As pickleball triumphantly emerged from the ashes of other forgotten pandemic pastimes like a phoenix, the activity experienced a rebirth despite being less than six decades old.
This year marks only the 58th anniversary of when Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell, during an afternoon of improvisational racket sports, cobbled together the beginnings of a boredom-busting game while on summer vacation with their children on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965.
The two men took ping-pong paddles to Pritchard’s old badminton court and played with a lightweight, perforated ball, the combination of which is an auditory clue for pickleball’s signature, satisfying smack. According to USA Pickleball, the “national governing body for the sport of pickleball,” they opted for a lower net height than in tennis and kept the game going into the next weekend, joined by another friend, Barney McCallum.
But although pickleball was invented as a family activity, it has since become well-known as a staple for older populations, with retirement communities and senior centers some of the first to serve up a sense of friendly competition.
Pickleball is ideal for players looking to chat and exercise without the toll on the body often felt in higher-impact sports, allowing those with a history of injuries or surgeries to remain active thanks to a shorter court and lower force of contact with the ball.
Because players must rely on mental coordination and concentration rather than physical ability, a sharp mind can anticipate a powerful swing. This inherent inclusivity appeals to people of all ages, as it allows them to mingle and move together on a regular basis with people they might not have met otherwise.
Pickleball is traditionally played in both singles and doubles on a 20-foot by 44-foot court with a net that is 36 inches on each end and 34 inches in the middle. The ball is served underhand, as in volleyball, with a similar scoring system in which each side goes until “faulting,” and only the serving team can gain a point. Whichever side reaches 11 points first, and leads by at least two, wins the game.
The patchwork nature is intentional yet mirrors its origins, as the name of the game has been attributed to two possibilities: one, as a reference to a “pickle boat,” a term in rowing where the leftover players get grouped together in a makeshift crew boat team for the last race and coined by Joel’s wife, Joan Pritchard; or two, the McCallums’ version, where the sport allegedly took its inspiration from the Pritchard family dog, a Cockapoo called “Pickles.” In reality, as Joan confirmed to West Virginian newspaper the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the pet came into the picture about two years after the trio first pioneered pickleball.
No matter the nomenclature, pickleball is set to continue its positive trend as “the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row,” according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s “2023 Topline Participation Report,” with “8.9 million players in the United States over the age of six years old, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022.”
Brandon Mackie co-founded the website Pickleheads, a user-generated index of local sites and communicative tools to help players initiate games, with fellow Atlanta entrepreneur Max Ade in March 2022. Since anyone with an account can update the content of a page for free, similar to the format of a wiki, the list of venues—sorted by city, state, or facility—strives to solve the issue of where to play and what to expect.
“Pickleheads is the leading online resource for pickleball players that are looking to find a place to play, organize their own games [or even] join games, and connect with players in their area, and it’s all possible on our platform,” Mackie said in an interview on the pickleball scene in Mercer County. “We have close to 400,000 players that visit the site every month and over 13,000 courts profiled across the US and Canada—what we think is the largest database of pickleball courts out there.”
“Through that, we have a lot of interesting insights into where growth is happening,” he added. “The short answer is pretty much everywhere. It’s a phenomenon; it’s growing, and it’s really exciting to watch.”
According to Mackie, the idea sprouted when the two—both avid tennis players and recent pickleball converts from Atlanta who had just recently sold their companies—voiced similar concerns on how to find court information on where to play, the confusion compounded both by pickleball’s newness and unexpected surge in popularity. Together, they combined their sporting and entrepreneurial experiences to launch Pickleheads last spring.
Each page will let you follow and check what time to play at the venue, the features and amenities included, the weather forecast, frequently asked questions, and browse nearby courts. Pickleheads allows users to describe the type of court at a location, such as the material used in its surfacing or if it is indoors or outdoors. Some courts have permanent nets and lines, while others require players to bring or draw their own.
“We wanted an easy way that you could post a game, find a court, get other people out on the courts, and figure that would be a good resource for people,” Mackie said. “I think just the way the site’s grown, it’s proven that there are a lot of other people [who] shared those same challenges that we had and were looking for an easier way.”
