ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County is witnessing an explosive rise in the popularity of pickleball, a sport that’s quickly become the fastest-growing sport in the country.
RELATED: Does American tennis have a pickleball problem?
From beginners to seasoned pros, residents of all ages are picking up paddles and hitting the courts in record numbers locally, and with every stroke, dink, and volley, the passion for the sport only seems to grow.
“You don’t have to be a great pickleball player,” said local pickleball player Pat Ball. “There’s all kinds of ranges. There’s all kinds of abilities.”
Another player, Stan Bodie, said he gave up golf after becoming “addicted” to pickleball.
“I no longer golf now because I am addicted. Maybe I am addicted to this game. The cardio, the cognition, the social, the overall well-being are just great for everyone’s health,” Bodie said.
The sport, which was invented back in 1965 on a badminton court in the state of Washington by Joel Pritchard, has captured the hearts of players across all age groups in St. Johns County.
In fact, according to Pickleheads, from 2022 to 2023, participation soared by over 51%. And in just three years, the sport has seen a jaw-dropping increase of more than 223%.
“When I started playing eight years ago, it was an old people’s game,” Ball explained. “And now you come here, and I’m playing with my seven-year-old grandson, who just loves it. There’s this whole range now of people, and it’s just exploded.”
Pat’s story is not unique, but he is.
He and his wife traveled all around the country in a 24-foot camper and have played pickleball in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Virginia, and more, saying it’s how the couple makes new friends.
Bodie said he loves that the sport allows him to go head-to-head with his grandchildren.
“There’s no other sport out there that gives me the cardio and the ability to compete with my grandchildren like this. It’s just a wonderful thing,” Bodie said.
Pickleball’s rapid growth has been fueled by its accessibility and affordability. Laura Gainor, who works with St. Johns County’s Parks and Recreation team, explains that it’s a sport that almost anyone can jump into without breaking the bank.
“That’s why it grew so fast; it has such a low barrier of entry,” Gainor said. “You can come and play for free here at Veterans Park. Paddles range from $50 up to $300 or more, but it’s very inexpensive overall.”
Additionally, the demand for courts in St. Johns County is higher than ever, and the county is answering the call by not only expanding existing facilities but also building new ones to keep up with the growth.
Ryan Kane, the director of sports and recreation for the county, said the area will see the number of pickleball courts nearly double from 36 to 70 within the next three years.
“We’re seeing huge demand for pickleball courts, and we’re adding more all the time,” Kane said. “Treaty Park is already a hot spot, and we’ve got big plans for new courts in the future to accommodate this rapidly growing community.”
As St. Johns County continues to invest in pickleball, the sport shows zero signs of slowing down.