If you've recently seen two or four people batting around what looks like a whiffle ball on what looks like a miniature tennis court using what look similar embankment paddles, what y'all've actually witnessed is the fastest-growing sport in America: pickleball. Participation shot upwards 21.iii percent from 2019 to 2020, and Denver is no exception to that trend.

Pickleball was on the rise before COVID-19, says Rachel Heise, the general director of 32-year-quondam Game-Fix-Match—a local racquet and paddle sports outfitter with four stores in the metro area—merely as an outdoor, inherently distanced, depression-bulwark-to-entry sport, its popularity exploded during the pandemic. When tennis-centric Game-Gear up-Lucifer surveyed its customers in January, more than than a quarter of the almost 600 respondents said they played the badminton/lawn tennis/ping-pong hybrid, which was invented near Seattle in 1965 past a few dads trying to entertain their kids. "For a while, it seemed very recreational; I categorized it as a beer sport," Heise says. "That'southward non true anymore. There's a U.Due south. Open for pickleball, and information technology's actually getting quite serious."

Another stereotype that's gone by the wayside: that it's a toned-downwardly version of tennis for seniors who can no longer hack it with a racquet. "I can't say it's erstwhile people anymore," says Roxie Augustine, recreation coordinator for Arvada's Apex Park and Recreation District, who has seen her leagues double in size over the past few years and more than 170 people sign up for Apex's morning mixers. "It'southward all ages."

If yous want to bring together the dinking, smashing, drop-shotting hordes, here's the skillful news: "It'due south pretty affordable—you really only need a paddle, some assurance, and somewhere to play—and it'southward easy to learn," Heise says (The states Pickleball'due south website is a adept place to review the rules). "Pretty much anyone of any age can pick information technology up, and perchance they're not going to proceed the pro pickleball bout, only they can take fun and take a reasonably competitive game."

Here, we answer what you demand to know to bask pickleball, Denver'southward new favorite sport.

Pickleball paddle
Babolat'southward new XPLR paddle is great for beginners. Courtesy of Babolat

What Do I Need to Play Pickleball?

Pickleball Paddles

These range from cheap, loud, difficult wooden paddles to light, powerful, pricey graphite models, with composites in between. For $39, you lot can snag the Franklin Activator Starter Kit—two bones paddles and two balls—at any of Game-Set up-Friction match'southward locations. If you think you might get hooked, all the same, consider taking advantage of Game-Set-Lucifer's demo program: For $five you can effort a paddle out for iii days (or $7 for x days), and that coin goes toward your buy if y'all decide to buy. Heise recommends testing out a few back-to-back then yous can actually feel the differences. For beginners with $79 to spend, she likes the new Babolat XPLR, which has a somewhat rounded grip (as opposed to rectangular), making for an easier transition for those used to swinging lawn tennis racquets. Advanced players should check out the Babolat MNSTR ($139); Heise says testers are raving almost its spin-generating capabilities, and it features a dampening pad made of a cloth the aerospace industry uses to stifle airplane vibrations. (Both Babolat paddles will be available starting May 18.)

Pickleballs

The main thing to know here is the divergence between indoor and outdoor pickleballs. Indoor pickleballs are larger to aid tedious them down, while outdoor pickleballs—oft in brighter, easier-to-see colors—are smaller in order to movement faster confronting the wind. Game-Fix-Lucifer sells a diversity (and they'll match any competitor'due south toll on a like-for-like item, so you might as well back up a local business instead of ordering them from yous-know-where).

Courtroom Shoes

Special shoes aren't required, only, every bit Heise says, playing in runners can be "a good way to scroll an talocrural joint." For lateral stability and a tough rubber sole that won't mark up the playing surface, any court shoe volition do, but in that location are pickleball-specific kicks out there (such as Yard-Swiss' $99 Limited light pickleball shoes).

Where Can I Play Pickleball?

Outdoor Pickleball Courts

Within the Mile High City's boundaries, Denver Parks and Recreation has four outdoor courts each at the post-obit locations:

  • Northfield Athletic Complex
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Park
  • Skyland Park
  • Congress Park
  • Huston Lake Park
  • Bear Valley Park
  • Eisenhower Park

These are complimentary and largely beginning come up, first served. (Four more each are in the works for Sloan's Lake Park and Rosamond Park.) Congress Park in particular is known for its robust, social pickleball scene; grab a friend (although pickleball tin be played as a singles game, doubles are much more than mutual), a libation, and a couple of chairs and head to the green infinite after work to challenge whomever is currently on a court past hanging your paddles on the fence, which is the pickleball equivalent of calling "next."

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Cherry Creek'due south Gates Lawn tennis Center has eight pickleball courts, rentable for $5 per hr daily; for $6 per time (or $forty for a 10-pack), you can reserve a drop-in spot and test your skills against other locals from ane to 3 p.chiliad. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Northwest of the city, Arvada's Simms Street Recreation Middle is a pickleball mecca: 24 outdoor courts are open up for costless drop-in play from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily (nonresidents can pay $10 per hr to hire a court in the mornings; leagues utilise most of the courts in the evenings).

In Littleton, Cornerstone Park's half dozen courts are ideal for evening play, since they're lighted while Daylight Savings Fourth dimension is in result. You tin reserve courts online; pricing varies from $10 per hour to $xxx per hour based on residency and off-hours versus prime time.

Pickleball Classes & Leagues

Prior to the pandemic, Denver Parks and Recreation was amping upward its pickleball offerings (and hosting two to three tournaments a year) due to the sport's popularity; it hopes to resume classes and competitions later on in 2021. The Gates Tennis Center, Noon'due south Simms Street Recreation Center, and S Suburban Parks and Recreation's Cornerstone Park all host a variety of clinics and leagues throughout the summer. Don't miss Simms Street's annual Apex Foundation Memorial Twenty-four hours Pickleball Tournament (May 29 and xxx this twelvemonth; register by May 21) with a wide range of categories for players xviii and up.

For more, well, flexible league play, annals your team past June i for Pickleball Flex League'southward summer session. You'll choose a home court facility and skill level when you sign up and be matched with opponents based on those selections; matches (half home, half away) tin can be played anytime during the season, based on what works for everybody'southward schedules.