Pickleball grows in popularity as fun sport in Madison

Madison Parks and Recreation program assistant Dylan Reutter stands in front of two newly-completed outdoor pickleball courts at Dublin Park. Four more outdoor courts are in the process of being finished, which will bring the number of courts to 11.

MADISON – It has an odd name, but it’s one of the fastest-growing recreation sports in the country – and in Madison – right now. Pickleball’s popularity is increasing by leaps and bounds.

It has been one year since the sport was introduced at Dublin Park through the Madison Parks and Recreation Department, and already it has grown to the point where the park will soon include 11 pickleball courts – eight of which have already been constructed.

Pickleball is an offshoot of tennis, played on a badminton-sized court with paddles and a firmer version of a wiffle ball. It dates back to 1965, when some teenagers improvised a game on a badminton court using paddles and a perforated ball.

Dylan Reutter, program assistant for the Madison Parks and Recreation Department, said a big part of what has made the sport uniquely popular is its ability to include people at varying stages of life and abilities. “It’s fun, and there’s just something about it that just grabs you,” he said. “It’s just one of those games that lends itself to mixing genders, ages and abilities.

“Mayor Finley came to us last year and said he wanted the city to offer more adult recreation activities. The main objective was to bring some kind of activity for adults to Madison so they don’t have to drive all across north Alabama just to have some kind of sport to play,” added Reutter, the person tasked with finding a way to meet that objective. “One of the adult programs that popped up was pickleball.

“It had become huge along the West Coast and in Florida and was starting to expand everywhere. We had heard about it but had no idea what it was. We looked it up and found out it was something great for all age groups and was especially beneficial to older adults – plus just a lot of fun.”

Reutter said when Dublin Park first offered pickleball last March, about 20 members started playing the sport on a regular basis.

“We started holding clinics, and it exploded,” Reutter said. “We now have around 95 members playing the sport. Every week we get about five new members playing pickleball. I would say this is our fastest growing program right now.”

Dublin Park has three indoor pickleball courts in the gym and has just converted some of the outdoor tennis courts into four more pickleball courts. “I am also in the process of creating four more outdoor courts, which will be available soon,” Reutter said.

One attraction for many seniors is the size of pickleball courts, which are smaller than tennis courts. Pickleball is more of a strategy game, and that also makes it attractive. The speed in pickleball is more controllable, with a paddle and perforated ball, than in tennis.

“I believe the reason why it is growing in popularity so fast is because you can literally come in, have some fun with the family and get a workout without really feeling like it,” Reutter said.

Pickleball requires plenty of bending, kneeling, stretching and bursting forward, backward or side to side. It is also easy to learn, Reutter added, and it’s more of a social game, which makes getting that workout more fun.

“It’s a sport anyone at practically any level can play,” said Reutter. “I have some people in their 70s who can’t move around as much, but they stay within their square and are able to play. The greatest thing is they are having fun.”

Dublin Park provides all the balls and wooden paddles, which are for recreational use and good for learning how to play the sport. “If someone wants to try it for the first time, we have everything they need to get started,” Reutter said. “As they play more and become more advanced, they might want to move up to the advanced paddles, which are similar to racquetball ball paddles and can be bought at any sporting goods store.”

The sport has grown at Dublin Park to the point where there is local a club, called Madison Pickleball Club. To join the club, there is a $20 annual fee, and that covers all playing time for one year.

“We are also in the process of creating some future tournaments,” Reutter added. “We plan to have an opening ceremony for the outdoor courts soon with a tournament. We are just waiting for the last four courts to get finished.”

Dublin Park hosts at least one pickleball clinic a month, sometimes two if there is significant demand, to help new players get started. The next clinic is set for April 7 from 1-4 p.m. at Dublin Park. To sign up, go to the city’s website at www.madisonal.gov. Click the Parks and Recreation tab, then click on Adult Programs.

Clinics are free to attend, and each clinic will accept about 12 people.

There is one aspect of the sport Reutter does warn people about – it’s addictive. “I love playing it,” he said. “You will too.”

Eric Barofsky, Terrell Swindall, Gilbert Cooper and Lee Sangman have fun during a game of pickleball inside Dublin Park’s gym.