Pickleheads has plans to expand on the interpersonal and organizational aspects of the sport by giving users the ability to create groups for easier joining, recruiting, and posting of games, automatically invite others through SMS or email, and update playing times. In early July, the company will cast an even wider net with the launch of the Pickleheads mobile app, another interface for players to meet new partners and share their knowledge.
As of press time, Pickleheads had logged 152 courts in New Jersey. To suggest changes, sign in and update the court’s page, or email website support at support@pickleheads.com.
Mackie continued: “I think there are a couple of just universal aspects of pickleball that make it so appealing. Everyone’s scratching their heads, saying, ‘How could something like this have grown so fast and gotten so big?'”
“When I really think about it—and I talk to players all day, every day—it’s very clear that there are really two things [that] go into pickleball: one, it’s just how easy the sport is to learn. You don’t need to be athletic or have racquet sports experience. You can pick up the game in about 10 or 15 minutes out on the court the first time, and at the end of your first time out there, you’re probably even winning games, depending on who your partner is or who you’re playing against.”
This “low barrier to entry,” Mackie added, motivates people to try pickleball without the traditional caveats of lesson-heavy sports like golf. “It’s a lot more, actually, about strategy than it is about raw athleticism, which is why you can never count anybody out.”
The other key part, Mackie explained, is the “social aspect” of the sport. Pickleball is most often played in doubles, meaning that matches can rotate through a large number of partners. The action itself might be directly at the net, but people are eager to keep the conversation flowing, much like the back-and-forth of the ball, regardless of whether they are on the court or waiting for a turn.
“I think for a lot of people, they don’t even look at it like a sport. It’s a social outlet and a big part of their weekly life, and I think that just keeps people coming back more, so you have all these people that try it and stick with it, and it just snowballs in the way that we’ve seen it—both in Mercer County and across the United States,” he noted.
Mackie mentioned the Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club in Ewing as “one of the destinations that [Pickleheads] track in the top places to play,” noting that “any time you have that type of investment in the area, and we see that happen in a lot of different counties all across the U.S., that really just takes the growth and participation of pickleball on a whole new trajectory.”
“Instead of having to bring your own net and play over tennis courts or on a basketball court or something, you have a dedicated facility for it,” he said, with the option to play on indoor courts making it easier for pickleball enthusiasts to keep going year-round.
He also pointed out that Lifetime Fitness, a self-described “athletic country club” with a Princeton facility located in Plainsboro, has invested a lot in their pickleball facilities.
Entities across Mercer County are still considering how to successfully incorporate pickleball into their towns in a way that pleases both players and the general public.
On Memorial Day weekend, the Princeton Recreation Department converted two of the tennis courts at Community Park South for pickleball use as an informal extension of the municipality’s “trial period” for the sport, which ran from October 2022 to late spring as a way of gauging community interest. The three-day opportunity was possible because the Princeton Tennis Program, which operates the 15 courts for six months of the year, was not using them that weekend.
The Princeton Tennis Program is in the final stretch of a three-year lease, but a newly formed pickleball subcommittee at Princeton Recreation will help decide whether to renew the contract or devise a new one that would rededicate select courts for pickleball.
But Community Park South is also set to be redesigned via an ongoing Princeton public engagement program, which held its second community engagement meeting on June 8 and welcomed feedback from residents in an online survey of four concept plans—each layout featuring six pickleball courts—that closed on June 26. To see the Community Park South Master Plan, see the Princeton Community Engagement hub website at princeton.civilspace.io/en.
Though the sport began courting many of its current players during the pandemic, this steady swell of local interest is an indicator of a promising future, according to Mackie, who expects pickleball to “become the largest sport in the country” one day in terms of participants—a direct echo of the prediction from the latest SFIA report in February, where that rate “almost doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7 percent year-over-year and by an astonishing 158.6 percent over three years.”
The relatively simple rules and minimal running keep the spirit of pickleball alive at the perfect pace, too, the unlikely pastime having taken flight during the most unprecedented of times. But if you still want to try your hand at the fastest-growing sport in America, take your pick from these places to play along and see just why this popular pastime is on the rise.
Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club
370 Sullivan Way, Ewing. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (609) 883-6272 or playmbpc.com.
The long-awaited Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club opened in February 2022 as the “largest indoor pickleball facility in the northeast,” clocking in at 26,000 square feet with nine fenced-in courts, climate control, and a state-of-the-art sound system. The dedicated courts have permanent lines and nets, but also Pro-Cushion multi-layered cushioned surfacing, according to the FAQ section on the MBPC website, to reduce strain on the player and allow them, as well as the material itself, to build resilience. Paddles and balls are provided.
