Pickleball is booming in popularity. More and more people are playing this combination of badminton, table tennis, padel and tennis. The sport is also on the rise in the Netherlands.
It sounds like a joke that a few guys have made up, but nothing could be further from the truth. A couple of men from Bainbridhe Island in 1965 invented the game for their children. It is now a hugely growing racket sport worldwide. Volgens de Pickleball Australia Association even the fastest growing sport.
Even more accessible than padel
Pickleball is becoming more and more popular, as is the incredibly entertaining padel. In the case of this tennis sport, the field is a lot smaller and you are therefore on top of each other. That also makes the sport more social, since you are at a considerable distance in tennis and even padel. It also makes pickleball intense. Fast reflexes are a must.
The sport can be compared to badminton in that respect and you can of course play it one against one or two against two. Unlike tennis or badminton, however, you have a sturdy racket without strings. Think of it as beach tennis, but with lines and a net. Unlike padel, you don’t have a fence to use.
Pickleball Origins
As mentioned, the inventor already came up with the idea in 1965. Co-inventor Bill Bell could not find the shuttle for a game of badminton. That’s why they only played a form of table tennis with rackets and balls. Eventually they made a bigger version of table tennis rackets, lowered the badminton net and used a hollow ball. It turned out to be the creation of pickleball.
It is unclear where the name comes from. The game is said to be named after Pickles, the dog of Joel Pritchard, co-inventor of pickleball. Others argue that the dog was actually named after the game. The game became so popular that Pritchard and his friends started the company Pickle Ball Inc brought to life. They also started making their own paddles and complete sets so that everyone could play the sport at home.
Playing pickleball in the Netherlands
Now the sport is finally conquering the world, and the Netherlands is joining in. If you want to try it out, there are a number of fields in it The Netherlands† You will find jobs especially in Amsterdam, but a field can be set up in every sports hall. Of course you can also try padel or even HADO.
If you still need some inspiration, here are some really intense pickleball jars:
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Pickleball is the ‘Fastest Growing Sport’ in the World: Here’s How to Play It