Pickle! The Ins and Outs of the Latest Popular Social Sport

Why? Because it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world with over 13.6 million enthusiasts and counting. Curious about the hype? Here’s what you need to know about Pickleball.

What Is Pickleball

Pickleball combines the elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong all into one. It is also played on a court about the size of a double’s badminton court. Like badminton and tennis sports, pickleball can be played in singles or doubles, which makes it versatile for players of all levels.

The Gist

1. Players start the game by serving the ball diagonally across the court.The ball must clear the non-volley zone (also known as the "kitchen").
2. Once served and the ball is returned, the game is officially in play. Each side has to let the ball bounce once before it's returned again. Sounds a lot like tennis right?
3. Games are typically played to 11, 15, or 21 points, with the requirement that a player or team must win by at least 2 points. Points are only scored by the serving side.

Enthusiasts and picklers love the sport due to it’s social nature, how it keeps people moving, and the overall fun. To learn more about the rules of pickleball, click here

For the Fact Geeks:

Pickleball was invented impulsively on a Saturday during the summer of 1965 by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell. They wanted to make a game that was new but used the same gear they already had and was easy to teach and learn. After a series of testing and troubleshooting, the men created and finalized the game we know and love that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Now the origin of the name has a few theories. The pickle boat theory is that Joan, Joel's wife, named the game after the term "pickle boat" in crew racing. The family dog theory comes from Barney McCallum, claiming the game was named after the family dog, Pickles.

Wanna learn about Pickleball lingo and more? Check out this fun glossary of pickleball game terms, moves, and slang here.

The Health Benefits of Pickleball

As a low-impact, but highly fun game, pickleball has many health benefits that are great reasons to get into the sport. Including but limited to:

• Improves your balance, hand-eye coordination, and flexibility by keeping your mind sharp and boosting your cognitive function.
• Improves heart health as a cardiovascular exercise, getting and keeping your heart rate up while lowering your risk of heart disease.
• Prevents osteoporosis by supporting joint, bone and muscle health with activity that isn’t overly intense.
• Boosts mood and mental health have you ever seen an angry pickler? No, and here’s why: playing the sport helps release endorphins which elevate your mental health.
• Social bonding is one of the biggest benefits: not only is it fun to play as a group, but you can always find more picklers or curious newcomers to play.

If you’re convinced, we have the perfect Pickleball set for you to get started.

How FitRx Fits Into Your Pickler Journey

If you’re new to pickleball and want to get started, the FitRx Pickleball and Paddle Set is one of the best choices for beginners and picklers.

This set includes everything you need to hit the court: high-quality paddles, pickleballs, and a sleek carrying bag for easy portability. The paddles are durable and lightweight, offering great control and power with sweat-wicking technology, while the pickleballs are engineered for an even bounce and long-lasting play indoors or outdoors.

Let’s get to pickling!