Pickleball Statistical Study: Two area residents, Miky Wright, and William Figary, have received national recognition for an article they authored on the statistical factors influencing pickleball matches. The piece was published by the Mathematical Association of America, providing valuable insights for players and enthusiasts.
The study, titled “Should You Choose to Serve First in a Pickleball Match? — MATH VALUES,” explores the potential advantages of serving first in pickleball, contributing to the growing field of sports analytics.
Wright, a faculty member in the math department at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) and the founder of Twin Lakes Pickleball in Leitchfield, combined her passion for mathematics and pickleball in this research.
“I’ve been playing pickleball with passion for the past two years, competing in several tournaments. I’ve always assumed there was a benefit to serving first, but I needed to find out if there was any statistical evidence. As a math instructor who’s been teaching statistics for almost a decade, it was a question I wanted to answer.” – (Wright)
Wright acknowledged the support of her ECTC colleagues Melanie Figary, Joe Galloway, and Navin Madras in refining the article. For Figary, an engineer from Elizabethtown, the project was an opportunity to blend his newfound interest in pickleball with his love for math and programming.
“I was intrigued by this question Miky proposed. I love using math and programming to discover optimal strategies in other games, so I was excited to see where this exploration led us. While some of the outcomes were expected, there were also some surprises along the way that left me very satisfied with what we had accomplished.” – (Figary)
The recognition by the Mathematical Association of America shows the broader interest in applying mathematical analysis to sports, particularly emerging ones like pickleball. The study offers all players and fans a deeper understanding of game dynamics and strategies, adding a new layer to the fast-growing sport.
News in Brief: Pickleball Statistical Study
Miky Wright and William Figary have gained national recognition for their article on pickleball’s statistical dynamics, published by the Mathematical Association of America. Their study, “Should You Choose to Serve First in a Pickleball Match? — MATH VALUES,” explores the advantages of serving first in pickleball, blending Wright’s passion for mathematics and pickleball with Figary’s engineering skills.
Wright, a math instructor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, and Figary, an Elizabethtown engineer, highlight the value of mathematical analysis in sports. Their research enhances understanding of game strategies, reflecting the growing intersection of sports and analytics.
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