Welcome to the fastest growing sport in America

Pickleball is widely popular. And for good reason. Millions of people are playing this low-impact sport for its many physical and mental benefits. In fact it has become the fastest growing sport in the country.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a fun, healthy sport for people of all ages but it’s especially popular with Modern Midlifers™. Pickleball is a sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It involves hitting a lightweight plastic ball over a low net using a short paddle. It can be played both outdoors or indoors on a badminton size court and can be played singles or doubles.

Pickleball is easy to learn, can be enjoyed by all ages and all skill levels and is a great way to exercise your body and mind.

Pickleball Helps Us Stay Healthy, Active and Social.

Here’s our list of top 8 health benefits to playing pickleball.

1. Pickleball improves balance and coordination

In order to receive and hit the ball, you need to have a level of hand-eye coordination. Hand-eye coordination is essential for the completion of daily tasks and reaction times especially for things like driving. Developing your coordination helps with response times, improves your balance and physical agility.

2. Pickleball helps with Weight Management

Pickleball can positively contribute to weight loss given that it keeps your body active and moving which is great for weight reduction. This game will help your body burn calories and fat. A 10-minute Pickleball match provides the same benefits as a 75 minute long walk. In fact, you can burn 8 to 12 calories per minute of playing!

3. Pickleball Improves Mood and Mental Health

Maintaining mental health is essential for people of all ages. Without mental challenges we are prone to getting anxiety and depression. Regular exercise has been proven to improve our mood and keep anxiety and depression away. Physical activity releases endorphins, which makes us happy and reduces the negative effects of stress.  Pickleball is also a very social sport that can be played one-on-one or two-on-two. Since the court is not that large, it provides lots of opportunity to communicate with other players. Also, like ping-pong or tennis, playing Pickleball engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously which helps you maintain excellent mental acuity.

4. Playing Pickleball has Cardiovascular Benefits

Pickleball can significantly improve your cardiovascular health as a result of the physical activity involved which helps to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Your heart will become healthier and stronger the more you play. Even an easy-going, friendly game is enough to get your heart pumping.  Aside from staying away from or reducing sodium, alcohol and caffeine, adults will find that playing Pickleball will work wonders for their blood pressure.

5. Playing Can Help Prevent Osteoporosis

Not only is pickleball easier on the body than sports such as tennis, it can help maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. Exercising by playing pickleball reduces the rate of bone loss and helps conserve bone tissue lowering the risk of getting fractures caused by falls.

6. Exercise Can Help People with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

People with these conditions can really benefit from playing pickleball. Regular exercise stimulates the mind which helps these conditions and is one of the best things a person can do to help prevent these afflictions.

7. Pickleball Improves Flexibility and Balance

Pickleball helps improve flexibility and balance because it involves moving your whole body during the match. This helps prevent joint problems which can lead to conditions like arthritis. Your joints need regular exercise to remain flexible

8. It’s Social and Fun!

Pickleball is very social, played on a smaller field compared to some other sports allowing you to engage in laughter and conversations with your opponents and playing partners. Laughing and talking to your playmates helps your wellbeing and reduces the stress that can be caused by isolation. Regular participation will help you maintain close friendships and gain new ones.  There is also a large, enthusiastic pickleball community and many groups you can join to learn about the sport, talk to like-minded people, learn about tournaments and social events, all of which is great for your emotional health. Our favorite online community is The Kitchen

The Bottom Line

There you have it: our list of top 8 health benefits to playing pickleball.

Regardless of your age, pickleball is a fantastic game that can help improve your overall health. Playing it on a regular basis keeps your mind and body fit which helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you are new to pickleball, as with any new exercise routine, start slowly and gradually increase your efforts as your body feels ready. If you do get sore, don’t worry, we have you covered.

Ultimately, it’s not about winning. It’s about having fun with others, staying healthy and moving your body. Pickleball is a social sport and you will make friends anywhere you play. Now get out there and have some fun!