Although the allure of pickleball may seem confusing at first glance, Cheyenne resident Ray Estes insists that once people start playing the game, they’ll quickly understand why it’s become all the rage.
Estes said pickleball is more akin to chess, while he believes tennis is more similar to checkers.
“There’s more control and you’re going to learn that much more quickly than tennis,” Estes said. “It’s not as taxing physically speaking.”
Pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in America for the past three years, a growth that bloomed out of social distancing measures enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic because the sport can be easily played without coming in close contact with others.
“This is where we saw crucial growth of the sport,” Estes said. “People were drawn to the fact you could still have connections with each other.”
Estes started playing pickleball immediately before the pandemic and a few months later was already playing in competitive tournaments.
“You can pick it up quickly and improve rapidly,” Estes said.
A pickleball court is roughly half the size of a tennis court. The ball is similar to a wiffle ball, offering a more forgiving, softer bounce than a tennis ball, which is easier on the body because it requires less quick muscle movement. The style of the play also requires a much softer touch than tennis, with the most successful play usually taking place right at the net.
Even though the pandemic is over, the sport’s popularity isn’t, proven by the fact a new indoor pickleball facility opened in Cheyenne on Saturday called The Picklr Cheyenne, of which Estes is the owner. The facility offers eight pickleball courts, a practice wall, private lessons, classes and leagues from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The sport of pickleball has exploded to the point of spawning competitive leagues and professionals. This 2024 Pro Pickleball Association World Championships were plyed in November in Texas. (Getty Images) 
Teh Picklr in Cheyenne is Wyoming's second indoor pickleball facility, showing that the growing sport continues to gain traction in the Cowboy State. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
Teh Picklr in Cheyenne is Wyoming's second indoor pickleball facility, showing that the growing sport continues to gain traction in the Cowboy State. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
Teh Picklr in Cheyenne is Wyoming's second indoor pickleball facility, showing that the growing sport continues to gain traction in the Cowboy State. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
A pair of pro pickleball players square off in the 2024 world championshis in Texas in November 2024. (Getty Images)
'Going To Boom Like Crazy'
Cheyenne resident Jeff Gillotti was invited to be a doubles partner with an elderly man in a seniors’ tennis league even though Gillotti was in his 30s while living in southern California some years back.
“Literally, we put most of them in the hospital,” Gillotti said.
In contrast, he said the low-impact nature of pickleball allows participants to engage fierce competition without running a serious risk of injury.
“Pickleball is tennis for people who don’t like to move a lot,” he said. “It serves a purpose. It gets people out there who normally couldn’t handle the exercise of tennis, or they can’t handle the lateral movement of other sports.”
He also said the sport extends the competitive desires for people whose ego may no longer match their actual physical ability.
“You can play and go home and still walk at night,” he said.
Gillotti, a former golf pro, said pickleball’s rise also makes perfect sense when considering how expensive the sport of golf has become and how cheap pickleball is. He found it telling that when he went back to California recently, a large golf and tennis facility he had worked out at was down to two tennis courts and up to 20 pickleball courts.
“I think it’s going to boom like crazy,” he said.
Although the sport has historically been popular with seniors, Estes said people aged 24-32 are now its fastest growing demographic. He wants to start a youth club team at the Picklr and plans to host regular clinics and classes at his courts. He’s encouraged by the fact 20 kids have already signed up for instruction there.
Wyoming Loves It
Pickleball leagues are played at recreation centers and on tennis courts all across Wyoming, and another indoor practice facility already exists in Casper.
When Estes moved to Wyoming after serving in the military about two and a half years ago, he already knew he wanted to open an indoor pickleball facility. In the meantime, he played on Cheyenne’s outdoor pickleball courts, helping grow the sport and keep it competitive.
“Pickleball is a very social community, very welcoming and inclusive,” Estes said. “People laugh and have fun.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
