Love and Pickleball in Charlotte North Carolina

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A pickleball court.
A Pickleball Participant Practices Outdoors, Photographer: Mary Beth Skylis

A quick look at the Rally Pickleball website tells you that the Charlotte-based athletic space is dedicated to, “an active social life.” But what it doesn’t say is that many athletes find themselves flirting between sets, sneaking glances at strangers from across the room, and primping in the bathroom to make sure they look their best. The flip of the hair, the seductive grin, and the readily-available cocktails makes it easy to relax into the exploration of love. Meg Charity, one of Rally’s founding members, even told me that this is where people go to find their life partner.

I wasn’t single when I found myself on the Rally courts this summer, but I watched the local mating season in sheer fascination. Parties of people gathered on the courts and took breaks on a nearby couch while flashing grins to other players from across the room. One party members quickly became a target of those mesmerizing glances. She became flushed and shy, but receptive to one man’s playful glance. Before long, she challenged him to a match where she could let out her competitive side before ending the evening with a beverage.

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Enjoy the Comfort Zone at Rally Pickleball.
The Comfort Zone at Rally Pickleball. Photo Credit: Mary Beth Skylis

When was pickleball created?

While Rally Pickleball is one of the hottest pickleball communities in the nation today, the sport has been around for a while. Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. But it wasn’t until 1976 that pickleball had its first, formal tournament. It’s only recently become wildly popular across the United States.

Why does everyone love pickleball so much?

The rule book of U.S.A. Pickleball even states that pickleball’s key goals include “fun and competition.” So, those who are attracted to a good time often find that the sport is less serious than tennis or even badminton.

In addition to perking players up with loads of laughter, pickleball is also extremely community-oriented. A sport that attracts players of all ages, most people find it to be more accessible than other team sports. Paddles and balls run less than the cost of a nice 2-person dinner. The rules are simple. And most of the time, those who head to the courts are looking for some type of connection, too (if you know what we mean).

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Onsite bar at Rally Pickleball
Rally Pickleball’s Onsite Bar. Photo credit: Mary Beth Skylis

Another reason why some athletes are flocking to play pickleball is because they’ve found that places like Rally Pickleball make a great “third space”. Sociologist, Ray Oldenburg, suggested that humans need three spaces to thrive in their lives. One space is a person’s home, a second space is often a work space, and a third space is generally a place where they might go to socialize. As more people are working hybrid or remote positions, this third space is becoming more important than ever.

Why do older people love pickleball?

Pickleball provides a great workout. Compared to sports like running, it also tends to be a lower-impact activity, which could help to reduce injuries amongst some athletes.

  • The sport also doesn’t have to be extremely physically strenuous (although competitive athletes tend to make it rather intense).
  • The courts are smaller than tennis courts, which reduces the range that athletes have to run.

As some athletes age, they gravitate towards community classes like Zumba to engage in a workout. Yet the competitive side of pickleball is a huge attraction to many people, which has been shown to reduce depression levels in some players. Finally, pickleball keeps athletes sharp both physically and mentally, which is another reason for older populations to fall in love with the sport.

How does pickleball impact mental health?

Pickleball is great for:

  • Increasing mobility
  • Improving balance
  • Boosting general fitness
  • Impacting mental health

In fact, some evidence suggests that the support can reduce depression, and increase satisfaction. Like many sports, pickleball may add to positive mental health outcomes by releasing endorphins and other happy chemicals. While solitary sports help to promote general health and wellbeing, the community aspect of pickleball gives it an extra boost when it comes to supporting mental health.

Do pickleball athletes get injured frequently?

Compared to other sports, pickleball is generally seen as a lower-impact sport, which would make athletes think that the chance of injury is lower. Yet, like with any sport, there’s always a chance that athletes can get hurt. A 2019 Journal of Medicine study showed that pickleball injuries were on the rise, showing about 19,000 annual injuries. Although it’s less physically demanding than sports like tennis, injuries like sprains, strains, tendinitis, and traumatic injuries still happen. What’s important to note about these numbers, however, is that there’s likely a correlation between the growing popularity of pickleball and growing injuries (so the sport might not be as likely to cause injuries as other sports, but instead be reflecting a rise in popularity).

Is pickleball losing its popularity?

The short answer is: no. This year, pickleball claimed the title of the “fastest-growing sport” for the third year in a row. In 2023, nearly 9 million players were recorded playing the sport – which is about 4 million more than in 2022. The game truly took off during the pandemic when those who were quarantining wanted to find new ways to recreate from a distance. Another reason why the sport is growing is likely due to simple awareness – more and more people are talking about the fun and the community that can be found in a pickleball environment, contributing to rising interest.

Get a coach to teach you at the Rally Pickleball.
A Coach Teaches One-on-One Lessons at Rally Pickleball. Photo credit: Mary Beth Skylis

How does Rally Pickleball fit into the picture?

Rally Pickleball is a place where locals socialize, recreate, and even co-work in Charlotte, North Carolina. The idea came to fruition when Barrett Worthington and Meg Charity began developing an app that connected tennis players and coaches, but the concept quickly shifted to pickleball and creating in-person connections.

Rally Pickleball’s goal was to offer elevated beverages and cuisine as well as foster a sense of community through both old and new friends. The vibe presented a more down-to-earth representation of a country club, where friendship and movement went hand-in-hand. A sport that often doesn’t take itself too seriously, many entry-level athletes find themselves at home on a pickleball court. But that’s not to say that there aren’t hyper-competitive pockets of players.

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Practicing the art of Volleying, Photographer: Mary Beth Skylis

Singles Socials and Other Unique Events

When it comes to finding love, pickleball offers a portal into a social environment with all kinds of prospects. In fact, pickleball-specific businesses like Rally even offer events like “singles socials.” Rally’s most recent social catered to all levels, and was oriented towards 23-35 year olds. It quickly sold out, and provided the bustling, exciting environment that young singles want. But you don’t necessarily have to be in the market for a romantic partner to find yourself making friends during pickleball. Most pickleball destinations also provide tournaments, leagues, or a casual environment where you can simply jump in on a game. But one thing is certain: you’ll be hard pressed to keep a serious face while competing for a win.

Mary Beth Skylis is a freelance journalist who specializes in adventure content and travel. She currently works as a columnist for Backpacker Magazine. She also has by-lines in Women’s Health, Outside Magazines, Trail Runner, Climbing, SELF, Yellow Scene, REI, and Alaska Magazine. When she isn’t writing, she can typically be found in the Rocky Mountains.Follow her on Instagram: @h1kertrash
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