Who else is surprised by how fast Pickleball has grown in the United States? According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the number of people playing pickleball grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022 – with no signs of slowing down.
And it’s not just the over 50 crowd playing the sport. Although actor Jeff Daniels once called it the “half-court basketball for elderly people,” it’s also emerging as a Gen Z obsession. A growing number of colleges are starting to offer pickleball at the club or intramural level with tournament opportunities and some say it’s only a matter of time before it is officially recognized by the NCAA.
But in many respects, pickleball’s rapid ascent – especially on the heels of the pandemic – should come to no surprise.
In fact, given what we know of positive psychology and mental health, it makes perfect sense.
In addition to its physical benefits, pickleball strengthens the brain and cognitive functionality. This is because, like many sports, it puts us in a state of “FLOW.” Researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explains in his book of the same title that optimal experiences occur when we are fully immersed in a task – so much so that we completely lose a sense of time – and therefore encounter one of the most profound form of bliss. We are most often in this stage when we are engaged in a task that we not only find interesting, but that pushes us just beyond our current skill level. Because of this, it keeps us interested and engaged: we are challenged just enough so we know we can get better and reach the next “level,” but not so much that it is beyond our reach and feels defeating or frustrating.
Perhaps that helps explain why pickleball in particular has grown versus other activities. Other paddle sports, like tennis, may seem too difficult, or ping pong, too easy. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, pickleball sits perfectly in that sweet spot range and seems “just right!” in terms of a flow state.
Additionally , there are other important mental health benefits that an activity like pickleball offers alongside flow. Two other important pillars of positive psychology are: positive emotions and relationships. Pickleball offers both. First, because it is often played outside, it tends to cultivate those joyful, peaceful feelings that one only gets by being out in nature. Second, because it is sport that you have to play with at least two but more often four players, it reinforces positive relationships and social connections – key factors necessary for true flourishing, longevity and overall well-being.
So, young or old, if you haven’t jumped on the pickleball bandwagon, there are plenty of mental health reasons for picking up that paddle!