Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Cichlidsaremyjam t1_is29llw wrote

Where the hell did pickleball come from? We joined a new gym a few weeks ago and its all I see all day, every day. The converted a whole basketball court into pickleball. It feels like Ga-Ga ball at Wagstaff.

43

SubtleNoodle t1_is2anyc wrote

I’m like 80% certain it was popularized by old folks who couldn’t run enough to play tennis or racquetball.

27

bikemandan t1_is3ldcj wrote

Its a fun game, you should try it (and for the record, Im under 40)

I think its gained popularity because pretty much anyone can play and can be quick to learn. Public courts are generally very welcoming also, can just show up and start playing with whoever is there. I grew up playing tennis (and still do) and I enjoy the casual and social nature of pickleball

7

Dream_A_LittleBigger t1_is3r7h3 wrote

That’s 100% exactly what it is.

It’s old Boomers on bad knees and their generations of children and grandchildren that are either too fat or unathletic, or both, to play regular tennis.

−6

hangryhyax t1_is3yr7c wrote

Or maybe it’s just people playing a different game, some of whom couldn’t care less about tennis. Jesus, what a sad, bitter comment.

8

ryanfederer t1_is3xk1b wrote

Plenty of of people play. It's fun and completely different than tennis.

4

SyrioForel t1_is2ym3v wrote

Starting in 2019 the COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have given an extra boost to the growth of the sport as people sought alternatives to indoor activities. In 2021 and 2022 the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) officially reported that pickleball had become the fastest growing sport in the United States two years in a row. Over those years the number of players increased almost 40% to 4.8 million players. Some estimates predict there could be as many as 40 million players by the end of the decade.

NBA player LeBron James, retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have all made investments in professional pickleball teams, spreading exposure of the sport.

11

nbaisbest4 t1_is3ftgh wrote

It's a very enjoyable game, I prefer it over Tennis due to the smaller scale

7

Wazzoo1 t1_is3oidk wrote

It was invented in Washington (state) in the 1960s by some bored families on vacation. It's now the official state sport. It was pretty much exclusively associated with retirees until recently.

5

MeatTornado25 t1_is2vlnf wrote

Local tennis courts getting converted into pickleball hurts me deep in my soul.

4

jadarisphone t1_is4b6cu wrote

Yeah, how dare people enjoy things differently than you

2

MeatTornado25 t1_is5de67 wrote

When I show up and can't play tennis because there's now less courts available I'm going to complain about it, yes.

4