The Sport Sweeping The Nation Is Really Popular In Casper

I'm usually not a bandwagon type of guy. The more something becomes popular, usually, the more I shy away from it.

One thing that's not working like that for me is pickleball.

Pickleball has been around for years and even has a professional touring series, the CARVANA PPA Tour.

America's fasted growing sport has exploded around the country over the last few years and over that's the same story in Casper. Tournaments, new pickleball courts, leagues and opportunities to play have grown.

If you're not sure what pickleball is, here's a quick description from U.S.A. Pickleball rulebook:

Pickleball is a paddle sport played using a special perforated ball on a 20-foot-by-44-foot court with a tennis-type net. The court is divided into right/even and left/odd service courts and non-volley zones

 

The ball is served diagonally across the net to the opponent’s receiving court using an approved motion. The ball is struck back and forth across the net until a player fails to return the ball in accordance with the rules.

 

Points are scored only by the serving side when the server or the server’s team wins the rally, or the opposing side commits a fault.
The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the serving side loses the rally or commits a fault.

Typically, the first side scoring 11 points and leading by at least a 2-point margin wins.

 

Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles.

The game was started in the 1960's when a group of dads were on a ferry in Seattle, Washington. Their kids were bored, so they found an old badminton net, ping pong paddles and a plastic ball. Within the next 10 years, the sport began to grow in popularity and the first pickleball tournament was introduced.

The best part of pickleball is that anyone, no matter their fitness level, amount of athletic ability, age, or gender, can play together and enjoy it.

If you'd like to try it out, just this week the Casper Recreation Center began their fall drop-in pickleball times Monday - Friday. The cost is either the daily use $5 or if you already have a Rec Center Pass, you're good to go. If you're not sure you'll like the sport, there's even equipment you can use to try it out.

Here are the times listed on the CasperWY.org site:

• Monday - Friday 8:00am - 11:00am
• Monday & Wednesday 3:00pm - 5:00pm
• Friday 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Familiarize yourself with the rules and basics by checking out the official pickleball beginners video