Enhance your Pickleball Performance with GO Sleeves

In the last few years, pickleball, this once-niche sport, has become a favorite across the US. As the sport moves into the mainstream, more people are wondering: what the heck is pickleball?

Pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in the US, with over 36 million Americans trying pickleball at least once in 2022. It’s big business too. Major League Pickleball (MLP) has attracted massive investment from sports giants like Mark Cuban and LeBron James, who both bought MLP teams in the last three years. There has been an enormous rush for pickleball court space, and new facilities are popping up daily nationwide.

Whether you're new to pickleball or have been hitting every pickleball pickup game in your neighborhood, GO Sleeves might be your new secret weapon to up your game. Just pull them on and off you go—getting support where you need it most—we see our customers use them most for their knees and elbows when it comes to pickleball.

NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry is now a competitive pickleball player, establishing himself as one of the top players in his age group. Rick competes in GO Sleeves Knee Sleeves for support.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a blend of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. It’s played with a flat paddle, similar to an oversized ping-pong paddle. The ball is a lightweight, perforated plastic ball slightly larger than a tennis ball (similar to a wiffle ball).

This ball is ‘dinked’, or hit, back and forth across a low net (2” lower than a tennis net) on a court around one-third the size of a tennis court. The gameplay is similar to tennis, but the scoring is different—you can only win points on your serve.

Pickleball is most commonly played in doubles, and the combination of this format and a small playing area makes it an inherently social game. Pickleball and its fans (also known as ‘pickleheads’) are known for their fun, welcoming nature, and thriving social scene.

Sounds pretty simple, right? So what’s all the fuss? This formula makes for a competitive, social, and addictively entertaining game that almost anyone will fall in love with.

Why is pickleball so popular?

During the 2020 global pandemic, pickleball’s popularity snowballed. Social distancing made many sports inaccessible, but pickleball was an exception. It’s played outside, and there is no physical contact between participants. 

After months of Netflix binges and sourdough studies, people were keen to let off some physical steam, get outside, and be social… plus we all had plenty of time on our hands to learn a new sport!

Pickleball’s recent popularity is a phenomenon. The US has 36.5 million active pickleball players, with a 158% growth rate over the last three years! With over 10,000 places to play pickleball across the US, the sport is more accessible than ever, and that number is multiplying.

Competitive pickleball player EJ Kersten uses GO Sleeves Calf Sleeves for calf support.

Pickleball is Accessible

In the last three years, pickleball has become much more accessible. With over 10,000 locations to play pickleball nationwide and more courts popping up monthly, there is plenty of opportunity to play. Many of these courts are in public parks or facilities, so there is no need to have a country club membership to play.

Pickleball is Easy to Learn

Almost anyone can pick up Pickleball in a single session. The rules are pretty straightforward, and players can get a feel for the game in their first match. You don’t have to train or take classes before stepping onto a pickleball court.

Pickleball is a Social Game

Pickleball is a highly social sport. With four players on the court during a game, it is the perfect excuse to meet up with your friends. The sport doesn’t take itself too seriously gives it a uniquely welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Pickleball is often played in an ‘open play’ format, where players rotate partners and courts. This format can accommodate 50+ players, creating new opportunities to meet fellow players in your area.

Pickleball is Great Exercise

Pickleball is an excellent workout! While you don’t have to be too intense to enjoy a great game, pickleball gets you moving and your blood flowing, which is beneficial to players of all ages.

While there are indoor pickleball courts, it is more common to play outdoors, and can be a great way to get sunshine and fresh air while exercising on a nice day.

The History of Pickleball

While it may feel like pickleball is a recent sport, it has been around since the mid-1960s. As legend has it, two dads came up with the game one lazy afternoon while on vacation near Seattle.

With bored families to entertain, Bill Bell and Joel Pritchard raided their garden shed and invented a fun new game that could be played on their badminton court. Using ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball, they improvised, and as they say, the rest is history.

Over the next few decades, the sport swept across the country through retirement communities, YMCAs, and community centers. Slowly, it gained a modest but devoted following. In 2005, the sport gained a governing body, USA Pickleball.

Professional Pickleball

Pickleball's global popularity is rising, creating more opportunities for making the game a career opportunity. Players can compete at the National Championships with tournaments nationwide.

According to the USA Pickleball website, “The USA Pickleball National Championships is the premier professional and amateur tournament in pickleball. Established in 2009, the National Championships has evolved into the first and only pickleball tournament in which players must qualify to participate. To be eligible to participate in the 2023 National Championships, you must have played in a qualifier tournament.”

While pickleball is not yet an Olympic Sport, we would bet that it will be soon!

Enhance your Pickleball Performance with GO Sleeves

Whether you're new to pickleball or have been hitting every pickleball pickup game in your neighborhood, GO Sleeves might be your new secret weapon to up your game. Just pull them on and off you go—getting support where you need it most—we see our customers use them most for their knees and elbows when it comes to pickleball.

Applied Science for Every Body

Compression sleeves only compress. But GO Sleeves apply the same techniques prescribed by medical professionals to bring the right support to the right places at the right time, triggering your body’s natural ability to heal and recover.

How It Works

GO Sleeves are engineered to help your body do what it was designed to do: heal and recover. Built-in silicone strips gently lift and stretch the skin around your knee’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons to encourage recuperating blood flow and lymphatic drainage—improving circulation and reducing inflammation, decreasing recovery time between training sessions. In a survey, GO Sleeves customers reported 60% less pain, inflammation, tightness, and usage of pain medications after using GO Sleeves.

Stay Active Longer & Compete Harder - During Activity - GO Sleeves give you optimal and targeted support where you need it most while facilitating full range of motion. Because GO Sleeves help improve blood flow and reduce lactic acid build-up, you can experience more peak performance and less pain so you can stay focused on the game.

Recover Faster & Stronger - After Activity - GO Sleeves activate your body’s natural ability to reduce inflammation, tightness, and fatigue, which translates to less pain and soreness post-workout. So save your ice and skip the pain meds—just keep GO Sleeves on post-workout or wear them for an hour or two throughout the day.