Summerfield’s Favorite Orthodontists

“Some people think it’s going to be easy to play when, in fact, their bodies are just not ready for it.”

Citing statistics from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, UBS reported that pickleball grew 159% from 3.5 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million in 2022 when the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions spurred participation.

“Pickleball is as much a social activity as it is exercise,” said Lara Gallert, co-owner and trainer at Alloy Personal Training in Summerfield. “We had lost interaction with other people during COVID.”

At Spears Family YMCA in northwest Greensboro, pickleball play starts at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and draws what wellness coordinator and instructor Tabitha Southard calls “an avid group of players.”