By Krystle J Bailey
Get your Pickleball paddles warm and your backhand shot ready for the 2nd annual Pickleball Open coming to Atlantic City this September. As the number of Pickleball enthusiasts in South Jersey continues to rise, there is an increasing demand for more local courts and competitions.
Over the last several years, we’ve seen several local Pickleball arenas pop up throughout Atlantic County, including ProShot Pickleball in Egg Harbor Township, as well as new opportunities to play in Ventnor and Ocean City.
The 2023 Dietz & Watson Atlantic City Pickleball Open will take place September 19-23, 2023, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. This competition is the largest indoor-sanctioned pro, amateur, junior, and para-athlete Pickleball Tournament in the Mid-Atlantic. With over 1,500 players expected this year, the winners will receive a Golden Ticket to play in the USA Pickleball National Championships. These tickets can only be earned by attending a limited number of qualifier events across the country.
Created in 1965, Pickleball combines concepts from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong in an easy-to-learn game that is continuing to spread like wildfire across the globe. As described by Pickleheads.com, “The sport is sneakily addictive, easy to learn, hard to master, slow then fast, casual yet competitive.”
Played in either singles or doubles, the game unfolds on a 20×44-foot court with a 36” regulation net, which the whizzing Pickleball must carefully travel over following a set of simple rules. The first team to score eleven points (and is leading by two points) wins. The rules of the game can be found in further detail at Pickleheads.com. For hands-on learners, classes and clinics can be found throughout the area, though simply asking a Pickleball athlete may be all you need. Many players are eager and willing to share the game with newcomers.
It’s the fun, light-hearted, yet competitive nature of Pickleball that continues to draw new players by the masses to the court. The sport offers a low-impact opportunity to sweat, connect, and have fun with other Pickleball lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
Since the pandemic, when Pickleball was forced out of senior centers and onto outdoor courts, the interest from young adults has increased exponentially, with the highest growing age group being young adults 18-24.
Pickleheads.com is an online database with over 13,000+ facilities listed, where players can find nearby courts, teams, players, and more. The website includes the daily weather, wind speeds, frequently asked questions, and “How to Play” guides.
Ready to give it a shot? Find a court at Pickleheads.com.
Take your Pickleball athleticism to the next level at the 2023 Pickleball Open coming to Atlantic City this September. Visit AtlantiCityPickleballOpen.com for more information.
