April is almost here y’all! That month is National Pickleball Month, a month that celebrates a sport for physically declining middle-aged people who cannot keep up in tennis. Pickleball is a fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It is played with a paddle and perforated plastic ball. The game is played on a badminton-size court (¼ of a tennis court) with a net that is slightly lower than a tennis net. Pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles game, with the objective being to score points by hitting the ball over the net without the opponent being able to return it. Points are scored only by the serving team, and the game is usually played to 11 points.

Pickleball quickly rose to popularity because it is easier on the joints compared to high-impact sports like tennis, and it is a social sport that promotes interaction and community building. Pickleball is commonly played on the tennis courts at Dublin, Spragins Hall, and the Hexagon Fitness Center. If your local tennis court does not have a pickleball court’s markings or boundaries, you could use a non-permanent marker to adjust the court lines. A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. Pickleball equipment is ridiculously expensive so just ask your homie for a paddle or make that your Christmas wish. Alright, let’s get to the origins of the sport.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, some boomer from Washington, and his friends. They created the game as a way to entertain their families during a summer vacation. Bored from playing badminton, they improvised with ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball. The sport is called “pickleball” because Joel’s wife drew inspiration from the term “pickle boat,” meaning a crew made up of leftover rowers, which is a fitting name for the sport due to the improvisation of equipment. It is a very fun and engaging game so I highly recommend it to anyone who is bored playing Elden Ring and wants to hang out with their friends.