Membership is not required to play, but it does provide benefits such as the ability to make reservations online, in advance, and at reduced rates. As of press time, the facility only has limited memberships available. To join the waitlist, contact the club’s front desk either by phone or email at info@playmbpc.com. For more information, see playmbpc.com/prices-benefits.
Activity rates apply either per hour (for court rentals) or per person (for instruction, social plays, etc.) with an additional $5 guest fee for each hour of each activity over member rates. Guests can either accompany members or call, email, or walk-in to speak with the front desk up to 48 hours in advance of events from June to August to register for any open spots for social plays and clinics; no restrictions apply to booking private lessons.
To reserve a court at MBPC, access the company’s page on CourtReserve, an “all-in-one court reservation and club management platform” to manage accommodations for tennis and pickleball online.
The features at MBPC are extensive, offering clinics, leagues, private instruction, tournaments, an automatic ball machine, a players’ lounge, a practice dink court, cornhole, and demo paddles. Amenities include restrooms, a water filler, lighted courts, and snacks, the last of which are offered at the MBPC Café. The club is also available for private events.
As co-owner Sharon Voelzke shared in a quote, the team at MBPC helps coordinate “over 75 Social Play events a week, two sanctioned MMP tournaments per year (the MBPC Spring and Fall Classic), multiple round robin tournaments, and plenty of clinics and instruction opportunities for every level.”
Another key component of the MBPC mission, she added, has been their role in merging pickleball and philanthropy, having “raised over $15,000 for local organizations such as HomeFront, Enable NJ, NJ CEED, and JFCS of Greater Mercer County,” as well as donating “pickleball products and gift certificates to over 100 local fundraising events.”
Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex
2206 Kuser Road, Hamilton. Open daily. Tennis Center Office Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, then 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. through the April to October season. 609-581-4127.
The Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex is an all-outdoor fixture of the Central New Jersey pickleball community, with 18 designated pickleball courts, six of which are lit. The Hamilton Recreation Department manages the park’s 40 total mixed-surface tennis and pickleball courts, which are accessible via the south entrance.
A seasonal membership is required through October 31 to play, but no reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices are $25 for Hamilton residents, $50 for non-Hamilton residents, and $10 cash only for a daily guest pass. Amenities include restrooms, water, lighted courts. For more information on upcoming tournaments or events, please call the Recreation Department at 609-890-4028 or email recreation@hamiltonnj.com.
Princeton Racquet Club and Tennis Network
150 Raymond Road, Princeton. Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (732) 329-6200 or princetonracquetclub.com.
The Princeton Racquet Club has 16 total courts in its indoor-outdoor complex, but the robust tennis program also offers pickleball rentals inside “The Barn,” the nickname for the indoor facility known as Court 1, which contains two pickleball DecoTurf hardcourts with cushioned surfacing.
In June, PRC announced new pickleball clinics on Mondays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Classes may be moved outside depending on the weather, while paddles and balls are provided. Other special events may include camps, game drills, and match plays, while club amenities like restrooms, water, a pro shop, and snacks are available.
Membership is not required to play, but all players must sign a PRC waiver form before participating. Premier members can reserve courts up to one week in advance, while standard members can reserve courts up to five days in advance. The standard court time is 90-minute intervals. To register or reserve a court, contact the PRC front desk or access the company’s page on CourtReserve.
In addition to court rentals, PRC also offers lessons for beginners, supervised play, and open play, each with a set, one-time rate for all players. For prices and times, see the PRC pickleball page online at princetonracquetclub.com/pickleball.
Lawrence Central Park
100 Dave Nevius Way, Lawrence. Open daily. (609) 844-7067 or lawrencetwp.com/departments/recreation.
In May, the Lawrence Township Recreation Department announced that they had converted one tennis court to two lit pickleball courts for use at Central Park.
No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to 30 minutes to share the facilities.
Mercer County Park Tennis Center
1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 609-448-8007 or mercercountyparks.org.
