When did Pickleball Become Popular? An Insight into The US’ Trendiest Sport 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pickleball became tremendously popular worldwide, especially in the US. According to a report from the Association of Pickleball Professionals, around 36.5 million played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022. 

Though pickleball has been around for many years, it was never as famous as it is now. If you have has just discovered pickleball, then you must be wondering why did pickleball become popular?

Pickleball was invented by three friends, Joel, Barney, and Bill, during the summers of 1965. They created the sport for their bored kids by combining tennis, badminton, and ping pong. This sport has been around for years but was played on a smaller scale until 2020. 

If you want to know more about pickleball, its history, and gameplay, continue with the following context. This article highlights all the crucial information you may need to learn about pickleball as a beginner. 

Why did Pickleball Become Popular? 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were prohibited from participating in group activities, including sports. As a resort, athletes and fitness-oriented people started seeking alternatives. These included low-maintenance sports that required fewer participants and lesser space. It was then that pickleball gained major recognition. 

Pickleball courts are much smaller than tennis and badminton courts. They don’t occupy much area and can be constructed in compact spaces like backyards. Many people started playing this sport during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its space-friendly attributes. As more people started playing pickleball, they realized how exciting and fun this sport could be. 

Moreover, pickleball is a much less strenuous sport, implying that anyone can play it. No matter what is your age or skill level, you can easily play pickleball without any complications. That is why this sport is massively popular among old age people. According to “USA Pickleball Association (USAPA),” about half of the professional pickleball players (who participate in up to eight pickleball leagues per year) are 55 and older. 

Besides having soaring popularity among aged candidates, pickleball has an equal number of young devotees. Many people also enjoy it as a form of exercise as it is light on the heart and burns way more calories than simple exercises. Research reveals that people playing pickleball doubles for half an hour burned 36% more calories than those walking for thirty minutes at a self-selected pace. 

What is a Pickleball Court Made Of? 

Now that you know why pickleball is famous, let’s discuss its related terminologies so beginners can understand this sport effectively. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “What material is a pickleball court made of?”.

A pickleball court is usually made with concrete or asphalt. Asphalt is cheaper than concrete, but the latter is quality-wise more sustainable. Concrete proffers long-term durability and requires less maintenance. Courts made with concrete are ideal for professional tournaments. 

Then there are asphalt courts, which are inexpensive but not too sustainable. Such courts are not only quality-wise average but also difficult to maintain. Asphalt courts may require several maintenance sessions yearly. For these reasons, you will hardly find a court made with asphalt in a sanctioned pickleball tournament. 

What is a Pickleball Paddle Made Of?

As the readers are now familiar with “What is a pickleball court surface made of?” let’s discuss “What is a pickleball paddle made out of?.” 

Pickleball paddles resemble pop tennis and ping pong paddles. These paddles are mostly made from graphite, fiberglass, wood, or carbon fiber. Some paddles are even a hybrid of priorly described materials. Each material proffers distinct qualities to the paddle, making them unique and important. 

Graphite Paddles 

Graphite paddles are constructed with tightly packed layers of carbon. They provide moderate grip power and are excellent for players who rely on techniques for volleying shots instead of intensity. 

Carbon Fiber Paddle 

On the other hand, carbon fibers contain interlinked ribbons of fibers, just like a sown piece of clothing. Such puddles provide a stronger grip and are suitable for executing powerful serves. Therefore, if playing volley shots is your strongest aspect, carbon fiber paddles are an ideal choice. 

Fiberglass Paddles 

Fiberglass paddles are made with highly pressurized and strongly heated fibers, which create a glass-like texture. These are also called “power-driven” paddles, owing to their firm and weightless stature. Since fiberglass paddles are lightweight, they are excellent for preteens and aged people, who often complain about paddles being too heavy in their hands. 

Wooden Paddles 

Originally the pickleball paddles were made from wood. If you want to learn comprehensively about pickleball history, then wooden paddles are great for exploration. But those wanting to play high-caliber pickleball should avoid these paddles because they do not proffer a strong grip and, at times, can be difficult to handle. 

Hybrid Paddles

As stated earlier, the hybrid paddles are a combination of different materials. A hybrid mixture reinforces the paddle’s efficiency and emphasizes the material’s specific attributes in the paddles. For instance, carbon fiber and graphite hybrid provide a solid combination of power and technique intensity in the paddle. 

What Material Is a Pickleball Made Of?

After discussing “What is a pickleball racket made of?” let’s scrutinize “A pickleball is made of what material?” and “What is the difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball balls?” 

A pickleball resembles a wiffleball in construction but is made of lighter plastic with varying levels of durability. The material and construction of paddles remain the same in outdoor and indoor pickleball. But the same is invalid for pickleball balls, which are differently made for indoor and outdoor formats. 

Indoor Pickleball Balls  

As predicted by their name, the indoor balls are made for indoor pickleball courts. The indoor pickleball courts have a softer surface, resembling gym floors. Therefore, the balls used in indoor pickleball courts are also constructed differently than outdoor ones. 

The indoor balls are perforated with about 26 holes and are a little bigger than balls used in outdoor pickleball. However, their bouncing capacity is lesser, ultimately giving the player better control while making a serve. Also, check the How to Play Pickleball. 

The plastic used for indoor ball construction is softer, complementing the smoother surface of an indoor pickleball court. Due to their squishy composition, they weigh less than an outdoor pickleball ball (about 0.8 ounces). 

But one of the significant cons of these balls is that they lack power and intensity. Professional pickleball players who love hard-hitting despise the weightlessness of these balls. The lifetime of indoor balls varies. With time, they may develop cracks because they cannot withstand harsh bounces on asphalt and concrete surfaces. 

Outdoor Pickleball Balls 

Outdoor pickleball balls are sturdier because they are made to withstand wear and tear on a routine basis. These balls weigh about 0.9 ounces, implying minimal weight difference from indoor balls. They have more weight because they are constructed with durable plastic, ensuring they perform efficiently on hard surfaces and last longer. 

Though outdoor balls are heavier, they are smaller than indoor ones. Moreover, they are heavily perforated, with about 40 holes each. However, the size of these holes is much smaller than the holes on an indoor pickleball ball. Also, check the History of Pickleball.

Outdoor balls are strictly meant for outdoor courts because they perform well on smooth surfaces, which is quite common in indoor courts. They are excellent for hard-hitting and have a higher pace, which helps them to work against the wind on an outdoor court. 

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