“Let’s Play Pickleball!” 13 Great Upstate NY Courts to Play

What an odd name for the fastest-growing sport in America! Yep, that's right. Pickleball is sweeping the nation by storm and if you haven't yet heard about it, you're surely about to.

This strange mixture of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, is growing in popularity with all age groups, from young kids to senior citizens. It began in the mid-1960s as a homemade backyard family game in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Over the next two decades the game's fame spread and today more than 5 million people play on courts, in tournaments, and at clubs around the country.

The seemingly leisurely game can be played either outdoors or indoors based on your preference. You'll find both options on the list below and throughout Upstate New York. You can play the sport with either two or four players on a court. The equipment required to play pickleball is pretty minimal, requiring pretty much just a paddle, a wiffleball-type ball, and a buddy to volley with on the court.

While pickleball seems to be an interesting fusion of tennis, badminton and ping pong, the courts are unique to pickleball. They are much smaller than a typical tennis court, which is why you'll want to find the right places to play in an area near you in Upstate New York. And surprisingly, or not so surprisingly, there are quite a few options.

Here are 13 places to get your pickleball game on in Upstate New York.