As a former high-school tennis player, I have recently observed that pickleball and tennis players have major issues with each other. Some pickleball players feel that their sport is superior, so they never give tennis a chance. Some tennis players, on the other hand, feel as though pickleball is more complicated than it actually is. Pickleball does require strategic thinking and quick reflexes. However, tennis has its own demands with a different level of physical endurance and mental stamina.

I got into pickleball last summer after some of my fraternity brothers introduced me to it. I feel that tennis and pickleball are equal sports. They each have wonderful health benefits, and if people gave each sport a chance, then they might surprise themselves with how they enjoy both.

With lingo being the main difficult facet of the game, the idea that pickleball is too complicated can quickly go away after one learns the vocabulary. Modern tennis was invented in the late 1800s, meaning society has had a lot more time to learn the lingo. Pickleball, while introduced in 1965, only gained popularity within the last few years.

Pickleball is a fairly new sport, so when players hear the lingo, they are afraid to learn how to play. One word from the lingo that caused me trouble was the idea of the “kitchen,” which is the square close to the net. Dink, which is a soft shot that hits barely above the net, is another example. The dink makes more sense, but the difference of words from their meanings can cause problems for players.

Pickleball and tennis are very similar to each other. The idea that these two sports are often put against each other is a huge disservice to either sport. Both have huge health benefits and they both make people happy when they play. For the people who ordain themselves as “gatekeepers,” they are perpetuating the stagnant opinion of only supporting the familiar. If we do not explore new and exciting ideas, then everyone will be limited and possibly miss out on a sport they might find much joy in participating in.

Whether a sport is our ‘pick’ or not, we can support others in what they enjoy and make our communities more connected by lifting each other up.  I hope everyone can have the opportunity to try both sports and make their own opinion. Every sport has something to offer.  If a person hates something without trying it first, then they are doing a disservice to themselves.

Tennis has made its impact worldwide for centuries now. However, this newer game can still be exciting and make a big splash of success in the public arena. I believe pickleball is here to stay, and the future will bring much excitement for the game and its players.