On my recent trip to Florida, I had my first real exposure to pickleball. I had heard a lot about pickleball, but after experiencing it, I now see why it is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

Although the origin of the name is unclear, pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington. Pickleball is sort of a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Commonly played in doubles, players use paddles to hit a hard plastic ball (similar to a whiffle ball, with more holes) across a net. The court has the same dimensions as a badminton court.

It is a fast-paced game requiring agility and quickness but also finesse and strategy. In tournaments, matches are determined by age and skill level. It really is a sport for all ages and abilities.

The rapid growth in popularity of pickleball led to the formation of the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, which have the third annual event April 21–29 in East Naples, Fla. The CBS Sports Network and the Pickleball Channel will cover the championships.

More than 2,000 competitors are expected, up from 800 in 2016 and 1,300 in 2017, to compete on 48 courts. The U.S. Open Pickleball Village should see about 10,000 spectators (including my sister and brother-in-law, who play at the amateur level) during the tournament.

The U.S. Open Pickleball Championships also have a huge economic impact on the area. Estimates state Collier County saw more than $2 million in tourism resulting from the inaugural event in 2016, and more is expected this year.  

Upon returning to my Chicago-area home, I immediately researched local places to play pickleball. Although not as plentiful as in Florida, I found plenty of options near me. I’m looking forward to learning this fun new sport. 

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist