{"data":{"id":"19ecce32-44b9-40d3-aa4d-4d8d5050e820","updated_at":"2024-04-09T15:19:33Z","template_id":"73046548-86ec-431a-aca0-75b53bc936f3","localized":{"blocks":[{"id":"14f5f6a3-9d6f-4cae-b821-4356ac47274c","kind":"richtext","content_html":"

Basketball star LeBron James is making headlines these days not for basketball, but for pickleball.

That’s right, the sport with the funny name is gaining national attention as it spreads like wildfire around the country. A 2022 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows the sport grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America’s fastest-growing sport.

It’s a misconception to think that pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton and ping pong, is just for seniors who can’t play tennis anymore and that it’s not really a workout.

Recent studies by Western Colorado University found that picklers averaged a heart rate of 109 beats per minute and burned 354 calories or more per hour, which qualifies it as a moderate-intensity workout.

And according to the USA Pickleball Association, the vast majority of casual players are now under 55, with the fastest-growing segment players under 24. (Boomers continue to lead the way, however.)

I started playing pickleball about a year ago at the encouragement and a few nudges from my husband, who was a former racquetball player turned pickleball addict.

At first, I hesitated, as I have always been a swimmer, so any kind of sport that required eye-hand coordination intimidated me a bit. But on that first day of play, I felt completely welcomed. I was surprisingly delighted to be a beginner again and there were other players on the courts learning too.

In semi-retirement, I’ve tried to find ways to stoke my life-long learner spirit and pickleball certainly checks all the boxes for me.

Getting exercise outdoors, meeting new people and having fun all at the same time? Yes, please.

Here are 5 reasons to start playing pickleball:

1. You can improve your fitness.

The multi-directional movement in pickleball improves strength, balance, and agility. Quick bursts of play action provide interval-like training to boost your cardio fitness. Keeping track of the scoring during fast rounds of play also keeps your mind active and the more you play, endorphins are released within your body to boost your mood. Another benefit of pickleball is that since it is not as hard on those muscles, joints and achy parts than many other sports, it's more accessible to people with physical limitations.

2. It improves social skills and boosts confidence.

Pickleball is a super-friendly, courteous sport. Newbies are warmly welcomed onto the court to play. “We all started just like you!” can be heard on courts everywhere. It’s a chance to channel your inner-kid and make some new friends at the same time. Often pickleball groups have potlucks & play events, as well as interclub events.

3. It’s easier to start playing than most sports.

Sure, the scoring seems kinda quirky at first. But there’s a very low barrier to begin playing. No fancy gear required, just a paddle, ball and a positive attitude are needed to start playing. Pickleball features “drop-in” play, so you don’t need a partner or foursome, (like tennis and golf) to play.

4. You can quickly find places to play.

Courts can already be found in many local and regional parks, gyms, athletic clubs, and community centers. Resorts and residential communities are also actively adding more pickleball courts for their residents. You can play for free in most public parks.

PlayTimeScheduler.com is a website where you can find available courts near you as well as all over the world. USA Pickleball has a great website with tons of information about pickleball and places to play.

5. All ages can play, and play together.

Most anyone age 8 to 108 can play. I once played with a 12-year-old boy as my doubles partner, against two 80-year-olds. All three players were way better than I was. But we still had a great time.

My husband and I are now teaching our grandchildren to play. Want to create a fun tradition this holiday season? Get everyone on the courts for rousing rounds of pickleball before you dig in to that feast.

Trying new things is such an important part of this stage of our lives. After I had been playing pickleball awhile, my husband and I teamed up with some friends/pickleball teaching pros and tried something really new for us—writing a book at pickleball.

Having four authors could be challenging at times, but we all pitched in to make it a helpful, comprehensive resource for all levels of players, including beginners, intermediate and advanced. Most of this year I have been writing, playing and dreaming pickleball. Who knew? I am still surprised by it.

Give this popular sport a try. It’s guaranteed to make you smile.

Pickleball is full of people from all walks of life, playing a game together and having some heathy fun. The world could use more pickleball right now, don’t you think?

For More information about Pickleball for Dummies go to: https://pickleballmediahq.com/book/

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About the Author:

Diana Landau was a corporate sales and marketing director for 20 years before finding her calling as a writer and editor for blogs and newsletters, most recently as Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. When she's not writing or having typo nightmares, she finds every excuse to play pickleball.

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Diana Landau is the Editor of the I Used to be Somebody newsletter. She is also co-author of the Amazon best-seller Pickleball for Dummies.

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