Playing Pickleball: The offbeat sport that's taking over the by-lanes of Mumbai

The Pickleball courts are fuller now in Bandra, says Nikhil Mehrotra, than they were a year ago. Mehrotra started playing Pickleball, an offbeat sport that is taking over Mumbai one court at a time, in 2023. In the last one year, the game, which is nothing like table tennis or tennis even, but looks quite similar, has seen a growing number of Mumbaikars take to it.

Simply defined, Pickleball is a racquet or paddle sport that is played between two or four people, who use the smooth-face of the paddle to hit a perforated hollow plastic ball. Mehrotra is only one of the many Pickleball players in Mumbai right now. The Mumbaikar, who is a film writer, explains, "I started playing with my group of friends in 2023. Initially, we used to book a turf and play cricket. During that time, one of them had started playing Pickleball and then we said let's try this sport, it is really easy."

Growing popularity of Pickleball
It didn't take long for them to book a turf in Juhu. Today, even though they are busy with their jobs, they make it a point to play at least three times a week in a good month, or simply once every two weeks. "It is a lot of fun and not as tough as lawn tennis or like table tennis, Pickleball is somewhere in between; it is also quick."

Elsewhere in Mumbai, Sanket Sabnani joined the bandwagon six months ago. Having previously played tennis, he says the sport was easy for him to pick up and didn't take long for him to adopt the sport. He explains, "A lot of people have started playing this sport. A lot of people who have also never played want to experience playing it and have asked me to take them along for a game."

If the people who want to join Sabnani are an indicator of how more and more people want to play the sport, then the numbers he knows of are more proof. Mehrotra says when he and his friends started out, they used to occupy one out of two courts, and the latter used to be empty. However, a lot has changed since then. "Slowly, I saw the other two courts also filling up and we not getting our slots easily. So, we had to figure out another place in Mumbai in Bandra, and even there the courts are not easily available."

In fact, the 38-year-old and his friends have also started meeting other friends at these courts, who have also started playing. Beyond social circles, the Mumbaikar has also got people from his professional circles who are inviting him to play pickleball with them, thus bonding over a sport that not many people know about or aren't aware it is growing in Mumbai.

Sabnani adds, "I spoke to one of the court caretakers and he informed me that there were 50 courts in and around Mumbai about six months ago but now there are more than 150 courts in Mumbai for people to play Pickleball."

So why is it really becoming popular in Mumbai? "One of the reasons I feel it is becoming popular in Mumbai is because it is an easy sport to pick up. It is also a very good cardio exercise and requires a lot of body movements and quick reflexes," explains Sabnani. It is not only this but also the fact that people of all ages and gender can play and compete with each other that makes it more accessible and popular across the city.

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Finding fitness in Pickleball
Like Sabnani, even Dr Alkesh Bhaya, another Mumbaikar, attributes the popularity of the sport to many reasons. Having only taken up the sport seven months ago, he shares, "Pickleball is gaining widespread popularity because it combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, making it accessible, fun, and social." Beyond that, he says the fact that it requires less specialised skills compared to other sports like tennis, making it beginner-friendly. "People of all ages and fitness levels can play. It is less physically demanding than some sports, which makes it appealing to both younger players and older adults looking for a fun, low-impact activity."

This has been especially encouraging for somebody like Mehrotra, who was never into sports, and in fact was the complete opposite. It has become one of the aspects of his life helping him engage in activities to keep fit simply because he grew up in an era when doing something outside meant more than sitting at home with a phone in one's hand. He talks from experience. He says, "My inclination developed in the last 10 years. Before that, I used to be 125 kgs and reduced weight by working out, walking, and eating right." However, he soon enough took to sports like badminton, volleyball, and even cricket, and Pickleball has been his most recent find, that is now bearing fruit.

It is not only the simplicity or the fitness levels of the game but also the fact that it is often played in doubles, that directly encourages social interaction. "The smaller court size also brings players closer together, promoting camaraderie. Many local parks and community centers are installing pickleball courts, increasing access to the game," he adds.

Beyond the friendly environment, the city-based dental surgeon from Andheri says, "All the badminton courts that I went to in the city near me were getting overcrowded. It was also difficult to find good players for tennis. Here was a sport that was ready for exploration. I guess I just jumped on it and now it is become a very important part of my workout life."

It is not only men but also women like Pooja Rao, a city based media professional, who are taking up the sport. Ever since she started playing Pickleball in 2023, she hasn't looked back. She explains, "The beauty about the sport is that you can play it at any age and you don't necessarily need to have a background in racquet sports." It is some of the reasons she believes is encouraging more people to indulge in the sport. "It also has a quick learning curve, chances of injury are minimal, and has a low cost of entry," she adds.

With the courts being smaller than badminton courts, she says more people feel inclined towards trying it out. If you do feel like getting competitive, then there are intermediate, advanced and pro levels too. "I believe the other benefits are that the speed of the game is slow, it also makes you more agile and fit, improves focus through reflexes, and improves hand-eye coordination. To top it all, it is an addictive sport because of its inexpensive nature," she adds.

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Is the sport affordable?
When talking about any sport today, especially while playing outdoors, the opportunities are many but beyond pursuing it professionally, is it really feasible monetarily? The 33-year-old finance professional from Kandivali says he usually pays around Rs 300-400 for a 2-2.5 hour session within the Goregaon to Andheri locality. He further adds, "The entry fee for the court is somewhere between Rs 1,400-2,000 for a 2-2.5 hour session. So, we split it among 5-6 people." However, the Mumbaikar is quick to say that the price of the court keeps on changing depending on time and location. "The Bandra and Lower Parel courts are very expensive," he states.

While one may think it is only about the court, Sabnani says there are other costs involved like buying a paddle. He explains, "A basic beginner paddle will cost around Rs 2,500 to 3,000 but if someone gets a good carbon fiber peddle then the cost goes upto Rs 15,000 to 20,000, and the advance level paddles cost more than Rs 30,000."