Pickleball has been growing so much as a recreational sport in the United States that if you haven’t heard about it yet, stop everything and read this text until the end.
First of all, you should know that the sport is not only growing as recreation. There is a professional Pickleball league, just like baseball, soccer, and basketball. And the interest in the sport has grown so much that it led basketball star LeBron James to recently invest in a team that will debut in the professional league next year.
But what is Pickleball?
It is a variant of tennis played on a smaller court with paddles and a lightweight, perforated plastic ball that doesn’t fly as fast as a tennis ball. It is an easy sport to learn with simple rules. It mixes elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It can be played on indoor or outdoor courts. Matches can be played individually or in doubles.
Although the sport has been gaining popularity in recent years, it is not that new. The modality originated in the United States in 1965, on Bainbridge Island, in the city of Seattle, Washington.
Currently, it is estimated that there are over 5 million people in the United States playing pickleball. The sport grew by 40% between 2019 and 2021.
There are so many new enthusiasts that there is a shortage of courts for the sport. Tennis courts are being used for pickleball practice. But tennis players are not very happy about it. In New York, a tennis club launched an “anti-pickleball” campaign after having its courts crowded by fans of the other sport. In Colorado, a man was arrested after he drew permanent lines for a pickleball court on a tennis court.
In light of this, pickleball courts are being built at a record pace.
What is the professional league like?
There are currently 12 teams with names like Lions, Jackrabbits, Chimeras, and “the Bus.” Each team is mixed, with two men and two women.
There are no home teams. Instead, all teams meet in one city for a tournament. For each team matchup, there is one men’s doubles match, one women’s doubles match, and two mixed doubles matches, followed by a tiebreaker if necessary.
This year there are three events. The event in Austin was won by a team called BLQK and the tournament in Newport Beach, California, by the Ranchers. The final event will take place in Columbus, Ohio, from October 14 to 16.
The league, now in its second season, plans six tournaments in 2023, in cities to be announced. Although there has not been an overall winning team this year, one is expected to be chosen next year. The total cash prize is expected to be $2.4 million next year.
Where to watch?
CBSSN will cover the final event in Columbus on October 16. So, this is your chance to get to know and learn more about the sport.