The Ever-Popular Sport Pickleball is a Blast — and Good for You

Pickleball was invented in 1965 outside of Seattle by two dads wanting to entertain their kids. Some attribute the recent boom of the sport to the pandemic.
Four women playing pickleball
Play Ball!: Friends Connie Kim, Alice Borghini, Christine Broestl, and Susan Brescio love to play pickleball together.

It’s hard to have missed the unexpected and meteoric rise of pickleball in the last few years — both in popular culture and around the clubs and recreation center in Rye. I’m far from a natural at racquet sports and even I have dabbled this summer.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island outside of Seattle by two dads wanting to entertain their bored kids. Using a badminton court drawn on a driveway and a hodgepodge of ping pong paddles and whiffle balls, they invented a new sport.

Some attribute Pickleball’s recent boom to the pandemic and a search for more outdoor activities. But the sport’s low barriers to entry helped; equipment is inexpensive, the paddles are short, light and easy to handle, and the whiffle ball is less bouncy and fast than a tennis ball. Beginner tennis is chaotic, with balls flying all over the place. And with large tennis courts makes it hard to maintain rallies and the momentum that leads to improvement. People say they pick up pickleball faster. And there are plenty of reasons people stay hooked.

Different levels can play

We had a busy summer of houseguests, and we took nearly all of them for a game though we varied greatly in sporting prowess. To make things more fun, those better than me would hit the ball right to me, and then I’d try to win. I was still defeated every time, but we had fun rallies and were able to practice. Pickleball’s underhand serve is also a great leveler.

A great workout

Alyson Walsh and Jen Morris took up pickleball at the Shenorock Shore Club this year. “The health benefits are many, as you are constantly moving around and therefore always burning calories,” Alyson told me. Jen added that she finds Pickleball to be a stress-free way to workout outdoors.

A Brigham Young University study compared playing pickleball to walking and found that playing pickleball doubles increased mean heart rates by nearly 14 percent, peak heart rates by nearly 19 percent, caloric expenditure by 36 percent, perceived exertion by 44 percent, and enjoyment levels by 150 percent.

Another study of middle-aged and older adults concluded that regular pickleball play improves cardiorespiratory fitness and positively modifies key cardiovascular risk factors. The explosive movements in racquet sports are excellent for bone health, and any exercise with so much lateral movement strengthens the stabilizing muscles and therefore improves balance and reduces risk of falling. But don’t let all the “old people” stats mislead you — according to USA Pickleball, the fastest growing segment of players are under 24.

Brain challenge

The best way to keep our brains from aging is to keep creating new neural pathways. I have never had good hand-eye coordination and thought that at 53, that was a fully cooked fact of life. I’ve been astounded to see how much my own swing-and-hit rates, and those of my daughters, improved, and so quickly. Your brain works on things as you sleep, so as a novice, play a few days in quick succession and marvel at how many new parts of your brain are helping you get better at something new. Pickleball sharpens your planning and decision-making skills, because you must constantly anticipate and execute your next shot.

Social aspects

Saving the best for last, though, everyone I spoke to said sociability was their favorite thing about pickleball. Rachelle Granato, who plays at Lifetime in Harrison, said she has found a community of fellow players and “it’s a great way to make new friends, something that isn’t easy as you get older.” Alyson added, “The number one benefit … is the pickleball community itself. Ask anyone who has been at this game for even a short amount of time and I’m almost certain that they have met new friends and formed great relationships as a result of playing this wonderful game.”

And as we know, that’s great for our health too.

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