Pickleball is the biggest sport you’ve never heard of
afr.comSydneysider Rohit Ninan found out about Pickleball through TikTok and now is hooked on what has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
Pickleball, which was first played in 1965 but experienced a boom in popularity during the pandemic, is somewhere between ping pong, tennis and badminton.
Miguel Cardenas, 26, (left) and Rohit Ninan, 27, play pickleball regularly in Sydney after discovering the sport during the pandemic. Peter Rae
Mr Ninan, who is 27 and works for a start-up, is one of about 25,000 Australians to have picked up a paddle, according to Pickleball Australia.
The US, meanwhile, has seen a stratospheric uptake, with 8.9 million players in 2022, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, up from 3.1 million in 2017. NBA star LeBron James has already bought a pro team.
Played on a court that is 6.1 metres x 13.41 metres (the same size as a badminton court), it has a low net, underarm serves, and a non-volley zone known as “the kitchen”.
Given the compact court, pickleball relies more on touch and strategy than pure athleticism, with trick shots including the “nasty Nelson”, a body shot, and the “Erne”, where you hit the ball while jumping into the kitchen. Another key departure from tennis is that doubles, rather than singles, is considered the main game.
“It’s just so accessible,” Mr Ninan, who has published an online directory to help players find courts called Pickle Pals, told AFR Weekend.
“Sometimes playing tennis with my friends can be frustrating if you’re not all on the same level. But pickleball is simple to pick up.
“The different tactics are really innovative and exciting to be part of something that is booming in popularity.”
Naomi Osaka, LeBron James, Nick Kyrgios and
Read more on afr.com
