pickball

Just in case you are the last person on Earth to take up

- AMANDA KOHR

HERE'S WHY YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO START PLAYING

Pickleball is definitely having a *moment* right now (and no, not just with your mom). Girls around the country are taking up the game in droves (matter of fact, it’s the fastest-growing sport for teens in the country). It’s a fab workout, a great way to hang with friends and don’t even get us started on the adorable gear (have you seen those paddles?).

“You’re going to meet sooo many people once you start playing pickleball,” enthuses 16-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, a pro pickleball player who is currently ranked number one in the world for singles and doubles. “I’ve met so many friends through my games and practices. You never know, you might find your next BFF on the pickleball court!”

Bonus: It’s easy to learn. “Pickleball is like if tennis and ping-pong had a baby,” says celeb pickleball coach Matt Manasse. “Just imagine you’re standing on a ping-pong table or playing a mini version of tennis with a paddle instead of a racket.”

Like tennis, pickleball is played on a court—but instead of using a fuzzy yellow ball, players opt for a plastic ball with perforated holes (kind of like a wiffle ball). Since it is so light, it moves pretty quickly, making pickleball a great choice for anyone who’s down to work up a sweat while having a blast.

Ready to hit the kitchen? (Nope, not for a snack—it’s a part of the court!) We’ve got the dill-ball deets.

Pickleball 101

While pickleball may seem a little complicated (see the above kitchen reference), it can actually be pretty easy…once you get the hang of it.