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When my father announced his retirement at the end of last year, concerns arose for my mother and me.
We worried about how he would occupy his time.
To our surprise, he found solace in pickleball, a game that has gained immense popularity in the US.
Last year, my father joined the ranks of 4.8 million Americans who embraced this unique combination of badminton, ping-pong, and tennis, making it the fastest growing sport in the country.
Pickleball’s rapid expansion, with a 159% increase in participation between 2019 and 2022, has created a shortage of courts for its devoted fan base. Initially played on tennis courts by lowering the net and marking new lines, pickleball’s popularity outgrew the existing infrastructure, causing frustration among tennis players.
In response, players began creating courts wherever they found vacant spaces, including public parks. Iconic locations like New York’s Central Park and abandoned shopping centers in New Hampshire and New Jersey have been transformed into pickleball courts, showcasing the game’s influence on American cities.
Nowadays, finding an empty pickleball court is a rare occurrence.
Many avid players describe their involvement in pickleball as an “addiction.” The game’s appeal lies in its accessibility, regardless of one’s level of fitness, and its tight-knit community. Most games employ a rotation system, fostering camaraderie among players who often join forces or compete against strangers. These players quickly become friends, organizing matches through group chats and mobile apps.
During a recent visit to my father’s regular game, he recognized every car in the parking lot. His 65-year-old friend, Rick Meismann, commented, “I haven’t met a person here that I don’t like.”
My father is not the only one whose days revolve around pickleball. Bert Maupin, a recent retiree with 40 years of experience in IT, jokingly considers pickleball his new job.
The game has transformed the Chattanooga, Tennessee community center, where my father, Meismann, and Maupin play three times a week, according to its director, Jeff Strong.
The pickleball phenomenon began when Pam Hoover and her husband, Tim, noticed the gym’s potential as a court during last year’s election voting at the Tyner community center. Their idea led to pickleball’s introduction across most of the city’s 18 community centers. The matches attract numerous seniors, prompting Strong to develop additional programming such as bingo and summer camp games.
“The game is a significant asset,” says Strong. Retirees who initially joined for pickleball are now involved in volunteering for the center’s inner-city youth summer camp.
However, not everyone is delighted with the increasing number of pickleball courts. The distinctive popping sound of paddles hitting plastic balls has led some city councils to attempt blocking the development of new courts to address noise concerns. Some homeowners associations have even resorted to legal action.
Aside from tennis players and individuals residing near courts, my mother is also a prominent critic of pickleball.
“It’s a great outlet for him,” my mom acknowledges my dad’s enthusiasm for pickleball. “But he overdoes it. He comes home exhausted and can barely move… I don’t want him tracking dirt through the house.”
My father doesn’t argue. “That’s all true,” he admits.
Nevertheless, he and his friends continue to play. Despite breaking her wrist and bruising her tailbone during a game, 69-year-old Hoover still spectates three times a week while her husband and friends play.
“In your golden years, everything becomes a little more golden,” says 68-year-old Pam Randolph.
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