According to www.usapa.org, the official website of the USA Pickleball Association, Pickleball is named after Pickles, the family Cocker Spaniel of one of the co-inventors of the sport. Pickles would chase stray balls and then hide in the bushes while they were playing. So the game was officially invented in 1965 by two friends living near Seattle, Washington – Bill Bell and Joel Pritchard.
Pickleball is a game played on a badminton-sized court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. The court is about 1/3rd the size of a standard tennis court. The equipment used to play includes a perforated plastic ball (similar to a whiffle ball) and wood or composite paddles. People play on courts all over the USA, both indoors and outdoors.
It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. It can oftentimes replace tennis for older players, because the sport requires less running, allowing for less impact on joints.
Many athletic clubs and facilities are joining the waves of existing Pickleball fans and installing or upgrading existing courts to host the sport. Oftentimes, it’s as easy has having a professional company, such as Fast-Dry Courts, visit your site to help you determine the best location. You can use an existing tennis court and paint the new Pickleball lines, or build Pickleball courts that are used for that sport alone. If the game catches on at your facility, stand-alone courts may be your best investment to ensure players have enough courts to fulfill their playing schedules.
To learn more about the sport, visit the USA Pickleball Association’s website at www.usapa.org.
To learn more about adding or refurbishing a Pickleball court at your facility, contact Fast-Dry Courts at www.fast-dry.com or 800-432-2994.
