Published October 20, 2023

Pickleball in Wake Forest

Written by Peter Kima

Looking for a fun and easy way to stay active with friends? For the fifth year in a row, pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in America. Pickleball appears to be only a scaled-up version of ping pong, but after a few games, you may find difficulty putting the paddle down. The sport has had tremendous growth in recent years because the rules are simple and almost anyone can play! The short games allow for an easy rotation of opponents or for a series to stay quick, competitive and fun!

You may think of pickleball as a sport for the elderly, but in recent years, there has been an extreme increase in popularity among the younger generation. The sport was actually created by 3 dads who only had intentions of making a game for their kids to have summer fun. Pickleball’s simplicity has sparked a growth in the popularity of the game since the creation of the sport. Now, tournaments are hosted all across America, including local tournaments in Wake Forest.

Why is pickleball growing so fast? The game’s popularity is growing so fast because anyone can play! The sport does not require much prior athletic experience and the rules are short and simple. Compared to tennis, the court is about ¼ of the size, the ball is less bouncy, and the racquet is easy to control. Pickleball is most commonly played in doubles, making the team aspect a fun and competitive addition to the game.

The pickleball community in Wake Forest is connected, active, and competitive. Many residents of Wake Forest enjoy spending an afternoon at their local pickleball courts building relationships and playing against others in the community. Local courts in the community are not only a place to play, but the courts have become a location for friends to meet, neighbors to connect, and everyone to be competitive and social!

Besides being a great way to connect with others, pickleball is also a fantastic way to stay healthy and fit. The game allows for players to improve hand-eye coordination, reaction speed, agility, and balance, all while providing a quality cardiovascular workout. Pickleball has been classified as a moderately-intense workout, along with hiking, yoga, and water aerobics.

Looking for a more intense workout? Challenge your teammate to a 1v1 game of pickleball! Having to cover more areas of the court will create an intense workout with a new strategy to win. Playing by yourself is a new level of difficulty that pushes your agility and stamina to the next level, but the standard 2v2 format is still challenging and a phenomenal workout!

Wake Forest offers a variety of different locations to play pickleball that include Flaherty Park Pickleball Courts, indoor courts at Joyner Park Community Center, and the Heritage club. Because of the growing popularity of the sport, on some nights, the courts may fill up fast. Nonetheless, the courts are a great place to connect and socialize while queuing for a game.

To improve different locations, the Town of Wake Forest actually hosts different tournaments throughout the year to raise money for court renovations. Recently, Flaherty park just held its 3rd annual Fall Classic Pickleball Tournament on October 6-8. Even though this tournament just passed, be on the lookout for future tournaments and important events on the Town of Wake Forest website.

These tournaments are helpful to the community and shared space of the pickleball courts. In the past years, the tournaments have raised over $28,000 to cover renovation costs that go into improvements including drainage, benches, and shade structures.

In addition to connecting at the pickleball courts, many residents and active players in the community join facebook groups and other organizations / clubs to interact and play with others that are local to them.

Pickleball is a great way to meet people in the community and to stay active! The social aspect keeps players coming back and returning to the courts. The simple rules make it easy for beginners to learn and the small game will definitely make the players break a sweat. If you have never tried it out, pick up a paddle and give it a go! You may just find yourself a new, fun and social way of working out!