Almost half a decade ago, when I first started playing pickleball, the core mechanics felt redundant and clumsy, in fact, it felt like it lacked the thrill I needed which I got from other renowned sports.
However, once I got the hang of it and transitioned into bigger and more competitive leagues, it quickly grew on me to the point I even had to go through weeks of fever dreams since addiction was so overwhelming even for a professional athlete like me that have already racked up tons of experience in other sports.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that Pickleball felt way more addicting as compared to other sports which compelled me to curate an article that revolves around the phenomenon “Why Is Pickleball So Addictive?”, scroll right down below to read my hot take about it.
Reasons Why Pickleball Has Became An Eye Candy
Pickleball, amongst many sports, has undoubtedly carved a special place in our hearts for all the reasons mentioned below,
1. Trickles Of Dopamine
Human beings are known to love things that keep them on their toes and reward them with a fair amount of victories every now and then. Pickleball follows similar mechanics due to its easy-to-adapt nature, so anyone partaking in this sport gets to enjoy this game as much as possible since it’s so fun and enjoyable.
As compared to other sports, the rules are balanced out to provide a sense of fair play for both sides, so any side dominating the other i.e. Server or receiver is totally out of the equation.
2. Straight As An Arrow
The sport itself is seemingly “straightforward” and easy to adapt to, so in other words, players don’t really have to jump through hoops in order to wrap their heads around the basic techniques, and honestly, as long you have a pulse, motivation, and ability to pick up the Paddle and hit the ball, you can easily play the game and have the best time of your life.
On the flip side, once you are out of the rookie phase, the fun factor never really decays as you still have to learn a couple of tricks in order to play competitively, this factor alone keeps you pumped up and ignites the fire of motivation in your heart which is pretty much the synonym of addiction.
3. Fat Melting Machine
Pickleball, at first glance, might look like an “innocent” sport designed to cater to old timers and retired, but once you start playing it on a regular basis, even the basic maneuver would give you a run for your money.
In fact, the sport itself is designed to eliminate lethargy as it combines both slow and action-paced strategies, so even if you play it for a couple of months, you will have a leaner body with a well-built physique since every muscle in your body is used when you are pushing your limits to hit the critical Dink shot.
And once you see the positive results, it’s safe to assume that you wouldn’t want to go back to your lifestyle which aggravated your health and body.
4. Extroverts Heaven
One of the pivotal attributes of playing Pickleball is enjoying the interactions and the contacts you make along the way, in fact, you get to meet so many new individuals every day is palpable. If you are an introvert who wants to change your lifestyle or an extrovert who loves a bigger and more broad-spectrum company, pickleball is certainly a sport designed for your needs.
In fact, it is a perfect starter sport to shape your personality as it directly fosters camaraderie and sportsmanship so you can step into competitive leagues fairly well, this factor directly correlates to the addiction since you get to share a wholesome experience with other individuals who share a similar mindset.
5. Eliminates Depression
Sorrow and despair suck the energy out of your life and it’s pretty evident that once you are depressed you barely have the motivation to do anything let alone go out and enjoy a physical sport.
However, once you are amongst such a positive and supportive community, your depression levels are likely to be reduced to a considerable level because the interaction would help you uplift your mood so it’s highly likely that you would get addicted to such a wholesome experience.
Is Pickleball Addiction Bad?
It all boils down to how you play the game, in general, it’s not just a sport, it is a lifestyle because it changes your sedentary lifestyle to a healthy one and uplifts your mental well-being since this sport is heavily socially inclined you get to join clubs and meet people in bigger leagues.
While I wouldn’t specifically call it an “addiction” as long as you play it in moderation since the term itself is perceived from a negative perspective, getting a hang of this sport will only reap benefits beyond your imagination especially if you want to get in shape or want to build reflexes and ultra instincts so you can kickstart your career in it.
However, keep in mind that excess of everything is bad so moderation is a necessity otherwise you are likely to have to face issues like,
- You might lose your job or fail in your studies due to not paying attention to your responsibilities
- Injury in sports isn’t rare, even if you are pretty careful with yourself, so make sure you don’t push your limits.
- Pickleball equipment can cost an arm and limb, so getting addicted can come off as a little too costly.
How Should I Control My Addiction For Pickleball
The mental stimulation you achieve might sometimes be overwhelming, here are some countermeasures you can perform that will help you overcome your addiction problems.
- Only partake when you want to take the steam off and don’t spend all of your time on the pickleball court, try planning a proper routine so you can easily schedule your priorities without neglecting them.
- Partake in other extracurricular activities and make sure you create a balance, so you can enjoy every aspect of your life without getting overwhelmed by them.
- If the withdrawal period is challenging, try talking to your mentor or your coach so that they can help you effectively in this situation.
Why Is Pickleball So Addictive? – Wrap Up
Although Pickleball is a fairly new sport, it has still created an unstoppable phenomenon that has had everyone head over heels.
While enjoying a physical extracurricular activity is always a commendable behaviour as it paves the way to a healthy lifestyle, you should partake in it to such an extent that it compels you to neglect the responsibility that you may have in your everyday life.
So, make sure you follow moderation and design a proper routine to set a great precedent amongst your peers and friends.
