Pickleball fever is spreading like wildfire here in the USA. It seems as though nowadays, everywhere I go I see folks playing Pickleball more and more and Pickleball courts cropping up left and right. But are more people playing pickleball than tennis? It sure seems so even though Tennis still has more regular players than Pickleball. Today, around 4-5 million people play Pickleball in the US as opposed to ~17 million tennis players. That’s a big gap.
But, Pickleball is gaining ground on Tennis, and growing at a way faster pace. Over the course of the last 2 years Pickleball has picked up over half a million people. It is currently the fastest growing sport in America, giving tennis a run for its money. Tennis has stagnated in recreational growth. One could wonder if Pickleball is stealing away would be Tennis players. Here are 10 reasons,s, why Pickleball is killing tennis.
1) It’s easier to play
Pickleball is easier to learn and play in a few ways. Becoming an effective pickleball player takes less skill than tennis. For example, the serve in tennis is alone a tough skill to learn. It can take weeks to learn how to serve a tennis ball to an acceptable playing level. In pickleball, the underhand serve is easy to pick up and doesn’t require that much skill.
It is also easier to play in the sense that you don’t really need access to tennis courts. If you have a Pickleball playing set then nothing is stopping you from finding a blacktop near you and playing. In essence, the world is your Pickleball court.
2) Pickleball doesn’t have a pretentious culture
When you start playing pickllebal, you notice that the people who play pickleball are very welcoming. You can casually find teammates and jump in games just like you would with basketball.
Although a generalization, the tennis community is a little less welcoming. It’s harder to just show up at a tennis court and find partners casually. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that tennis courts are more spread out and not conducive to bumping into and chatting up strangers. Also, many tennis courts are within exclusive country clubs where you have to pay to be a member.
And there is nothing wrong with this. The fact of the matter is that it doesn’t allow for a new sport to spread like wildfire when fundamentally there are so many barriers to playing. The reason that Pickleball is killing Tennis right now is because the culture is more welcoming to all people. Too many racket sports have this culture of exclusivity, and Pickleball is differentiating itself. You don’t need to be a part of an exclusive wealthy club to play. You can get 3 other friends, throw in $25 dollars each, and play as much Pickleball between the 4 of you that you like.
3) It brings together different social groups
Because there is less barrier to entry for Pickleball, it allows a wider range of people to play. Anyone could pick up a paddle and go to the local pickleball playground and start playing. This makes it fun and less intimidating everyone. It’s also easier to learn than tennis. All these things open the sport up to kids, adults and senior citizens of all ethnic groups. It not only opens it up to all these groups, but it also makes it fun for them to comingle and share space. This is one of the main reasons why many think it is a sport that could help mend some of the strained social conditions in the US.
4) It has a funnier & more relatable origin story
Racket sports like tennis and badminton have a long, rich and storied history dating back to the middle ages. The roots of the sport started as another game, and developed into a game called lawn tennis that was played on high class estates in England.
So it’s not that tennis’ history sucks, it’s just that its not as funny as Pickleball’s. Let’s face it, Pickleball was invented by a few bored Dads in the most dreary and rainy part of the country.
These Dads also improvised quite well. They dads tried to play badminton and didn’t have any equipment, but had some paddles & noticed the ball they used was bouncy. So they decided to lower that badminton net, and start playing this new fun game.
Then they were like, “What should we name this game?” And they looked over at their dog named Pickles and in unison were all like, “Pickleball!”
Thus Pickleball was invented. That’s a damn better story than Tennis’ old boring history.
5) Pickleball equipment is less expensive
As mentioned earlier, it’s a less expensive sport. You can have a bunch of friends go in on a $100 dollar Pickleball set and you will have a lot of fun playing wherever you want. Every blacktop you’ve ever known are all Pickleball courts. There are outdoor courts in each of your friends neighborhoods, and in yours too. The world is your Pickleball court!
To have your own Tennis court, you’d have to do some demolition to your backyard. Then you’ll have to build the court. This will probably cost $10,000s. Not to mention you’ll probably have to move properties to get enough land to do this!
Compared to Tennis equipment, Tennis is more expensive. At Target, you can get 2 pickleball paddles and 2 pickleballs for ~$18 bucks. The cheapest single tennis racket there is $18, then you have to spend on tennis balls as well.
6) Everyone has a court in their backyard (literally and figuratively)
With a Pickleball equipment set, you can set up a Pickleball court either in your driveway or somewhere nearby where there is asphalt or a blacktop. Tennis courts themselves can be turned into Pickleball courts. This means that there are just way more options for places to play than tennis.
7) It has a cool name
Let’s face it, most people love dogs. Pickleball is named after a dog named Pickles, which right off the bat makes it easier to like.
Also, who doesn’t love a delicious Pickle on a hot summer day? The sport is associated with good feelings by its name.
8) It has a more Playful Culture
When you think of a Tennis Player, what comes to mind? Probably wealthy, pretty well dressed and high class right? But would this guy or gal want to shotgun a beer and play a quick game with a lot of shit talk?
I think not. The fact is that tennis culture is less fun. At pro tennis matches you can’t even say a word while the ball is in play. That’s no fun.
Playing Pickleball is just more fun. It’s easier to set up a Pickleball beer league.
It’s spontaneous. You can set up a Pickleball court on-the-fly, wherever. The possibilities are enless. And it’s the fastest growing sport in America. Everyone is hopping on the Pickleball train to have more fun, so don’t miss out.
9) The ball resembles a whiffle ball
Who doesn’t have great, nostalgic memories of playing with a whiffle ball? Whether it was whiffle ball games at recess in elementary school, or a fun game of whiffle ball at your college tailgate, whiffle balls generally have fun, carefree feelings associated with it.
Tennis balls on the other hand don’t arouse the same positive feelings amongst the public, however. You’re first interaction with a tennis ball might have been at tennis lessons your parents threw you into. And the game just didn’t vibe with you, and you hated the instructor. Or perhaps it was in elementary school when you got pegged with a tennis ball playing suicide at recess.
Whiffle balls are less intimidating, and the fact that a Pickleball looks like a whiffle ball I believe helps in its attractiveness to people of all ages.
10) It’s a Portable Game
Most pickleball players either have a whole Pickleball set that can be taken and set up anywhere, or they have a friend that has one. This being so, you can go anywhere with your friends and so long as there is a blacktop, you can set it up.
This makes it the most portable game in the world. You can take a road trip from San Diego to San Francisco, and on the way stop for a few Pickleball games. It is truly the sport that you can go anywhere with, whoever you are with. Whether you are a high-schooler with your friends, or a high-school kid with your grandparents, the sport is accepting and can be set up anywhere.
Conclusion
Tennis isn’t going anywhere soon, but Pickleball is growing at an exponential rate. It might start stealing away would be tennis players for a few reasons. Pickleball is easier to pick up. It has a less intimidating culture. The sport is welcoming to people of all ages and socioeconomic background. For these reasons, Pickleball just might be killing tennis.