Within the last few years,the popularity of pickleball is rising in rank. Pickleball, a sport crossed with pingpong, tennis, and bad-mitton, was created in 1965 near Seattle,Washington. The growth of the game can be credited to the west with California having 734 courts— the most in the entire country! So, what is causing the immense and relatively shocking rise in this industry?

  Before analyzing the increased popularity, it is imperative to understand the game’s rules.Played on a court, your team’s objective is to score eleven points by hitting the ball on the opposing team’s side. Each team takes turns serving with their paddle, aiming to hit the serve on the opposite side of themselves on the opposing team’s side. Similar to tennis, the ball can touch your side of the court only once before the return. If the ball bounces twice on your side, the point is awarded to the other team. The first to reach eleven points with an advantage of two wins. A fairly simple game but with a high level of appeal… why? 

  Notably, the average cost to play pickleball is much lower than many other sports. In 2022, the average cost for baseball equipment was upward of $200. However, the average cost of pickleball equipment merely reached a fourth of this sum (around $50). With pickleball’s low cost, the growth of players has never been higher. 

   Furthermore, evident trends in the popularity of pickleball stem back to 2020 and the hit of the pandemic. Pickleball allows players to naturally social distance and remain outside.  With many looking for a new hobby during quarantine, pickleball attracts new players for its instinctively relaxed and fun manner..

  But for those looking for a higher intensity game, competitive leagues for pickleball have begun to pop up around the Tristate Area. Local racket clubs and parks have started to build pickleball courts to cater to the growing player base. For example, Central Park in New York City recently announced the opening of fourteen new pickleball courts between April 7th to October 9th. But while the equipment is low cost, these courts might make a dent on players’ wallets. Wollman Rink, the creators of the new installations,  plan to charge $80-$120 per hour for court reservations of up to eight players. These particular courts must be viewed as a tourist attraction due to its location and quality, however, players can find free-to-use courts in other areas around the city.

  The evident strides in the growth of pickleball are highly justifiable. Between the comprehensive rules, manageable cost, and outside appeal, the game’s popularity will continue to soar.