While some of us were spending long hours during the pandemic leading sloth-like, sedentary existences, apparently many took advantage of the forced downtime to pick up a paddle and take up pickleball, a sport once considered of interest only to older adults. In fact, pickleball is now rated the fastest growing sport in the United States, with a massive uptick in interest of almost 40% in just the last two years. Everyone from Leonardo Di Caprio to George Clooney has been spotted on a pickleball court and there are now over 8500 locations around the US where you can pick up a paddle and obsess over beating your opponents. To find out the history of this sport, including its crazy name, grip your paddle and click here.

Played on a court (inside or outside) about half the size of a singles tennis court, pickleball players use a whiffle-type ball and a paddle slightly bigger than a table tennis paddle in a game described as a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, but with simpler scoring and less running. Played with a partner against two opponents, pickleball is accessible and enjoyable for players of any age, and from what public statistics reveal, it looks like players anywhere from ages 6 to over 60 are actively pursuing the sport. It was originally thought to be primarily a sport for older athletes, and certainly, there are many health benefits to playing pickleball: whether you’re looking to improve your cardiorespiratory status, enhance your hand-eye coordination or increase your muscle strength, playing a game of pickleball should generally be health-enhancing. Of course, at the same time, an older adult needs to be careful not to overdo it on the pickleball court, as many a player has learned the hard way. In fact, many physicians report a rash of pickleball-related injuries among older players, who obsess over the sport, play for several hours a day, and often become afflicted with repetitive stress injuries or even bone fractures from falling.

But there’s no doubt pickleball mania has gripped the nation, and not just in retirement communities. In fact, CNBC reports that big investors are taking interest in the sport, as it becomes a bigger business opportunity. Pickleball athletes are now getting endorsement deals from equipment makers, Costco has just agreed to sell a particular pickleball paddle, and just this week, there’s the annual Minto US Open Pickleball Championship taking place in Naples, Florida and being broadcast on CBS Sports. In fact, April is National Pickleball Month in case you’d like to celebrate before the month’s end!

Moreover, it’s become something of a social phenomenon, with the opportunity to meet new people, engage in physical activity and get your competitive juices flowing regardless of your age. There are now Facebook groups dedicated to the sport, websites selling exclusive merchandise, and athletes retired from other sports who now play pickleball as serious competitors (looking at you Andre Agassi). 

So grab a partner, get ready to backhand your paddle, and try a round of pickleball: If you’re like many passionate older adults, you’ll probably wonder how you ever stayed active without it!