Under the operation of the Mercer County Park Commission, the Mercer County Park Tennis Center debuted the first “pickleball only” playing area in the county, four outdoor asphalt courts with permanent lines and nets, in 2017.
While a membership is not required to play, a 2023 Mercer County Tennis/Pickleball ID is required to reserve courts, with all non-ID card holders required to pay an $8 fee per individual.
According to the Mercer County Tennis Center website, valid ID card holders play for free and can reserve courts up to three days in advance with CourtReserve. An adult Mercer County resident can purchase an ID for the year for $80, with a discounted junior and senior rate priced at $40 and a non-resident rate of $120. Court time is limited to 90 minutes. Amenities include restrooms, water, and lighted courts.
Hopewell Valley Golf Club & Country Club Tennis Courts
114 Pennington-Hopewell Road, Hopewell. Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk. 609-639-9100 x 1, mercercountyparks.org, or golfmercercounty.com/hopewell-valley.
The MCPC also runs the Hopewell Valley Golf Club & Country Club, where three Har-Tru tennis courts and two Platform tennis courts with blended lines for pickleball opened in 2021. Like the tennis center, Mercer County Tennis ID holders can reserve courts in advance with CourtReserve.
Princeton Senior Resource Center
Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. (609) 751-9699 or princetonsenior.org/pickleball.
The Princeton Senior Resource Center has one indoor, climate-controlled court on a wood gym floor in the Suzanne Patterson Building. According to a quote from COO Donna Cosgrove, the PSRC court “has attracted over 500 registrations in the ten months it’s been open.”
The schedule is updated each month with instruction by Carolyn Dardani-Horensky, while fees vary per activity and depend on whether players are Princeton residents or not. Options include pickleball “3 and Me” for advanced beginners, two-day beginner and next level bootcamps, and instructed open court.
Pickleball group court memberships are $30 for Princeton residents and $35 for nonresidents per hour per group, with reservations on a first-come, first-served basis. For the full list of dates and times for group rentals, see the July form online at princetonsenior.link/PickleballJulyGroupRental.
Robbinsville Municipal Complex
1117 US-130, Robbinsville. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
In August of last year, the Robbinsville Municipal Complex, a short distance away from the township’s police station, library, and senior center, added four lit outdoor courts with permanent lines and nets at the site of its former skate park.
Their implementation is the result of a joint effort between Robbinsville Township’s Departments of Recreation and Public Work, administration, and local pickleball figures like Robbinsville resident Karin Rentschler, the official United States of America Pickleball Association Ambassador for the Greater Mercer County area.
No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to one hour for singles and 1.5 hours for doubles to share the facilities.
Life Time – Princeton
7 Forrestal Road South, Plainsboro. Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (609) 608-7100 or lifetime.life/life-time-locations/nj-princeton.html.
Described as “an athletic country club” off of Route 1, Life Time’s Princeton facility in Plainsboro features three indoor hard-surface courts with permanent lines and nets. Membership is required to play, and courts can be reserved.
A one-day pass membership ($50) includes amenities like restrooms, water, lighted courts, and à la carte food options, as well as an indoor pool and fitness classes.
The monthly rate gives customers access to a wider range of services, but all membership tiers are allowed to participate in open play, mixers, weekly drop-in clinics, lessons, leagues, and pickleball tournaments onsite.
Team85 Fitness & Wellness
8500 K. Johnson Blvd, Fieldsboro (Bordentown). Field House Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (609) 298-8585 or team85fitnessandwellness.com.
Team85 Fitness & Wellness, a 45,000-square-foot sporting complex boasting professional fitness programs and resources, is home to the Fitness Center and the Field House, the latter of which has six indoor pickleball courts.
Membership is required to play for free, with price tiers available in options such as one month, month-to-month, and 12-month. TEAM85 offers discounts for seniors and law enforcement. According to its Facebook page, guests can play pickleball for a $7 fee. Amenities include food.
The Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex in Hamilton. (Photo Credit to Hamilton Township),
Lawrence Township's Central Park has a recreation area with two pickleball courts.,
Get your game on at the Princeton Senior Resource Center's Suzanne Patterson Building all year round with both rentals and instruction. (Credit to the PSRC),
Currently, MBPC has limited memberships available and recommends joining the waitlist or contacting a pickleball specialist at the front desk.,
