A Short Insight of Pickleball : The Fastest Growing

Sport Popularity

Image Source : https://www.ussportscamps.com/tips/pickleball/what-is-pickleball

Short Introduction of Pickleball

Pickleball first originated from Seattle, Washington in 1965. It is a fun racket/paddle sport and
has mixed game play elements from several other sports like badminton, tennis and ping pong.
Pickleball can be played indoor or outdoor and due to its simple gameplay rules, it is easy for
people to learn and doesn't require much equipment. The sport authority is USA Pickleball
Association (USAPA).

Pickleball has recently grow popular and perhaps one of the fastest growing sport popularity in
America today. There are moreover 4.8 million players of pickleball in the US by 2021
according to Sport & Industry Association (SFIA). USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) has a
lot of program people can join to register themselves into tournament and training program such
as Recreational Program, Youth Program Provider, High School Grant program.

Source :

 https://pickleballadventure.com/why-is-pickleball-popular/#:~:text=The%20sport%20has%20become
%20so,participants%20from%202019%20to%202020.
 https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Estimated
%20Pickleball%20Players%20Within%20the,Single%20Sport%20Report%20on%20Pickleball.
 https://www.rookieroad.com/pickleball/history-6185831/

Why is it called pickleball?

The name pickleball may sounds weird to some newcomers. The history of the name also remain
uncertain because there are two origin story version of how the sport got its name. According to
the first story version who came from Joel Pritchard's family (pickleball founder) and other
people who were there at early pickleball's time, pickleball sport got its name from Pritchard's
family dog.

Pickles the dog often run around the yard playing with the ball while the new racquet being
played along until the ball returned. The second version of story based Joel Pritchard's wife,
Joan, she claimed that the "Pickleball" sport reminded her of pickle boat that's how the sport got
its respective name. Joan also said that "Pickle" the dog was named after the sport not the other
way around.

Source : https://www.rookieroad.com/pickleball/history-6185831/

Why are people obsessed with pickleball?

Some of the reasons why pickleball is addictive to some people are because pickleball game is a
social cooperative game and it can be fun to flexing with your friends together. Pickleball is also
simpler in term of rule so it's easy to learn and suitable to all ages. The game is also flexible
because you can bring your own portable net and paddle and ready to play and the court are
smaller than Tennis. You can be competitive at pickleball too by attending competition at
USAPA (USA Pickleball Association) event or any olympics.

Source :

 https://www.pickleballmax.com/2015/02/10-reasons-why-i-love-pickleball/
 https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/2015/04/16/why-is-pickleball-so-addictive/

What do pickle ball players need?

First of all, of course pickle ball players need game partner, the game requires mininum two up
to four person to play. Besides, there are many other equipment and requirements in order for the
game to run as it supposed to be as accordance to the existing game rule, what are those? well
here's the list:

Source : https://www.rookieroad.com/pickleball/what-is-pickleball/#:~:text=Pickleball%20is%20played%20by
%20two,one%20side%20commits%20a%20fault.

1. Pickleball Court
Image Source : https://www.onixpickleball.com/blogs/learn-pickleball/pickleball-court dimensions#:~:text=A
%20pickleball%20court%20is%20around,inches%20high%20in%20the%20middle.

For obvious reason that pickleball players don't play on random street, therefore they will need
pickleball court/field called pickledome with adequate size dimension of 44 ft (about 13,4
meters) long x 20 ft (about 6 meters). The image above also shows the overall template of
pickleball court.

Source : https://www.onixpickleball.com/blogs/learn-pickleball/pickleball-court-dimensions#:~:text=A
%20pickleball%20court%20is%20around,inches%20high%20in%20the%20middle.
2. Pickleball Court Net

Pickleball game will need net to play. According to USA Pickleball (USAPA) regulation, the net
height is about 36" or equivalent to about 92 cm and 22" wide (about 56 cm). Pickleball net can
vary on size and available to be bought anywhere online and there are even portable version for
the net.

Source : https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Pickleball-System-Durable-Assemble/dp/B00FSHFF2I

https://www.onixpickleball.com/blogs/learn-pickleball/pickleball-court-dimensions#:~:text=A%20pickleball
%20court%20is%20around,inches%20high%20in%20the%20middle.

3. Pickleball Paddle
Image source : https://www.dimensions.com/element/pickleball-paddle

What are you going to hit the ball with? if not using the paddle, pickleball players will indeed
need pickleball paddle and ball. Pickleball paddle standard size is about 16" or 40 cm long and
8" or 20 cm wide. However pickleball paddle comes with different shape, there are elongated
shape or the one with longer handle. The most common material used for pickleball paddle are
wood, graphite and composite.

Source : https://thepickler.com/blogs/pickleball-blog/pickleball-paddle#:~:text=Standard%20Pickleball%20Paddle
%20Shape,and%20control%20for%20pickleball%20paddles.

4. Pickleball Ball
(Left pic: Indoor ball ; Right pic : Outdoor ball)
Image Source : https://www.si.com/review/best-pickleball-ball/

How do you exactly call pickleball without ball? now you've got the point. Pickleball players
cannot play without the ball. Pickleball's ball looks exactly like what's shown on the picture
above. The outdoor pickleball are heavier, harder and have 40 drilled holes, but the indoor ball
are softer and has less amount yet bigger holes for about 26 holes. Therefore it is important to
pay attention whether the pickleball game going to be held indoor or outdoor.

Source : https://www.si.com/review/best-pickleball-ball/
https://pickleball.land/pickleball-balls-ultimate-guide/#indoor-pickleball-balls

5. Pickleball Backpack
Although the requirements and needs to play pickleball game is not that much, but it is almost
certain that pickleball players need something to carry their belongings inside. For that very
reason backpack may be thing players are looking for, especially the one with lots of pocket.
You can buy various backpack that are available online e.g, the backpack shown on the picture
above only costs $40 but contains a lot of pockets including ball holder very practical, isn't it?

Source : https://www.amazon.com/Athletico-Pickleball-Backpack-Women-Holder/dp/B08RRQYQS3/
ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=pickleball+backpack&qid=1653361510&sr=8-2-
spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFYMjU4V1dCMUhWQ0YmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9Q
TAwMzQ2NzYxRlNZOERWNkRMNk5QJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNjQwNTM0SEpNRTQ2U09KUTQ
md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
6. Pickleball Coach [If You Are a Newbie]

Image Source : https://www.villages-news.com/2015/04/05/coach-mo-ready-to-take-his-pickleball-show-on-the-

road/

If you are a newcomer to the world of pickleball game, then you may need someone who take
you through the right gameplay. Pickleball coach can be your own family or friends who master
or know the basics, doesn't have to be professional one. Players can also build their experience
and game mastery through playing with friends who understand and adjust to your needs.