- It's a global thing know and becoming more popular all the time.
Pickleball is everywhere now and you hear about it all the time. Here are a bunch of fun pickleball facts.
- Pickleball is getting so popular that it’s being taught as a part of gym in schools now. Over 2,000 schools in the United States have implemented the sport in their physical education programs.
- National Pickleball Day is celebrated on August 8th each year.
- This sport is played globally and because of this, other countries have their own governing bodies. What an interesting addition to these pickleball facts.
- A pickleball net is hung 36 inches at the ends and 34 in the middle.
- There is a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net known as the kitchen, to prevent spiking.
- After the serve, each side must make at least one groundstroke prior to volleying the ball. This is the double bounce rule.
- Over 40 countries have their own pickleball associations. Does this surprise you as one of the pickleball facts?
- Sales of pickleball equipment, including paddles, balls, and nets, have skyrocketed, with major sporting goods stores reporting substantial increases year after year.
- Pickleball players come in all ages. About 75% of core players (those who play 8 or more times a year) are under the age of 55. (The sport can be known as a “senior” sport.)
- Major pickleball tournaments are known to have a significant economic impact on host cities, often bringing in millions of dollars through lodging, dining, and other visitor expenses.
- Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. This is one of the coolest things and a great add to the pickleball facts.
- The number of places to play pickleball has more than doubled in the last decade. In 2021, there were over 10,000 places to play in the USA. (There were only 4,300 in 2010.)
- Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United
States. - Pickleball was invented near Seattle Washington in 1965 on Bainbridge Island.
- As of 2023, there were over 4.8 million pickleball players in the United States,. This represents a growth of over 39.3% from 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
- A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court and measures 20×44 feet, which is the same size as a doubles badminton court.
- Unlike tennis or badminton, pickleball uses a solid paddle made of wood, flax fiber pickleball paddle, or toxic oils like carbon fiber.
- Serving Rules: In pickleball, the serve must be made underhand and each point must be started with a serve.
- ames are usually played to 11 points, win by 2. Some tournaments play to 15 or 21. Did you know this as one of the pickleball facts?
- The ball used in pickleball is like a wiffle ball, with holes through it. 40 hole pickleballs for outdoor and 26 holes for indoor.
- There are two theories about how pickleball got its name. One is that it was named after Pickles, the dog of one of the game’s co-founders, who would chase after the ball. The other is that it was named after the term “pickle boat”, referring to the last boat to return with its catch.
- The 2021 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships had over 2,342 participants which was a record number for the tournament.
Did you learn anything new reading these pickleball facts? Tell me about them in the comments!