According to the Sport and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball participation grew by an incredible 21.3% in 2020 as Americans looked for new ways to stay active during the pandemic.
That figure is part of a five-year trend that has seen pickleball evolve from its origins as a backyard knockabout game to a sport with Olympic aspirations. There are 37 countries that are part of the International Pickleball Federation. That's more than double where it was 18 months ago.
If you've ever dinked in the kitchen, you probably already understand the allure of one of America's fastest growing sports. And if you haven't, you'd better paddle-up because sooner or later somebody is going to invite you to join a game of pickleball.
Tennis and Pickleball don’t need to compete with one another. I have been seeing the past few months how both sports are coming together and creating a “family” atmosphere. We all know how important family is and at Paseo we have always embraced the family dynamic. Old and young, mom and dad, kids and grandparents - it all happens here. You can play pickle and tennis without competing with one another.
Many of us started playing tennis before playing pickleball. I had started learning the game of tennis 39 years ago with it being a family sport and now I see a similar trend with pickleball. The transition isn’t as difficult as some may say. You can play tennis and pickleball together at all different levels.
Pickleball is a mash-up of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It can be played by singles or in pairs, either indoors or outside. The aim, like many racquet sports, is to get the ball over the net and prevent your opponent from hitting it back. The kitchen refers to the no-volley zone and dinking is a soft shot that sends the other player scrambling towards the net to reach the ball in time. For those who play tennis this is exactly what a drop shot would be.
The Paseo Club is emerging as one of the hottest places to bring family and friends. We offer all a family could want with our offerings of tennis, pickleball, kids corner and a friendly loving atmosphere.
If you have tried tennis and are ready to take a chance on the dark side, or if you’ve never held a racket OR a paddle, now is the time. Join the masses and see what these two sports are all about. We have beginner classes available on both courts every week. Make this the summer you hop on the courts!
Jen Azevedo is a tennis professional, pickleball professional, personal trainer, group exercise instructor, and the general manager of the Paseo Club. She loves the community at the Paseo Club and that it is also a safe and fun place for her daughter. Jen’s favorite activities are joining her tribe for trail races or her partners for tennis matches. Occasionally Jen slows down to relax with a book — she reads over 100 a year!
Topics:
