Pickleball Takes Princeton by Storm: If residents of Princeton haven’t already caught on to the pickleball craze, they soon will. This sport, a compact fusion of tennis, ping pong, badminton, and volleyball strategy, can be played in smaller outdoor spaces—like a driveway if it’s level and roomy enough for a two-car garage.
Pickleball emerged as the perfect pastime during the pandemic, and its popularity skyrocketed, making it the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Now, it graces television screens almost daily. Just last month, it even hit prime time on CBS, where Stephen Colbert, a known pickleball enthusiast, hosted a celebrity pickleball tournament filled with bad puns and star power.
Pickleball Facilities in Princeton
In Princeton, the sport has found a home at the Princeton Senior Resource Center, which features indoor pickleball courts at the Suzanne B. Patterson Center on Monument Drive, behind the former Borough Hall.
The PSRC offers pickleball instructions on Wednesdays, December 7 and 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a fee of $10 per person. Additionally, groups of four players can book a one-hour session for $30 (Princeton residents) or $35 (non-residents). However, interested participants should act quickly, as most time slots through December are filling up fast.
Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that pickleball courts have also opened at Community Park South, located at the far end of the tennis courts behind Community Park School and Community Park Pool, near the tennis wall. The four courts are available from dawn to dusk (weather permitting) on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are no reservations or fees required.
However, pickleball lovers should note that the courts are part of a trial period running until the end of March. If usage is sufficient, the Recreation Department is likely to make them a permanent fixture; otherwise, pickleball enthusiasts could find themselves in a pickle.
Community Support for the Sport
Pickleball sport has already attracted a passionate following. Junglien Chen, a Princeton resident who took up pickleball with his elementary-aged daughter during the COVID lockdown, is a notable proponent. After noticing that tennis courts were often crowded, he found that pickleball’s dynamics “level the field” for players of all ages and skill levels.
Chen has become something of an unofficial ambassador for pickleball in the area. Soon after the Recreation Department opened the Community Park courts, he invited Karin Rentschler, an official ambassador from the USA Pickleball Association, and fellow enthusiast Jo Marie Holzhammer for a demonstration.
If Chen’s name rings a bell, it might be due to his recent activism. He posted a sign on Harrison Street near the Princeton Shopping Center criticizing incumbent School Board members for what he viewed as “phony equity” and “reverse racism.” However, if politics isn’t your forte, steering the conversation toward pickleball is likely to yield a more engaging discussion—he’s got plenty to share.
The Inclusive Nature of Pickleball
Chen, Rentschler, and Holzhammer argue that pickleball is exceptionally inclusive. The plastic ball, reminiscent of a wiffle ball, prevents any single player from dominating with sheer power. The lightweight paddles, more similar to ping pong than tennis rackets, allow for finesse, enabling players with less strength to compete effectively. Additionally, the smaller court size helps mitigate advantages held by faster opponents.
Recently, Chen and his fellow enthusiasts invited a septuagenarian reporter—who hadn’t played tennis in over 30 years—to join in a few pickleball volleys. Surprisingly, muscle memory kicked in, not with tennis strokes but rather a flick of the wrist reminiscent of ping pong. Within minutes, everyone, including the newcomer, was engaged and exhilarated, with elevated heart rates all around.
The Origins of the Game
So, how did this quirky sport earn its peculiar name? Ittour traces back to Bainbridge Island, Washington, in the 1960s, where two vacationing couples and their kids devised a game out of boredom on a badminton court. Using ping pong paddles and wiffle balls, they eventually needed a name. One of the wives, a fan of her college rowing program, suggested “pickle boats,” a term for non-starting rowers who came together to compete as a team. Thus, pickleball was born.
News in Brief: Pickleball Takes Princeton by Storm
Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., gaining immense popularity during the pandemic. Princeton now offers indoor pickleball courts at the Senior Resource Center and outdoor courts at Community Park South. With free, first-come, first-served access, the courts are in a trial phase until March.
If usage is high, they may become a permanent feature. Enthusiasts like Junglien Chen advocate for the sport’s inclusivity, emphasizing its appeal to pickleball players of all ages and skill levels.
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