I am writing this article on August 8th, better known in sporting circles as National Pickleball Day. Given the surging popularity of the sport it seems fitting that pickleball has its own day. American pickleball instructor Deirdre Morris is credited with creating National Pickleball Day in 2021. Apparently, California has their own pickleball day and not wanting to be completely independent, they too chose to make it August 8th. Canadians will note that August 10th is their own designated day to honor the sport.
There are reasons why pickleball deserves a special day. The fastest growing sport in the country, more than 14 million individuals play pickleball in the U.S alone. A recent study by Forbes, credits singles pickleball with more health benefits in terms of calories burned and intensity than any other racket sport. More important perhaps to aging Americans, according to Catherine Nobile, PsyD, “Enjoying a sport you love typically leads to higher intrinsic motivation, making you eagerly anticipate the activity, stay actively involved, and derive satisfaction from participating.” She further explains: Pickleball sharpens cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, recognizing patterns, and making decisions effectively under pressure.” For those at an age where finding the car keys is increasingly challenging, that is good to know.
Naturally naysayers, including my brother who doesn’t play so doesn’t get a vote, think I’m crazy to continue playing, pointing out that many aging picklers end up with problems which require a visit to an orthopedist. In fact, while pickleball might be a contributing factor, many of those issues were probably going to occur sooner or later anyway. Many Landings Club picklers have had orthopedic surgery of one kind or another only to return to the courts as soon as they can. If nothing else, we are a determined group.
Do we really need a new kind of pickleball? The Landings own Rick Cunningham, himself a non-pickler, sent me a CNBC article I’d overlooked. Apparently, the fitness club company, Life Time (LTH), has developed what they call “the ultimate pickleball.” At the direction of founder and CEO of Life Time, Bahram Akradi, himself an avid pickler who was frustrated by the inconsistent bounce of pickleballs, the company created a newly designed pickleball which they hope will become the industry standard. One can assume the new ball will be given serious consideration. Life Time, whose stock has risen 57% year-to-date, has gone all in with pickleball. With 700 permanent courts and a goal of reaching 1000 by the end of 2025, they bill themselves as a chain of “athletic country clubs.” Currently accounting for 7% of Life Time’s membership dues, Akradi is betting big on pickleball, investing between $50 million and $100 million in the sport.
Finally, Labor Day and the end of summer are rapidly approaching. Don’t forget to sign up for the always popular Labor Day Pickleball Round Robin which will be played on Monday, September 2. Contact the Franklin Creek Pro Shop for details and to sign up.