Share this Post
What’s swinging? The lowdown on paddle sports.
Causing a ton of ~racquet~ (had to), paddle sports are bringing that big dink energy (read: soaring in popularity at a record clip) and pervading every facet of news and pop culture (and your social calendar)—from new court concepts aplenty (see p. 20) to Zendaya-led tennis blockbuster Challengers to the late-night circuit (see: The Tonight Show’s recent “racquet sport correspondent” swinging into the convo on paddle sport player stereotypes). Even Target now has a dedicated pickleball section (!).
Clearly, the pandemic-fueled fervor—never mind the grand-slam Zendaya effect—is still spinning. See some ~36 mill pickleball players alone picking up the paddle countrywide, NTM piqued interest in all-things paddle—think pingpong, tennis, squash, even padel—now serving at an all-time high.
Fit for everyone from retired collegiate tennis athletes to first-time dinkers, all kinds of people are all in on getting smashed. Here, which paddle serves you best.
- Fans of yapping with a side of competition and less cardio (read: smaller court)→ Pickleball
- Athleisure advocate who embraces a place where love means nothing and always wanted a reason to serve-scream → Tennis
- Like to hit zingers, drink out of red Solo cups and love a good basement house party → Pingpong
- From Europe, into chess and likes to go balls to the wall against opponents → Squash
- Eyewear enthusiast or new to the paddle sports world → Racquetball
- Goes too hard at the family field day or takes holidays across the pond → Badminton
- Digs a foursome; on top of the upcoming trends or in-touch with what’s going on abroad → Padel
- Thinks handball is a racket and enthusiastic about the lovechild of tennis, pickleball and racquetball → Paddle ball
Related Articles
Share this Post