On a sunny Tuesday at Deacons Walk Park in Pike Creek, a constant popping sound like popcorn kernels exploding carries through the otherwise peaceful setting.
Inside a small fenced-in court, neon yellow whiffle balls fly back and forth as about two dozen people play the popular racket sport pickleball.
Pickleball is becoming so popular in Delaware, that the addition of new courts was one of the highlights in New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer’s budget address in March.
The county’s latest courts are opening this summer in Glasgow Park.
While pickleball used to be seen as a sport for seniors, statistics show that more and more youth are getting involved in the sport and the average age of players dropped to 38.1 years old in 2021.
Last year, pickleball grew to 4.8 million players in the United States, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Single Sport Report on pickleball.
This is a 14.8% growth rate from 2020 to 2021 and contributes to an 11.5% annual growth rate over the past five years.
What is pickleball
While the name sounds a bit whimsical, pickleball is similar to tennis and requires little equipment or prior experience to begin.
The game was created in1965 after Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell were at Pritchard’s home in Bainbridge Island with nothing to do. The property included an old badminton court but when the men could not find badminton equipment, they improvised and used ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball instead
The rules were similar to badminton but altered to create a game that families could play together, regardless of age or fitness level.
As for the name, there are two theories floating around, according to USA Pickleball.
One is that it was named by Pritchard’s wife, Joan, in honor of their dog, Pickle. The second theory is that Joan decided on the name “pickle ball” as a reference to the leftover non-starters who were thrown together in the “pickle boat” of crew races.
Passion for pickleball in Delaware
“What we like to say is ‘silly name, serious game,’” said Harold Holeman, 79, with the Diamond State Pickleball Club. ”It’s one of those games you can get three generations on the court.”
Holeman picked up pickleball in 2017 as something to do around golf season.
.
While the Diamond State Pickleball Club members often play together, nonmembers can come out and enjoy the fun, too. As long as you have a good pair of tennis shoes, most clubs will loan players all the equipment they need.
Holeman said one of the great things about the sport is the added fitness component. Several Diamond State Pickleball Club members have disabilities or diseases such as Parkinson’s and find the sport easy to manage and beneficial to their health.
John K. Lee, a member of Diamond State Pickleball Club, has been playing since 2016.
Having suffered a traumatic brain injury, he says the game is a great way to work on hand-eye coordination, something he has had difficulty with since his injury.
“We accommodate any level,” he said. “Even with my disability, I surprise them.”
How to play
Pickleball is usually played on a badminton-sized court with a net in the middle. The equipment needed is simple: a paddle, usually made out of wood or more hi-tech materials, and a plastic ball that is similar to a wiffleball.
The game can be played in singles or doubles and the objective is to be the first team to score 11 points with a 2-point lead.
Points are scored if an opponent fails to return the ball, if an opponent volleys in the non-volley zone or if the opponent hits the ball out of bounds.
If a side reaches 11 points but does not have a two-point lead, the game continues until one team is two points ahead, usually with a points score of 15 or 21.
When a team wins, it is known as “pickling” their opponent.
Pickleball matches take about 10-12 minutes.
How to get started
If you aren’t a member of a pickleball club, you can stop by any open play times offered by groups or sign-up for pickleball training or matches at community centers.
Holeman has been teaching the game for the past 3 years, and the courts they use at Deacons Walk Park even have a smaller separate court where individuals can come out and get lessons or brush up on their pickleball skills.
Joel Mirmelstein is known as the “pickleball pro” at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville.
The center started offering pickleball in May of 2021 and now has about 200 people involved in the sport.
As the resident pickleball pro, Mirmelstein hosts clinics and gives private lessons to anyone wanting to give the sport a try. He has instructed people of all ages, including a 95-year-old woman at the JCC and his own nine-year-old grandson.
“I love the game. It’s great,” he said. “The good thing about pickleball is you meet a lot of nice people. They welcome you in. It’s a very addictive sport.”
He plays seven days a week and routinely goes to club practices and matches.
He first learned about the game at a YMCA in Florida in 2016 and describes it as fun and easy to learn, especially for those who may find tennis difficult.
Most pickleball clubs bring their own nets when they use tennis courts to play, said Holeman. Creating more designated pickleball courts around the state would eliminate this hassle and let pickleball players have their own space instead of sharing with other sporting groups at various locations.
Where to play pickleball
Pickleball players and clubs often use online sign-ups to reserve playing time or coordinate schedules with other groups to hold matches and tournaments.
Be sure to give any of these places a call before going out to learn about their availability, play times and fees.
New Castle County
- D-Fit, 4905 Mermaid Boulevard, Wilmington
- Hockessin Community Recreation Center, 7259 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin
- Mid-County Senior Center,1st Regiment Road, Wilmington
- Delcastle Tennis Center, 710 McKennans Church Road, Wilmington
- Local YMCA locations including the Western Family YMCA; 2600 Kirkwood Highway, Ogletown and the Bear-Glasgow YMCA; 351 George Williams Way, Glasgow
- Bechtel Park, 1031 Naamans Road, Brandywine Hundred
- Deacons Walk Park, 45 Ware Road, Pike Creek
- Glasgow Park, 2275 Pulaski Highway, Glasgow
- Greenbank Park, 250 Greenbank Road, Prices Corner
Southern Delaware
- Rehoboth Elementary School, 500 Stockley Street, Rehoboth Beach
- Courtside Pickleball & Tennis Club, 2117 Kenton Road, Dover
- Sports at the Beach, 22518 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Georgetown
- Plantations Dave Marshall Tennis and Fitness, 18464 Plantations Boulevard, Lewes
- The Factory Sports Company, 17543 Nassau Commons Boulevard, Lewes
- John M. Clayton Elementary School, 252 Clayton Avenue, Frankford
- Kent County Recreation Center, 1683 New Burton Road, Dover
- Evans Park, 32517 Dukes Drive, Millville
