Get Social – and Play Pickleball

April is National Pickleball Month—a perfect time to grab a paddle and give this fast-growing sport a try!  Whether you’re looking to stay active, make friends, or just have fun, pickleball might be your new favorite pastime.

Just ask Frank Rigano. He picked up pickleball at 82 and hasn’t looked back. Now 84, Frank plays four to five days a week for two to three hours at a time. For him, it’s more than just a game. “I not only love pickleball to stay active,” he says, “it has offered me a chance to socialize and meet new people.”

Rigano has simple advice for anyone feeling a little unsure about stepping onto the court: “Just do it.”

“Pickleball is not that hard,” he says. “If you’re nervous, take a lesson and learn the rules. And when you play, remember there are all different skill levels. Even beginners can hit the ball, laugh, and have fun with others.”

Rigano plays at Pickleball America in Stamford, Connecticut—one of the largest indoor pickleball facilities in the country. This past winter, the courts were especially busy as players looked for a fun way to stay active and social while escaping the cold.

“More and more people wanted to get inside this winter,” says Pickleball America owner Jay Waldner, one of the owners.  “From Monday through Friday we have senior play from 10:30 am to 12 where we offer a special discount. And we are always full.”  Pickleball America has seen a steady stream of players since they opened in 2023, where they opened their doors and signed up 200 players. Today, Waldner says there are 12,000 players on the books.

“One of our members just had an 85^th birthday party where he rented out eight courts and invited 150 family and friends and hired a juggler, DJ and a caricaturist. There were three generations of his family playing pickleball here,” says Waldner.

Surging Popularity of Pickleball

That sounds about right as pickleball’s popularity has been explosive, setting records and becoming the fastest growing sport in the United States for four years (2021–2024). Participation has grown over 300 percent in the last three years, with approximately 19.8 million U.S. players in 2024, driven by its accessibility, low cost and high adoption rates among younger players (25–34). From 2022 to 2023 alone, participation grew by 51.8 percent, according to the 2025 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SIFA).

“Pickleball is unique in the sense that it’s the only sport in the world where you can effectively have three generations of people playing at the exact same time,” says David Hack, CEO of Crush Yard indoor pickleball and lounge with locations in Charleston, Orlando and Nashville. “Think about that: grandkids, parents, grandparents, all on the same court, all genuinely competing. You can’t say that about almost any other sport. For seniors specifically, the court is smaller, the movements are manageable, and most people can pick up the basics in about 20 minutes. But you’re still getting a real sport; real competition, real skill development. That combination is incredibly powerful,” says Hack.

While most people think pickleball is new, the game was created in 1965 by Joel Pritchard and two friends who wanted to play badminton but lacked shuttlecocks. They improvised with a whiffle ball, used a badminton net, and initially used ping pong bats and later crafted oversized paddles from plywood.

Health Benefits of Pickleball

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Louis Rizio, MD, of the Sports Medicine at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Essex County, New Jersey, says, “When you look at studies, those who play tennis have the highest level of longevity and pickleball mirrors that. Physical, cognitive, mental and social benefits of participating are just like tennis.”

He feels pickleball is better for seniors than tennis because it’s a low impact exercise. “It’s better for your knees, hips and back and it’s great for balance and coordination moving back and forth on the court and building muscle.”

There are other benefits to playing, Dr. Rizio says, like tracking the ball with your eyes and strategizing with your partner. “Pickleball helps with reaction times and keeps people engaged–all mental acuity activities,” he adds.

Susie Biely, 71, is one of those players who traded in her tennis racquet for a pickleball paddle.   “I loved tennis so much, but because of my knee surgeries I took up pickleball at 62.”

A Wisconsin native and a snowbird, Biely plays all winter at Robson Ranch, a 55-plus active adult community in Eloy, Arizona, where she says they have 16 courts that are almost always full.

“Pickleball is like a short tennis game. I picked it up really fast. I moved up from a 2.5 to a 3.0 and then to a 4.0 rated player. People are trying to stay fit longer and it’s so good for your health and great for balance, cardio and memory. You have to keep track of your score,” she laughs.  “I used to walk by the courts and people were so friendly encouraging me to play with them. I’ve made so many good friends for life playing pickleball. It really brings people into the Robson Ranch community together.”

Biely plays three to four times a week and recently played in an Arizona Pickleball Players League that had more than 5,000 players (18-65-plus) which she says was up 400 players from last year.

Warming Up

Dr. Rizio suggests seniors do some warming up stretches before playing to get muscles warm and do some cooling down stretches as well.

“Longevity is one of today’s most talked-about topics,” says Dr. Rizio, who notes that regular exercise remains the most consistent predictor of a longer life. “I see pickleball as a great way to ease into exercise while building social connections and establishing a sustainable fitness routine.”

Waldner agrees that players should ease into the sport and notes that Pickleball America offers a health and wellness injury prevention seminar once a quarter for all members.  “We want to keep our players injury free so they keep coming back,” says Waldner.

How to Find Local Pickleball Clubs:

USA Pickleball ( https://uspickleball.org/clubs/) provides links to pickleball clubs across the U.S. and Canada for games, lessons, tournaments and social events.

Places2Play.org (www.places2play.org) offers places to play according to state and/or zip code.

Pickleheads (www.pickleheads.com) lists thousands of courts, leagues, and open-play times—from high schools and parks to Jewish Community Centers.

 …and don’t overlook your local YMCA or senior center.

Photo (top): Frank Rigano

 

 

Jennifer Juergens Thomas has a lifelong interest in how people get together.  As a former AP reporter she covered feature stories and later wrote about conventions from Anaheim to New  Zealand as editor of Meetings and Conventions magazine. She was a public relations consultant for clients like the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives focusing on how and why people need to get together. An Orlando resident, she continues to contribute to Meetings Today magazine among other ventures.