Blog

Pickleball culture, history, and play.

Stories on why the sport grew so fast, where it came from, and how it stacks up against tennis and padel. Plus reporting on the courts and communities behind the numbers.

Indoor padel court with players
Blog

Pickleball vs padel

Both use a paddle. Both started as backyard games. They've gone in opposite directions on equipment, court design, and culture.

Aerial view of multiple outdoor tennis courts
Blog

Pickleball vs tennis

Both sports use a paddle and a net. Almost everything else is different. Here's the honest comparison.

Pickleball game in progress with paddles and balls
Blog

Pickleball for seniors

The first major pickleball boom happened in retirement communities, not on college campuses. Here's why the 60-plus crowd embraced the sport before everyone else.

A woman hitting a ball with a paddle racquet
Blog

Why pickleball is popular

Easy to learn, kind to the body, cheap to start, social by default, and built around a small court. Five reasons pickleball exploded.

Vintage wooden paddle on a wooden surface
Blog

Pickleball history

The sport was invented on a summer afternoon in 1965. The name has nothing to do with pickles.