Invented in 1965, pickleball is a game often associated with retirees and the state of Florida. But it’s now the fastest growing sport in America, according to a 2021 report tracking sports participation from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Sophia Ramirez spoke to a number of pickleball enthusiasts to learn more about its appeal.
FADE UP NAT SOUND OF BALL BEING HIT AT THE COURTS, RAPID BACK AND FORTH
OVER TOP OF OLD TENNIS COURTS, IN GARAGES, AND IN UNOCCUPIED ROLLER HOCKEY RINKS, PICKLEBALL COURTS ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER CHAPEL HILL. I’M STANDING NEXT TO A COURT ON UNC’S SOUTH CAMPUS WITH HARRISON LEWIS, CO-FOUNDER OF UNC CLUB PICKLEBALL.
LEWIS: Originally they were designed for some kind of a product of tennis, maybe platform tennis, something like that… Yeah, they’re pretty much only used for pickleball now.
THE FIRST GAME OF PICKLEBALL LEWIS PLAYED WAS THE SUMMER AFTER HIS FRESHMAN YEAR – HE’S NOW A SENIOR. MANY OF THE 4.8 MILLION PICKLEBALL PLAYERS ARE RELATIVELY GREEN. PARTICIPATION HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE SPORTS AND FITNESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
LEWIS: A typical game is doubles… So there’s two people on either side of the court. The court is played on a surface like a tennis court, but it’s basically a smaller version [FADE UNDER]
PLAYERS USE A PADDLE, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PLATE, TO SMACK A WHIFFLE BALL OVER A LOW-SLUNG NET. THEY TAKE TURNS SERVING – YOU CAN ONLY SCORE A POINT WHEN IT’S YOUR TURN – UNTIL ONE SIDE GETS 11 POINTS.
LEWIS [FADE BACK UP]: I guess n the background you can probably hear the sounds of the ball. It’s kind of like a clank… So that’s the main sound you’ll hear besides different yells of excitement or anger.
FADE UP NAT SOUND, “C’MON! NONE OF THOSE UNFORCED ERRORS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
JENNIFER JOHNSON, REGIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR USA PICKLEBALL, SAYS THE SPORT HAS GOTTEN YOUNGER IN RECENT YEARS.
JOHNSON: I think if you asked somebody… about two or three years ago, what was the average demographic of a pickleball player, they would say their grandparents.
IN FACT, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT PICKLEBALL WAS FROM MY GRANDMOTHER, MICKEY SIMONDS. SHE HAD PLAYED THE GAME IN THE PAST, BUT SHE SAID IT DIDN’T REALLY TAKE OFF FOR HER UNTIL SHE STARTED PLAYING IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.
GRAMMY: You have to take it kind of seriously in Florida [laughs]… in Florida, boy. Everybody’s good.
THE GAME WAS PERFECT FOR AN AGING POPULATION WHO WANTED TO GET SOME EXERCISE AND COMPETE BUT DIDN’T WANT TO GET INJURED.
GRAMMY: Everyone loves it because after you play a game, you generally sit out a game. And then you socialize… And so you don’t have to exert yourself as much. And that’s why I like it.
JENNIFER JOHNSON: There are very few limitations.
THAT’S JOHNSON AGAIN.
JOHNSON: I’m not going to be like tennis, where I’m going to say you have to have a lesson and you have to swing it this way and you’ve got to hold it this way. Anybody can play and put a paddle in their hand and they’re having fun.
AS ONE OF THREE PICKLEBALL AMBASSADORS IN CHAPEL HILL, JOHNSON HOLDS CLINICS, SEARCHES FOR NEW VENUES, AND SPREADS THE PICKLEBALL GOSPEL. AND ALL ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS.
JENNIFER JOHNSON: I’m gonna get you on the court here this weekend. You watch.
*FADE IN ROOM SOUND FROM US COURTSIDE*
IT WAS A BREEZY, SUNNY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHEN MY FRIEND RACHEL MAUNUS AND I ARRIVED FOR OUR PICKLEBALL LESSON. PLAYERS WAITING FOR THEIR TURN MILLED ABOUT IN THE SHADE. I GOT TO CHATTING WITH DARCY BURGER, A REGULAR PICKLEBALL PLAYER HERE AT EPHESUS PARK.
BURGER: It really does expand the social scene. Especially during COVID, it’s been fantastic because we’re still very careful. We don’t eat inside, but we do anything outside. So yeah, it’s very cool. Have you tried it?
SOPHIA: This is my first day. I’m excited!
BURGER: You need to get a paddle and get out there, seriously!
[FADE UP SOUNDS OF US PLAYING, FADE DOWN]
NOW, MAUNUS AND I WEREN’T EXACTLY PICKLEBALL PRODIGIES. BUT FOR SOME YOUNG ATHLETES, PICKLEBALL HAS BEEN LIKE A GOLD RUSH – A NEWLY POPULAR SPORT, WITH A LACK OF PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN HONING THEIR CRAFT FOR YEARS. ANTON GUDZ, A NATIONALLY RANKED PICKLEBALL PLAYER LIVING IN CHAPEL HILL, SAW AN OPPORTUNITY IN PICKLEBALL.
GUDZ: Pickleball, it’s kind of unique in that you can still be relatively new and do well early in the sport. So, you know, I’ve been playing two or three years and I’m top 25 in singles in the country. So it’s just that… kind of new and exciting factor.
GUDZ IS GETTING SPONSORSHIPS, HE’S TRAVELING… BUT IT’S NOT THE SORT OF ATHLETIC CAREER HE COULD MAKE A LIVING OFF OF. NOT YET.
GUDZ: I more look at it as a, it’s an opportunity more than a struggle, right?… That’s why it’s growing so much. Everyone can be like, Oh, I can be good at this. And the more we have that, the better because it will grow the sport… to a level where it will be… harder and harder to be a pro and then it will be more legitimate.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY GOING PRO SOMEDAY, THURSDAYS ARE NOVICE NIGHTS AT EPHESUS COURTS. BUT BE WARNED – YOUR GRANDMA IS PROBABLY BETTER THAN YOU.
IN CHAPEL HILL, I’M SOPHIA RAMIREZ.
TRUTH!!! as a 50+ woman with 2 torn rotator cuffs — I finally get to have fun on the courts again!!!! Love this article – you captured the essence!