What started as a backyard fix for bored kids has become America’s fastest-growing obsession. In this episode, we trace the unlikely rise of pickleball—the 1965 mash-up of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong that’s now taking over courts, driveways, and community centers nationwide. We explore how the pandemic turbocharged its growth, why it’s easier, cheaper, and more welcoming than traditional racquet sports, and how manufacturers and clubs are racing to cash in. With soaring participation and talk of Olympic dreams, we ask: is pickleball just a trend, or the future of American sport?

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/01/28/pickleball-is-the-fastest-growing-sport-in-america