Though it’s come to national prominence in the last few years, the roots of pickleball go back to the 1960s with a Washington state congressman, an idle family, and a badminton court. By 1976 tournaments had begun, and, just over 10 years later, every state was playing pickleball.
Today, you might feel as though every conversation includes pickleball. As recently as 2023, the sport was being played by over 8 million people nationwide and was named the fastest-growing sport in America by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Pickleball’s explosive popularity makes it an ideal choice around which to build your next client event. We’ve mentioned before that advisors can host great pickleball events, so there’s no doubt pickleball makes a great candidate for your practice’s next get-together.
How to Play
You ever play tennis? How about badminton? Great, you’re off to a strong start. Pickleball follows many basic rules, but gameplay generally follows that of its fuller-size siblings. Opposing teams — either singles or doubles — serve a small, perforated plastic ball over a low net, attempting to be the first to reach 11 total points (or, if each team reaches 10, the first to win by two points).
Don’t worry if you need a few practice serves to get the hang of things. New players, for example, might stumble over the unique concept of the “kitchen,” a square adjoining both sides of the net. The ball can’t land within the kitchen on the first serve and return volley, but once you’re through those, it’s open territory for everyone.
How to Start
With pickleball’s booming popularity, courts are now a common sight in many residential neighborhoods and public parks. With its aforementioned similarity to tennis, lines for a pickleball court are often painted onto the surface of an existing tennis court. Check out a nearby tennis space and see if they’re set up for pickleball play
Pickleball-specific courts, too, are becoming a more common feature. Gyms and other recreational centers have begun incorporating courts into their layouts, making it easier for local pickleball organizations to have consistent places to meet and play. When in doubt, you can also use Pickleheads to locate a court near your home or office.
A gym or rec center with pickleball facilities will also likely have pickleball gear on hand, but if not, it can readily be found at a sporting goods store or even a chain such as Target.
How to Win (Over Prospects and Clients)
Finally found a court that works for you? Great! Let’s turn it into your next event space.
Your clients have heard of pickleball. No qualifiers — they’ve absolutely heard of pickleball. There’s even a pretty good chance your clients are already playing. This makes buy-in much simpler and a prospective event an easy conversation starter.
With the preponderance of courts and spaces to play, games can be a monthly or weekly occurrence. The best part is, the infrastructure is already there! No need to set up speakers or get a presentation ready — just grab a paddle and hit the court.
Rent out a court for a friendly match or a company-wide tournament. Impact can create custom invitations letting all your client-athletes know when and where to play. Better yet, make a tournament a referral event and have clients bring someone who plays and who could use your services. The easy buy-in makes universal participation a breeze.
So, you finally know about the sport that’s sweeping the nation. Get loose, have fun, and crush your next event!
