Here are some notes on the fast-growing sport of Pickleball:

- The sport is a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis.

- Games are played on a court with the same dimensions as badminton. Equipment includes an 8-by-15-inch paddle made of wood or fiberglass, a whiffle ball and a net slightly lower than one used in tennis.

- The game was invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Wash. Two men returned from a game of golf and developed the game as a way of entertaining their bored, inactive children.

- Pickleball may have been named after the men's dog, “Pickles,” or after a pickle boat, a boat used by leftover oarsmen that usually finishes last in a race.

- Pickleball is played by 2.8 million people nationwide, that number increasing by 12 percent annually.

- The sport is enjoyed by all ages, particularly older people as it requires little space to cover, yet provides a cardiovascular workout with little risk of injury.

- An average game lasts 12 minutes.

- Pickleball is known to reduce the chance of heart attacks, builds muscle strength, increases energy levels and burns calories.

- Because of the proximity of players — singles and doubles — social interaction is prevalent. The game is inclusive and encouraging.

Source: facty.com