Secretive Sports

A Three Part Series On Sports You Have Probably Never Heard About

A. J. Baker

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED PICKLEBALL? Have you ever heard of Pickleball? Probably not. After stumbling across the sport on social media, it struck me when I found out it was the fastest growing sport in the world. Why is it so popular?

Pickleball, originally viewed as a joke of a sport due to its comedic name, is now officially the fastest growing sport, according to an Apple Fitness study in 2022. The game is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played with a perforated ball in teams of two, on a court similar size to a badminton court. Considering it is played on a smaller court, the game encourages players to hit the ball accurately to win points. Additionally, the decreased lateral movement is highly appealing to ex-tennis players or those returning from injuries.

Another aspect of the game is the social benefits. Pickleball, unlike most sports, cannot be played alone, thus inspiring individuals to break free from their lonely rituals, create new friendships and improve their general wellbeing. This has ultimately skyrocketed the popularity of the sport, increasing the participation rate in the US by 153% in the last two years. 

So what makes a sport so popular? After in-depth research, I have found that the sport cannot be easy to master. However, it must be easy to follow (golf, for example – an extremely basic concept), it must be highly accessible (soccer – it is easy to find an open space) and most importantly, it has to be fun! With this in mind, it is safe to say that Pickleball most certainly meets this criteria. Therefore, its rise in popularity is not at all surprising. Within the next decade, it is expected that the sport will continue to gain traction and the construction of pickleball-specific courts will increase globally.

Although Pickleball continues to surge in popularity, its viewership does not seem to be following the same trend, only increasing by 36% in the last two years. Although fun to play, it is not as ‘action packed’ as its derivatives: tennis and badminton, which are established sports with large fan bases. Considering it is becoming so popular, when will Pickleball become an Olympic sport? Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely as it does not draw the same attention compared to other racquet sports due to the monotonous viewing it provides. 

After reading this brief article, I hope I have inspired you to find your local Pickleball court, have a rally with your mates and experience the sport in all its glory.

Typical paddles with perforated balls