Logan pickleball enthusiast says the sport is growing in Cache Valley

In this Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 photo, clockwise from left; Gary Dyson, Del Teter, Donna Shattenberg and David Bone compete in a game of pickleball at Sun City West senior community in Surprise, Ariz. A hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is played on a court a quarter the size of a tennis court, with hard rackets and a variety of whiffle ball. "It's really easy to learn, it's a lot of fun and it's a very social game because you're in a small area with a lot of interaction," said Bill Booth, president of the USA Pickleball Association. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Wally Brazzeal says Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States.

Wally is the President of the Logan Pickleball Association. He said it started to take hold in Logan when he and Bruce Axtell and Bill Knoop  (nop) approached city leaders.

“We, all three, got together and tried to work with the City of Logan, who have been very gracious to add this to their items of things to build. And now we have the Bridger Courts, which are eight courts, at about 1200 North and 400 West, just south of the Bridger Elementary School.”

Pickleball was invented in the 1960s by three families on Bainbridge Island near  Seattle. One family’s dog, Pickles, would run off with the ball. Thus the name.

It is a paddle sport played on a court less than half the size of a tennis court.

He said more courts are popping up around the valley.

”I know Providence has their two courts, or four courts, that came in a year and a half before that. There are a couple of courts in Hyde Park and there are some other outlying communities in Cache Valley that are also adding courts as well.”

Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis table, tennis and racquetball.

Brazzeal said the sport has become popular among the valley’s summer citizens.

Pickleball paddles have a similar shape to an oversized table tennis paddle and are not allowed to exceed a combined 24 inches in width and length. Balls are plastic and perforated with holes, similar to what are known as wiffle balls.

The USA Pickleball Association said there are over 100,000 active players currently involved in the sport.

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1 Comment

  • Eddie Medina February 7, 2019 at 7:27 am Reply

    Would like to learn more about pickel ball

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