NEVERSINK- Jack Harb stumbled upon a pickleball game at a park in the Town of Neversink three years ago.
Harb, 46, had never played pickleball before but was invited back by the players to give the sport a try. He returned to the park for a tutorial and is now a fixture at pickleball courts throughout Orange and Sullivan counties, playing pickup matches and in leagues.
“I played once, and I was hooked. I was basically addicted,” Harb said. “I fell in love with the game and I’m not alone. I have played every sport and pickleball is a combination of all sports, which makes it amazing. We have thousands of people playing pickleball around here.”
Pickleball has become wildly popular in the Hudson Valley with public and private courts popping up all over, attracting players of all ages and skill levels. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in America for the third consecutive year in 2023 with 8.9 million players playing in the U.S., up from 4.8 million in 2022.
That number is expected to surge to over 20 million this year. Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Participants hit a perforated hollow plastic ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles.
“Pickleball is great because you get a good work out, it is fun and anyone can play,” said Middletown’s Michelle Hostutler-O’Keefe, who is an ambassador for U.S.A. Pickleball (USAP) and helps run the OCNY Pickleball Facebook page. “When I started playing eight years ago, I knew maybe 20 people that played and there was only one place to play, Orange Hollow Racquet Club. It has grown so much that I can’t keep up, but I think it is wonderful and want it to grow even more.”
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three friends. The first game was played on a badminton court with a pair of ping-pong paddles, following the same rules as tennis. Pickleball remained almost a secret for several years but gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Pickleball is attractive to players of all ages for several reasons. It is easier to learn and much slower paced than tennis, but still an effective way to exercise. A study by the University of Colorado found that players can burn up to 354 calories during a half-hour doubles pickleball game. It also is a great way to socialize, especially for seniors.
“I think it is popular because the ease of competing is similar to ping pong,” said Laura Gabella the pickleball director and a tennis pro at Match Point Tennis in Goshen. “You don’t need any racquet experience and you can pick up a paddle and have fun with friends. It takes years to be able to do that on a tennis court. I am not surprised by pickleball’s popularity. It’s like chess out there with all the angles, which makes it more fun and exciting.”
