Pickleball, a sport that originated in the United States, is enjoying rapid growth in Vietnam, attracting the interest of tens of thousands of people who participate in both training and competitions.

A sport that is both familiar and new

Invented in 1965 in Washington, USA by the late Congressman Joel Pritchard and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, pickleball has become a major trend in the United States, with over 13 million players as of 2023.

The sport has even attracted famous personalities such as billionaire Bill Gates and basketball star LeBron James.

Pickleball combines elements from tennis, badminton and table tennis, but has its own charm. It is particularly accessible, easy to learn and suitable for people of all ages.

Since its introduction in Vietnam a few years ago, it has quickly attracted around 10,000 players, especially in big cities. In 2024, pickleball is making waves among youth and becoming a new favorite.

The game is played on a hard court that is 13 meters long and 6.1 meters wide, with a 0.86 meter high net in the middle. The rackets are made of lightweight materials such as composite or graphite, and the ball, which has holes in it, is usually made of polymer.

Pickleball can be played in two variations: singles (two players) and doubles (four players). Players use rackets to serve and hit the pickleball over the net. The rules are similar to tennis.

Points are scored when the opponent fails to return the ball or makes a fault, but only the serving side can score points.

Games consist of three sets. The first team to reach 11 points in singles or 15 points in doubles wins the set. If the scores are tied, play continues until one side is two points ahead.

Gradual introduction and administration

Unlike traditional sports such as tennis, table tennis and badminton, which require considerable skill, physical fitness, financial resources and time, pickleball is much simpler.

Beginners usually master the basics after 2-3 sessions. The low-impact nature of the sport, the small playing field size and the lightweight equipment mean that the risk of injury is lower.

Getting started in pickleball requires only a modest investment of a few hundred thousand to a million VND, which covers shoes, rackets, balls and court rental.

Due to its ease of play and affordability, pickleball has enjoyed popularity among different age groups and has contributed to its rapid rise in Vietnam.

Ngo Ich Quan, head of Division 2 for High Performance Sports in the General Directorate of Sports and Physical Training (GDS), told VietNamNet: “The GDS has only recently started monitoring this sport, so we are first integrating it into a regulated system under government administration to develop it further. Since it is a new sport, we are monitoring it gradually.”

When evaluating the technical aspects of the sport, Quan found that pickleball is easy to play and promotes physical health. Compared to sports such as tennis, badminton or table tennis, pickleball requires players to burn a significant amount of calories. To play well, athletes must regularly practice both technical skills and physical fitness.