Unexpected Obsession: Why Pickleball is Taking the World by Storm

Decoding its Surging Popularity among Global Masses.

Edy Zoo
3 min readMay 16, 2023
Photo by Joan Azeka on Unsplash

A curious phenomenon has been unfolding in recent years. Amidst a landscape teeming with fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled sports, a seemingly simple game has managed to capture the world’s attention: Pickleball.

For the uninitiated, Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net. It can be played both indoors and outdoors, in singles or doubles format. But why is this relatively young sport, invented in the mid-1960s, enjoying a sudden surge in popularity?

A significant reason lies in Pickleball’s inherent inclusivity. The rules are simple, the required equipment minimal, and the physical demand, while enough to provide a good workout, is not as intense as many other sports. This makes Pickleball an accessible option for a wide demographic, from school children to seniors.

Moreover, Pickleball courts are smaller than those for tennis or badminton, making it less daunting for beginners. The smaller playing area also means that players engage in more rallies, fostering a sense of excitement and camaraderie. It’s a sport that encourages social interaction, often…

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Edy Zoo

Edy Zoo is a social critic, theologian, and philosopher who writes about social subjects.