It may be the unusual name, or the fact that just about anyone can play, but whatever it is, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America.
“I think the name kind of draws people in and then once they get out here, they just love it,” pickleball player Brent Gingerich said.
A combination of badminton, tennis and ping pong, the sport has its own set of unique rules and equipment.
The sport is easy enough for beginners to learn, but can quickly develop into a fast-paced and competitive game. Beyond the competition, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on.
“It’s a good comradery sport. It attracts people from all walks of life,” pickleball player Felicia Tatum said. (Read More)
Calvin Song, a Fresno St tennis coach and Selkirk-sponsored Pickleballer, joins us to break down this wildly popular phenomenon.
We talk evolution of the game, the mass appeal, how it is viewed in the tennis community, and it’s future. Could it be the next Olympic sports?
Calvin offers his unique perspective as someone who plays and coaches both tennis and pickleball, the differences and similarities not only in the sports themselves but in the injuries we see in Sports Medicine.
Movin' with the Mayor Pickelball event was a success. Thank you to Mayor Katie Rosenberg and Greater Wausau Area Pickleball for partnering with us to show off our amazing pickleball courts that the Pickleball group helped to make a reality!
Description 1 game ; in dufflebag 102 x 18 x 22 cm
Contents 1 net -- 1 set of poles ; 8 paddles ; 4 balls ; chalk ; canvas bag
Summary Pickle-ball is traditionally played on a badminton-sized court with special Pickle-ball paddles, made of wood or high-tech aerospace materials. The ball used is similar to a wiffle ball, but slightly smaller. The lower net and wiffle ball allow the game to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities, while still allowing more competitive players to test their mettle.
On November 8, 2021, the number one professional pickleball player in the world, Ben Johns, 22, and his team BLQK won the The Pritchard Cup at Major League Pickleball's first tournament in Dripping Springs, Texas.
History Link: Joel Pritchard and several friends incorporate Pickle Ball Inc., to promote the new sport they invented in 1965 at Pritchard's Bainbridge Island cabin, on February 13, 1968.
2019: Frank Pritchard, son of late Congressman Joel Pritchard, and Bill Bell, III, son of Bill Bell Jr., share their memories of that fateful day in the Summer of 1965, when the sport of pickleball was invented.
The TODAY team hits the pickleball court to give America’s new favorite sport a shot
November 3, 2021
It's the sport that's fun and healthy. So what's all the fuss about?
Working at TODAY isn’t all fun and games, but at least part of it is.
The TODAY team recently got together to play pickleball, a sport with a funny name that has been around since the 1960s, but has really come into its own in the past few years, with the number of courts in America tripling over the last decade.
Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones and Jenna Bush Hager played in a TODAY tournament to see what all the fuss is about, with the gang getting a crash course in the game they don’t exactly play with any regularity.
“The closest thing to pickleball that I’ve ever done is when I’m done making my bloody mary, I put a pickle right on in the middle there,” Carson said.
“I have never played pickleball, but I think I would love it because it has all the things I love,” Hoda said before taking the court. “I love tennis. I love pingpong. It’s right in between.”
Her assessment hit the nail right on the head, as pickleball incorporates elements from those other sports. Played with a whiffle ball on a court that is smaller than a tennis court, players must serve underhand and avoid what is known as "the kitchen," or the area close to the net.
“It’s just sort of an easy, accessible, fun, lighthearted sport to play, and you can play it at any age,” Savannah said.
“I always love a sport where they say, ‘Oh, and you know? You nice, little old person. You can play this. You’ll barely know that you’re moving,’” Al joked. (Read More)
"This paddle features the OneCore polymer technology core paired with a fiberglass face. This is what we utilize for our PRO level paddles as well. The paddle blends power with control. It has a large sweet-spot, optimized weight distribution, & classic head shape. Superior performance combined with top-grade materials makes this paddle an absolute favorite for any player." - OneShot Pickleball (Maple Valley, WA)
