The pickleball craze is sweeping the nation. This eclectic sport combines elmeents of tennis, ping pong and badminton and has skyrocketed by 159 percent over the past three years, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal.  

It’s estimated by the Association of Pickleball Professionals that over 36 million people at least tried the sport from 2021-2022. This popular sport is transcending age and gender.  

“Pickleball has this mass appeal that you don’t find in any other sport,” said Braden Keith of Malvern’s Bounce Pickleball group. This Chester County club is both co-ed and all ages.  

“Men and women play together and you get people of all ages. I’m 35 years old and I have very, very good friends now who are 55 years old,” he said. “And there’s no good reason for me to have connected with them other than pickleball.” 

Pickleball courts are opening across the region, including at YMCA’s, parks, and other community facilities.  

Read more about the pickleball trend in the Philly region in the Philadelphia Business Journal.  

How to play pickleball.