Why You Should Become a 'Pickler'
They took to the court at 6 a.m. on Saturday – and didn't call it quits until Monday morning.
For 49 hours straight, CK Kim, Geneva Olson, Abla Mannarino, and Cristobal Del Castillo kept a pickleball match going in Carrollton, Texas.
That's a little more than two full days of dinks, volleys, serves, and sprints around the court.
These players were members of the Pickle Breakers organization, which was raising money for a fellow player facing serious health problems.
Today, the Guinness World Records lists that 49-hour game as the "longest marathon playing pickleball (doubles)."
Of course, most of us aren't trying to land ourselves in the Guinness World Records. But playing pickleball does offer a prize that's a lot more useful: better health.
And according to new research, it might take less time than you'd expect to reap the rewards...
Pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for five years in a row through 2025, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
And that growth has been staggering, with an estimated 24.3 million U.S. players in 2025, up from just 4.2 million in 2020. That's nearly a 480% increase in just five years.
Chances are, you've heard of pickleball. But if you've never played it, you might be curious to know what it's all about.
Think of it as a mishmash of tennis, badminton, and table tennis (aka ping-pong)...
A pickleball court measures 44 feet long, 20 feet wide, and has a roughly three-foot-high net. It's a lot smaller than a tennis court. But like tennis, pickleball can be played with two ("singles") or four people ("doubles").
You hit what looks like a Wiffle ball, except it's smaller, heavier, and has up to 40 holes (versus a Wiffle ball's eight). And you use a paddle that looks a lot like an oversized ping-pong paddle.
Plus, picklers (that's pickleball players) have to be familiar with a unique set of terminology and game rules (which I'll include at the end of today's issue).
The Best Part About Being a 'Pickler'
As a form of exercise, pickleball is considered both low-impact and moderate-intensity.
It's easier on your joints than some other forms of exercise (like running, for example). But it still involves some quick movements, like pivoting and reaching, that require coordination, balance, and a good range of motion.
A 2016 study compared the benefits of playing 30 minutes of doubles pickleball with walking for 30 minutes. The researchers found that playing pickleball resulted in higher average and peak heart rates (which is great for your cardiovascular health), more calories burned, and a higher level of enjoyment than walking.
Another small study found that playing 60 minutes of pickleball three times a week for six weeks led to improvements in participants' cholesterol, blood pressure, and VO2 max (which refers to the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise)...
And for those of you keeping track of your daily step count, slipping some pickleball into your day adds, on average, an extra 3,000 steps.
As we get older, it becomes all too easy for most of us to start packing on some extra pounds. If you're trying to lose that extra weight, pickleball is great for you too...
In a different six-week study involving overweight seniors, folks who added an hourlong pickleball session three times a week lowered their blood-pressure numbers and even reduced their "bad" cholesterol levels.
And a new study should give you even more reason to pick up a paddle...
This randomized-controlled trial, published last month, followed 72 Chinese adults aged 67 on average. All of them had what's known as pre-frailty.
Frailty involves a decline in function and capability across multiple body systems that leaves you more vulnerable to stressors like injuries and illnesses. Pre-frailty is the stage before that. In this study, participants showed one or two signs of frailty, like weakness, exhaustion, slow walking speed, low physical-activity levels, or unintentional weight loss.
Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One continued with their normal routines, while the other group headed to the pickleball court.
The "picklers" played for just one hour, twice a week, for eight weeks. Each supervised session included a 10-minute warmup, 45 minutes of training and playing, and a five-minute cooldown.
After the eight weeks, researchers found that 42% of the pickleball group no longer met the criteria for pre-frailty... compared with just 8% of the seniors who stuck with their normal routines.
Interestingly, the study participants didn't even need to complete all 16 prescribed hours... On average, they completed 13 of the 16 sessions. So missing a workout or two didn't keep them from reaping the benefits.
And an improvement in pre-frailty symptoms wasn't the only improvement, either...
Compared with the control group, the pickleball players were able to complete five more chair stands and nearly four more arm curls in a 30-second period. They could also walk about 100 more feet in six minutes. And based on data gathered from activity monitors worn by the participants, picklers spent about 37 fewer minutes of daily sedentary time and increased the amount of time spent doing light physical activity.
Along with improving your physical health, pickleball has another bonus: socializing.
According to a 2025 survey of 825 Americans aged 50 and over, those who played pickleball reported making more social connections and having more social engagements overall.
Putting you face-to-face with other folks is a great perk of pickleball. After all, about 1 in 4 American seniors report social isolation or loneliness – both of which are linked to a higher risk of suffering from a stroke, heart disease, and dementia. Studies have shown that loneliness is a major contributor to inflammation.
Before You Become a Pickler...
If you've decided to give pickleball a go, there are more than 82,000 pickleball courts nationwide. Finding the courts closest to you is easy, thanks to the Places2Play database that's managed by USA Pickleball. Just type in your location, and the site will tell you where to go.
And as promised, here are three short videos from USA Pickleball to walk you through the basics:
I recommend warming up your body with stretches. For your pre-pickleball prep, go for dynamic stretches – like arm circles – to get your blood pumping early on and warm up your muscles. Save static stretches (where you move less and hold a stretch for about a minute) for post-play. Here's an example of dynamic stretching.
Also, play at your own pace and gradually ramp up the intensity. Remember... it's just a game you're playing for fun and exercise. While I understand wanting to be competitive, try not to overdo it. The older you get, the easier it is to break your bones... and the longer it takes to heal them.
Keep that in mind... This way, you'll avoid getting injured and can enjoy the physical and social benefits of playing pickleball for years to come.
P.S. In just a few weeks, I'll be back at the Stansberry Conference & Alliance Meeting in Las Vegas. We've got an elite lineup of guest speakers tackling the biggest forces shaping wealth right now − from global markets and emerging technologies to alternative investments and future trends. Click here for a discounted livestream ticket so you can watch me LIVE from your phone or laptop in the comfort of your own home.
What We're Reading...
- Something different: Can Andre Agassi enjoy pickleball more than he hated tennis?
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
September 8, 2026