A few months ago, news broke about Jamie Foxx suffering from some type of medical condition. After trending for a few days one of his daughters let the world know that her dad was fine, recovering, and was just playing pickleball the other day. Now, I am not one to get into the personal lives of celebrities. I like a little gossip but for the most part its none of my business, especially when you are talking about the health of another person, but the news left me with a burning question. A question that I felt like a lot of news sites and bloqs just weren’t asking.
What the hell is Pickleball?
Look, Jaime Foxx just got spotted by TMZ on a boat so he’s doing much better. That is wonderful and I wish the brother all the good health in the world (plus I really want to see his portrayal of Mike Tyson in his upcoming biopic).
But again, what is pickleball?
The response by the general public to the news Foxx might be fully recovered and playing pickleball made me feel like I was out the loop. If a news bulletin went out saying Ray J sprained his ankle playing Bologna Puck, I feel like the world would have questions about his well-being and…what the f&$^ is Bologna Puck? I shouldn’t be left out of the discourse for new sports.
Only, Pickle Ball is not new.
Pickleball traces its origins back to the mid-1960s. A trio of friends created the game: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. The story goes that during a summer afternoon on Bainbridge Island, Washington, these friends were searching for a way to entertain their families. Utilizing an old badminton court, they improvised a game using ping pong paddles, a perforated plastic ball, and a lowered net. As their families played, they realized the game was both fun and accessible for all ages. It was originally named “Pickle Ball” after the Pritchard family’s dog, Pickles, who would often chase after the errant balls. The game quickly gained popularity within the local community, spreading across the United States and eventually internationally. Over the years, pickleball has undergone modifications in equipment and rules, evolving into a competitive sport enjoyed by millions worldwide. The balls are softer with large holes making volleying back and forth easier to control. The equipment is lighter than tennis. The rules are simple to learn like ping pong. Plus, there’s less ground to cover than a tennis court. That doesn’t mean the sport is easy. Like Tetris, the game is simple to pick up, but the game can become complicated, especially as you play in more competitive groups.
Alright, so Pickle Ball is not new and apparently, I’m just not in the loop. However, even though the sport was created in the 60’s there has been a huge resurgence. According to Jennifer Penchas, the Director of Sponsorships and Fund-Raising for Greater Houston Pickleball, the recent events of 2020 helped to get more people into the sport.
“The sport rally took off during Covid when everything was shut down,” she says of Pickle ball’s rise in popularity. “You can play it almost anywhere and people started getting creative with chalk and tape to make courts. It’s just a very welcoming sport.”
It’s ease of play along with its attraction to a wide range of players in age and skill is also one of the reasons for the sports rapid rise in popularity. Private gyms like Lifetime Fitness have been converting parts of their gym for pickleball courts. ESPN has been broadcasting pickleball tournaments. Entertainment complexes like Pickle Haus have been scheduled to open in areas like Chicago giving a Top Golf experience to those interested in the sport. PKL Social, set to open in Houston this fall, boasts courts, a covered deck, a 10,000 square foot patio, TV’s, cabanas, and more. In other words, the sport is on the rise and there are plenty of companies that see monetary success by investing in the movement. But don’t let the money dissuade you from trying out your turn with the sport sweeping the nation.
“Our group, Greater Houston Pickleball, got together to be the collective voice that advocates for more public courts,” says Penchas. “Private courts are great, but we want to make sure we’re helping the sport is reach people that don’t have private memberships to these organizations. I’m a tennis player and I love both, but I’ve found that it’s easier to get people into pickleball. I’ve played with young, old, experienced, and inexperienced and it’s just a fun game.”
With gyms converting spaces to pickleball courts, organizations like Greater Houston Pickleball giving players locations to play, companies creating bars and complexes around the sport, and major networks broadcasting matches the rising popularity of the 1960’s game is a no brainer.
