{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Over the summer, there's been one sport taking America by storm. Nope, it’s not ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/news/the-future-of-football-2V0Is4ViiI61sq6fDpD7cB"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"football","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Meet: Pickleball. It’s a racket sport that was invented back in 1965. (Think: Tennis, but with a smaller court.) But in 2022, it seems like everyone and their athletic mother has picked up ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/news/wimbledons-dress-code-4ha1pnpofmFtHsJxcARwdM"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"a paddle and a ball","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Some people love it so much, they even incorporated it ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/style/pickleball-weddings.html"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"into their weddings","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"So how exactly did the US become so obsessed with this sport? Our “","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skimm-this/id1454021155"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Skimm This","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"” podcast team asked ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/sarah-larson"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Sarah Larson","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", a staff writer at ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.newyorker.com/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"The New Yorker","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" who did a ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/can-pickleball-save-america"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"deep dive on pickleball","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", to find out. Check out what she had to say below. Or listen in on the interview ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tKd82GcznTtal6aiajtUJ?si=F72wqjx8SHiQ2UkzJsYo8w&t=1824&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A7EE84czguLACM5cQwUz1J0&nd=1"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"here","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Back up. What is pickleball?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The new ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/misc/things-to-do-with-friends-3v8kisILzy841XNqz4kVpW"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"friend date idea","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" you’ve been waiting for. It’s a combo of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"According to USA Pickleball","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", it can be ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/life/outdoor-games-that-are-actually-fun-51C78Sa8gUBmJeg5AschHp"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"played indoors or outdoors","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". And all you need is a court, a ball with holes in it (like a wiffle ball), a modified or regular tennis net, and paddles. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"How do you play pickleball?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Here are the basic rules of pickleball:","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Pickleball can be played as doubles or singles.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The ball is served underhanded from one side of the court to the other.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Pickleball has a double-bounce rule. Meaning: The ball can only bounce once before the player has to hit it to the other side. But you can also hit the ball out of the air. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"You continue playing until someone makes a “fault” aka a mistake (think: hitting on a double bounce, hitting out-of-bounds). ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Points can only be scored by the serving player or team. When the person serving makes a “fault,” the opposing player or team gets to serve.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The game is played to 11 points, and you have to win by two points.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"}],"nodeType":"unordered-list"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Why is pickleball so popular right now?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The sport is pretty easy to play. Read: Simple ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.vox.com/2015/6/4/8715623/pickleball"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"rules","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", natural athleticism optional. Plus, there's a community element to it that's really different from other sports like ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/podcast/jennette-mccurdy-speaks-serena-retires-as-the-goat-1SzGZa3ifaM75RJ3cuP93r"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"tennis","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"“It's challenging and fun, but accessible,” Larson said. “It's a simple way of getting people moving and active and happy and ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/misc/how-to-make-friends-in-a-new-city-3eV8S1IYMpKPnKE8AF2acg"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"connecting to one another","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"That communal element is so strong that one person ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/can-pickleball-save-america"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Larson interviewed","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" said that pickleball could \"save America\" and heal the country's divisions. And according to Larson, it’s not a crazy idea. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"“Under the right conditions, it can inspire people to call on their better selves a little bit in a way that [other] sports don't always foster,” she said. “I think if people continue to focus on what they love about it and what makes them feel good in that community way, then I think it does have the potential to really heal certain community connections.”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The biggest thing Larson noticed? How happy the sport made people. “The joy of this sport really touched me,” she said. “Everyone I've talked to at a pickleball recreational ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/misc/wordle-like-games-3Umcj7s1m2oMdoPkgR0o54"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"game","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" or ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/news/how-ncaa-womens-basketball-is-dribbling-into-march-madness-history-4pP76bU7QKEsaNBL7mITIq"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"tournament","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", or [a] day of play in the city where everybody kind of meets up and plays — they're just giddy and brimming with happiness. And they can't wait to come back and do it the next morning.”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"I’m intrigued. How do I get started?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"If you haven't \"pickled\" yet yourself, there are a couple ways to get started. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"“In terms of finding how and where to play, there are these great ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/well/8-apps-thatll-make-you-happier-5syZz35IRaxaaPETqapZxk"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"apps","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" that connect players with one another everywhere,” Larson said. See: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pickleball-buddy/id1468707136"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Pickleball Buddy","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" and ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.pickleconnect.com/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Pickle Connect","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Or this ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.places2play.org/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"pickleball court finder","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Plus, Larson said there are tons of ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwKyO4-WYU"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"videos","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" that can teach you pickleball rules. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Another suggestion from Larson: Jump right into it. “Just getting a cheap paddle and giving it a whirl is probably the best [way]. And then falling in love with it and then wanting to get better.” she said. “That's the other thing that keeps people hooked: ‘I know I can do much better.’”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"theSkimm","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Pickleball has become wildly popular all over the country. And that’s because it’s easier than some sports like tennis, but still brings a community feel to the court. So if you want to start playing, find some like-minded picklers in your area and grab a paddle. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"yr9HmLSJjbj93MRcQam7M","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}