The TODAY team hits the pickleball court to give America’s new favorite sport a shot
November 3, 2021
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.
“I like a sport where you could do it barefoot while holding a rosé,” Savannah said. “That’s my kind of sport.”
“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)
Today Show Resources
- Today Show Pickleball Demo July29, 2019
- Pickleball is more popular than ever: Here's why it's so good for your health
The badminton-Ping-Pong hybrid is especially popular with older adults.
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