PEABODY — It’s no secret that pickleball is booming in many places all over the world. CNBC reported in January that, according to the 2023 Association of Pickleball Professionals’ participation report, more than 36.5 million Americans played the game during a one-year period from August 2021 through August 2022.
Last August, Time magazine reported that, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry report, 52% of those playing at least eight times a year are 55 or older, with nearly 33% of all players ages 65 or older.
No doubt, a contributing factor to the growth of the game is the ease of finding places to play. With pop-up nets and courts, and inexpensive net converters that transform a tennis court into a pickleball court in a matter of minutes, the game can be played practically anywhere.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise the pickleball craze has found its way to Brooksby Village, Peabody’s largest retirement community.
It all started when Glen Rogers moved to Brooksby a few years ago after retiring from his job at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He had already been playing pickleball for a number of years at the North Andover YMCA when he was living in Andover. He asked if Brooksby had pickleball courts and after learning the facility did not, he organized a group that played at Danvers Indoor Sports.
“When I asked if they had pickleball they said, ‘You’re welcome to organize something,’ but they had no indoor court,” Rogers said. “Then, when we weren’t able to play at Danvers anymore the pickleball court was put in here, so we were all set.”
Rogers said that on a typical Saturday morning, there will be a dozen or so men and women of varying ages who play for about two-and-a-half hours. The group has about 20 people on its mailing list. Players set up and pack up the court themselves, an easy process that only takes about a minute.
Rogers said pickleball has multiple benefits.
“When people are playing, they are having fun,” Rogers said. “It’s great exercise and isn’t too strenuous for us. It’s an easy sport to pick up and it doesn’t cost very much to play.”
The group plays on Saturday and Sunday mornings and on Tuesdays in the catering room at the McIntosh building.
Longtime Peabody resident Susan April moved to Brooksby in January but couldn’t play until May due to a torn oblique muscle. After retiring as a nurse at Salem Hospital, she was looking for something to do, so she signed up for pickleball lessons at Huntington. She’s been hooked ever since.
“I needed a hobby,” April said. “I’d never held a racket before, but I needed the exercise and needed something to do.”
April said pickleball is not only a good way to get some exercise in — it’s also fun.
“It can be competitive, but it’s not cutthroat. It’s a happy sport,” she said.
April said pickleball doesn’t require expensive equipment and a paddle can cost as little as $25. She uses a paddle with a longer handle to make up for her short stature. Don’t be surprised to see her use both hands, as she is ambidextrous.
“The longer grip helps me get to low balls,” she said. “And I often will switch my paddle to my left hand because my left-hand forehand is better than my right-hand backhand.”
Jean Furuyama and her husband moved to Brooksby from New York City last October to be closer to their son, who lives in Salem.
“I was looking to get involved in some activities and when I saw pickleball, I just came on down and now I am addicted,” she said. “The people here are just off the charts. They are just really, really nice. What I really like is everyone looks at you and smiles. In New York, they just look the other way.”
Rogers said it’s not unusual for people to pop into the catering room after hearing the sounds of bouncing balls and laughter. On Saturday, a buddy who plays pool with him did just that. Bill Locke, who will celebrate his 102nd birthday in October, declined an invitation to play, saying he preferred to observe.
“It was too competitive for me, too serious,” Locke said.
