Sports

Pickleball: A simple yet exciting new game

Ike Swanson, Business Manager • April 18, 2023

A group of pickleball courts at Paul Norton Elementary School in Bettendorf.

There is a new outdoor game rapidly growing in popularity that everyone should learn about before they are left out: pickleball.

Pickleball is a racket game that is very similar to tennis. Because of its variations from tennis and other racket sports, it quickly gained popularity in America.

Pickleball uses a court similar to tennis but on a smaller scale. A solid paddle is used by the players and the ball is neon green or yellow plastic with holes in it. The ball is very similar to an ordinary outdoor wiffle ball.

For many people, its rise to popularity was a little bit of a mystery. But now it is hard to escape it. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America with participation from all age groups. Junior Cassi Paustian plays pickleball regularly, even bringing her paddle on her spring break trip to Florida. “Over spring break I played pickleball with people from 20 to 80 years olds,” Paustian said. “It is amazing how everyone gets along on the court and how interested all of the older people are in you!”

It started out with just a net and a gym floor. Soon, pickleball specific courts began to show up in parks and schools. With the limited amount of space it occupies, pickleball courts have become a hot commodity. Many pickleball courts can be made using the same space as a couple of tennis courts.

Senior Matt Douglas has seen the popularity of pickleball grow first hand with his family’s business. “Pickleball has recently flourished in recent years, becoming widely popular amongst our society,” Douglas said. “At Douglas we are selling over hundreds of pickleball systems monthly!”

It is no surprise why the game is so popular— the size and speed of the game allows for fun for all people. “I think it’s really cool how everyone can be included even though skill levels are different,” Paustian continued. A sport that is accessible for all different skill levels, pickleball is an easy game to pick up and start playing.

So grab some friends and your pickleball gear and head to the local pickleball courts to enjoy a simple yet exciting new game.

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About the Contributor

Ike Swanson, Businees Manager

Ike Swanson is currently a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and serves as the Business Manager for the Spartan Shield. At PVHS, his favorite classes are his AP Physics classes and the Business classes. He is also very involved outside of school with his two sports, baseball and wrestling. He has played both sports for all 4 years at Pleasant Valley. After high school, Ike plans to attend Luther College to study Physics and continue to play baseball. Outside of school and his sports, Ike enjoys hanging out with his friends and family. Some of his favorite things to do with his family are to go on long road trips across the country and have movie nights. Ike is excited to take on his role as Business Manager of the Spartan Shield and finish out his senior year at Pleasant Valley High School.