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sportstylemag.com • sportstyle July/August 2022 • 45 BY LAURA GAINOR 1. What is pickleball? e sport of pickleball is a combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. e sport is played indoors or outdoors. Pickleball is simple to learn for beginners, but has developed over time into a fast- paced, competitive game. e social yet competitive nature of the sport appeals to players across the country, and the sport is continuing to grow each day! 2. The History of Pickleball Surprisingly, the sport of pickleball has only been around for about 70 years. Pickleball originated in Bainbridge Island, WA., in the backyard of Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, a congressman and a businessman. While looking to play badminton, the pair could not find a full set of racquets, so improvised by volleying a plastic ball with ping pong paddles over the badminton net. Next thing they know, the sport of pickleball was born in a family's backyard, making it the perfect game for kids and adults alike to enjoy together. 3. How To Play Pickleball Learning to play the sport of pickleball is easier than you might think. Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a 34" net at the center of the court. ere is a "no-volley" zone at the center of the court called "e Kitchen" that extends 7 feet from each side of the net in which players are not to touch the ball while the ball is in the air. Each player holds a paddle and the game is played using a perforated plastic ball. e game is played to 11 points and points are earned on each serve. For a full series of instructional videos to learn how to play, visit USAPickleball.org in partnership with e Pickler. 4. What You Need to Play Pickleball e game is quite versatile, so all you truly need to play is a paddle, pickleball, and a net. All pickleball equipment comes in all different shapes and sizes, weights, colors, and prices. at said, only USA Pickleball approved paddles may be used for tournament play, so be aware of what brand you are buying if you plan to play in tournaments in the future. For most, what equipment to buy mainly comes down to what you are most comfortable with and what equipment matches your current level of play. All pickleball brands bring something unique to the table in terms of their branding, pricing, and more. Equipment can be purchased online, at a local sporting goods store, or at pickleball tournaments or events as well. As pickleball grows in popularity, there is a growing opportunity for retailers to sell pickleball equipment online, in stores, and at tournaments as well. 5. Who Plays Pickleball With almost 5 million players in the U.S. alone and growing each day, the market for pickleball players, brands, and tournaments is fantastic. According to the 2022 Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the sport of pickleball saw a 14.8% increase in growth from 2020 to 2021. Currently, about 40% of players are women and 60% are men. e average age of players is continuing to drop as well, from 40 years old in 2020 to 38.1 years old in 2021. e sport is young, exciting, intriguing to many, and easy for just about anyone to learn. With many ambassador, youth, and recreational programs through USA Pickleball, the sport is gaining traction rapidly throughout the States with no signs of stopping soon. 6. Where To Play Pickleball With the popularity of pickleball growing every day, courts are popping up e nation's fastest growing sport is taking Americans by storm and growing more every single day. With over 4 million players and permanent courts located throughout all 50 states, Pickleball is officially here to stay. ere's no doubt that the sport captivates players from the moment they step foot on a court for the first time; with its social yet active nature, pickleball is making a name for itself among other major sports. Have you had a chance to get out to pickleball courts yet? If not, or even if you have and are still getting to know the game, here are 10 ings You Need to Know About Pickleball.

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