Every so often things seem to spring up out of nowhere and become part of our existence. A mere decade ago we had never heard of Wordl, orange smoke haze nor Sebastian Maniscalco. The latter is one of the funniest comedians in the business. He specializes in talking about life with his family in a manic high energy way. Trust me. Go on the internet and watch some of his routines.

There is another fad that has taken over America. You cannot spend a day without hearing something about the new sport of Pickleball. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the cucumber themed holiday dinner dance thrown by the Vlasic Pickle Company of Imlay City, Michigan.

Pickleball is a racquet game that combines elements of Ping-Pong, tennis and badminton. For my readers, please take note of the spelling at the end of the last sentence. Badminton, and not what many of us call badmitten, is the racquet game played with a shuttlecock. Bad mittens are inferior winter gloves that fail to keep your hands warm. 

Pickleball was invented by two businessmen who were trying to find a way to get their bored children out of the house. Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill Bell rummaged through the Prichard’s garage and found an old badminton net. They set it up in the backyard on part of a paved basketball court. Returning to the garage they found an old Wiffle Ball and some tennis rackets. They began hitting the ball back and forth over the 5-foot-high net. 

Realizing that the plastic ball bounced on the paved surface, they adjusted the badminton net so that it was only a yard high. They began finding ways to volley back and forth. But soon the duo realized that the tennis racket was too powerful. Another quick trip to the garage yielded two ping-pong paddles. 

Soon a neighbor joined them, Barney McCallum, and they began creating rules for the game that would evolve into Pickleball. 

In 1967 they convinced another neighbor, Bob O’Brian, to pave part of his yard to create a court suitable for their new sport. Thanks to an article in the National Observer and Tennis Magazine the new sport gained popularity across the country. Rule books were created by associations nationwide. In 2005, the USA Pickleball Association was established and tournaments soon followed.

Many have wondered why it is called Pickleball. One theory is that it was named after Prichard’s dog, Pickles. Pickles often interrupted the game by grabbing the plastic ball and running away.

There are several reasons why the sport has caught on in a big way. Because the playing surface is much smaller than a tennis court, people of varying ages and physical abilities can play it. The equipment needed is not expensive. Those who play other racket sports such as tennis or ping-pong can easily transition to Pickleball.

For municipalities looking to cut costs, constructing Pickleball courts require less space and upkeep. Many locales have converted tennis courts into Pickleball venues to appease the growing multitude of players. 

Although it is less strenuous than tennis, Pickleball can become a fast-paced game especially when played as a team. The plastic ball flies back and forth sometimes purposefully aimed at an opponent to make a return shot difficult. 

So, if you decide to try it, be careful. This sport is contributing to a growth of injuries and health care costs, particularly among seniors. Sprained wrists and ankles are common. Seniors make up almost a third of the estimated 22 million players, known to the sport as “Picklers.”

I imagine that there are groups of people around the country who have tried to invent hybrid outdoor games that combine elements of other sports. 

Perhaps someone will find a way to blend tossing a Frisbee with a game of golf. Well, they would be too late. It is called Disc Golf and is becoming, like Pickleball, very popular. 

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.