The Past, Present and Future of Pickleball According to Hall of Famer Steve Paranto
Three pickleball leaders discuss the sport’s explosive growth and potential in a wide-ranging podcast interview
Pickleball has exploded in popularity over the past decade, growing from a niche sport played primarily by retirees into a mainstream phenomenon embraced by people of all ages. The New York Times recently dubbed it “the country’s fastest growing sport.”
To gain insight into pickleball’s past, present and future, Hall of Fame player Steve Paranto recently hosted an illuminating podcast interview with two influential figures in the Portland, Oregon pickleball scene: Dave Sacks, co-founder of The People’s Courts indoor facility, and Kevin Richards, founder of RECS.
Humble Beginnings
The half hour conversation covered a range of topics, providing a sweeping overview of pickleball’s origins and meteoric rise. Now 67, Paranto has played pickleball for nearly 50 years, since he first discovered it as a teenager growing up near its birthplace of Bainbridge Island, Washington in the 1960s.
Back then, pickleball was a niche hobby, known only regionally. Tournaments were dominated by young players like Paranto. But as devotees like him aged, pickleball saw its first major growth spurt when they introduced the sport to retirement communities in warm weather states like Arizona and Florida.
“It became a big boom in pickleball when the kids who had learned in the 70s and 80s brought it to these retirement age communities, falling in love with it,” Paranto explained.
Breaking Down Barriers
A major reason for pickleball’s popularity among older players was its accessibility—the smaller court size, lower nets, lightweight paddles and perforated plastic ball allow people of all ages and abilities to play together. Sacks, a former high school tennis champion, took up the sport more recently and was quickly hooked by its inclusive nature.
“What’s really fun about pickleball is that the levels all converge,” he said. “I can’t play tennis with my kids and really have fun, because of the power difference and speed difference. But with pickleball...age and gender and even skill level converge and you really can play.”
Richards concurred, sharing how pickleball provides community and improves wellness among seniors at his club. “It’s analog connectivity,” he said. “Coming out of a pandemic, it’s the perfect activity getting people back together again.”
Rapid Growth
Fueled by its intergenerational appeal, pickleball soon spread beyond retirement communities as devotees introduced it to families and friends. Sacks noticed half of new players at his facility are first-timers, flocking to pickleball courts even before buying their own equipment. “The number of people coming here to play for the first time has been the biggest surprise,” he said. “Once people play, they’re going to want to play again.”
TV exposure has also fueled interest. Paranto remembers just a few years ago having to explain what pickleball was; now, it’s regularly featured on national networks like ESPN. “I don’t think you can find a sport that’s blown up in the United States this quickly,” he asserted. Sacks credited Pickleball’s TV success to big investments from billionaire entrepreneurs.
And as more prize money flows into professional pickleball, Paranto said interest is growing among world-class tennis players like Jack Sock. “Kids see that, parents see that and think, ‘I could get my kids signed and their college could be paid for,’” said Paranto.
The Future is Bright
All three leaders remain bullish on pickleball’s future growth despite its already massive popularity.
“There are 2.5 million future pickleball players in Portland,” said Richards. “They just don’t know it yet.”
Paranto thinks global expansion will fuel growth for decades to come. “Badminton courts are the same dimensions as pickleball. There are future pickleball courts all over the world,” he said.
To tap into future generations of players, Paranto and Richards recently met with the head of the Oregon School Activities Association to discuss sanctioning high school pickleball. Richards called it “a gateway sport to tennis,” allowing kids to build racket skills before transitioning to tennis in high school.
Finally, both facilities are heavily focused on getting new players hooked through beginner lessons. “I’d say 80 percent of those people are coming back because they like it so much,” said Richards.
Keeping the Spirit Alive
Above all, the passion shared by Paranto, Sacks and Richards demonstrates pickleball’s staying power. Despite massive growth, they aim to preserve the sport’s communal spirit and cross-generational appeal.
As Paranto prepares to launch his new podcast, "Pickleball Fountain Of Youth" tailored to average players, not professionals, he commented, “The demand from amateur players in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s to want to improve and get better has surprised me.”
For Sacks, seeing community members excited about his new facility feels like validation. “The feedback from the neighborhood has been really incredible,” he said. “It’s been entirely positive.”
