ended today, those players would remain loyal to their sport.
Did this all happen due to the pandemic? It’s hard to say, really. I think the game’s popularity has to do with its docile, friendly atmosphere on the court. It’s also a sport that you can see results almost immediately. It’s not as detailed a sport in its learning period that golf and tennis are. If you play three or four days a week for a couple of weeks, you’ll see results. Is that something you can say about golf?
At a time when there is a national political divide hovering over our nation, this simple game with the silly name could be one of the things that could bring people together. I feel it has. I see people from all walks of life enjoying the sport — but more importantly enjoying each other. There are so many social interactions happening now outside the courts.
I started a Pickle and Pasta night at my favorite Italian restaurant in the West Village next to some courts. There are groups out here that are starting to have social evenings with Dinks and Drinks at local eateries. I am part of a lovely group that meets every few weeks at one home or another for drinks and dinner and there is always a trip to one of our favorite restaurants of choice. We are a very diverse group that can put its feelings aside about national issues and just enjoy each other’s company.
And what brought us there? Pickleball. The great game with the silly name.
Look around you, and you’ll see new courts being built here in Southampton Town (next to SYS in North Sea and courts in Westhampton Beach). Hampton Bays High School has taken its badminton courts and relined them for pickleball and the courts at Red Creek are packed every morning.
The game is here for good. It’s wholesome, cheap on the wallet, engaging, rewarding, fun, a good workout without running around and you just feel good after playing it.
I’ve been asked by the The Express News Group to contribute a column or so every month about pickleball. I’m honored they asked.
I hope to see you on the courts soon.