In the end, Richards summed up the universal appeal that will keep fueling pickleball’s growth for years to come. “It’s fun, it’s addictive, it’s healthy, and it has this analog connectivity that I don’t think a lot of sports do.”
Summary:
The podcast interview hosted by pickleball legend Steve Paranto provided invaluable insights into the past, present and future of this rapidly growing sport. Paranto, along with facility owners Dave Sacks and Kevin Richards, discussed pickleball's humble beginnings in the Pacific Northwest, its explosion in popularity across ages and ability levels, the impact of TV exposure, and potential for future expansion globally and in schools.
Despite massive growth, all three remain dedicated to pickleball's inclusive spirit and belief it will hook anyone who tries it. Their passion and efforts to promote the sport demonstrate why pickleball is poised for continued growth. With its intergenerational appeal, health benefits and sense of community, pickleball has become far more than just a niche hobby and is cementing its status as one of America's favorite recreational and competitive sports.
Pickleball Podcast Topics Recap
- Introduction (0:00)
- Overview of guests and topics to be discussed
History and Growth
- Ahead of the Curve (2:55)
- Paranto played pickleball as a teen when it was still niche
- Dave you are coming from tennis (3:59)
- Sacks has a tennis background before pickleball
- Pickleball is attracting tennis players (4:58)
- Many tennis players transitioning to pickleball
- Senior Competitor (6:01)
- Pickleball popular with older players at first
- Steve's theory on the growth of pickleball (7:09)
- Paranto explains how retirees spearheaded initial growth
Game Evolution
- The game is changing all the time (8:56)
- Pickleball strategy and shots evolving
- Four Generations are playing on the same court. Norm just turned 90 (10:11)
- Pickleball allows cross-generational play
- Oldest active player at RECS is 90
- Steve teaches the class: Beat The Banger (11:18)
- Strategy for playing power players
Business Growth
- Seniors Playing At RECS (13:21)
- Health benefits of pickleball for older adults
- Watching Pickleball On TV (15:37)
- TV exposure driving popularity and interest
- Fountain of Youth Podcast Launching with Pickleball Legend Steve Paranto (17:36)
- Paranto starting new podcast for average players
- The demand from people who want to get better - Dave (18:50)
- Strong desire to improve among amateur players
- The top players are drilling (19:47)
- Increased training intensity among pros
- Better athletes are playing (20:37)
- More talented athletes trying pickleball
Future Growth
- Former tennis players playing Pickleball (23:39)
- Top tennis stars transitioning to pickleball
- Youth, Schools (24:28)
- Efforts to establish school pickleball programs
- High School Club Sports (26:37)
- Ideal pickleball season is fall for high school
- Pickleball a gateway sport to tennis (27:10)
- Pickleball builds skills for tennis
- The Oregon Cup (28:54)
- Upcoming Oregon pickleball tournament
- What is Pickleball's next big growth sput? (29:14)
- Panel predicts continued massive growth
- Intro classes (30:01)
- High retention rate among new players
- RECS (31:18)
- Overview of amenities at RECS
- The People's Courts (32:37)
- Overview of offerings at The People's Courts
Summary
The podcast covered pickleball's origins, growth factors, evolution, and future potential. Major topics were history, game development, business growth, and predictions for the future. The passion of these leaders shows pickleball's momentum.
- 0:00 Introduction
- 2:55 Ahead of the curve
- 3:59 Dave you are coming from tennis
- 4:58 Pickleball is attracting tennis players
- 6:01 Senior Competitor
- 7:09 Steve's theory on the growth of pickleball
- 8:56 Steve: The game is changing all the time Dave: I play to much like a tennis player
- 10:11 Steve: Four Generations are playing on the same court. Norm just turned 90
- 10:50 Steve teaches the class: Beat The Banger
- 11:18 Seniors Playing At RECS
- 13:21 Watching Pickleball On TV
- 15:37 Fountain of Youth Podcast Launching with Pickleball Legend Steve Paranto
- 17:36 The demand from people who want to get better - Dave
- 18:50 The top players are drilling
- 18:55 Better athletes are playing
- 19:47 Former tennis players playing Pickleball
- 20:37 Youth, Schools
- 23:39 High School Club Sports
- 24:28 Pickleball a gateway sport to tennis
- 26:37 The Oregon Cup
- 27:10 What is Pickleball's next big growth sput?
- 28:54 Intro classes
- 29:14 RECS
- 30:01 The People's Courts
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