Pickleball is one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports in terms of popularity, but a recent study shows Iowa is one of the worst states to play. Iowa ranked as 10th worst according to a report from Pickleball Union, which awarded Iowa only 37.2 points out of the possible 100. The study measured various factors, including related online searches per capita, court availability, and average temperatures throughout the year. For those unfamiliar with the sport, pickleball is a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong that appeals to players of nearly every demographic. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, it now boasts almost five million regular players. Many communities in the Carroll Broadcasting area feature pickleball courts in their public parks, but temperature extremes in the summer and winter, limited organized events, and few indoor facilities hurt Iowa’s ranking. Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii took the top three spots with scores of 74.6, 70.5, and 62.5, respectively. Louisiana ranked as the worst state with only 25.3 points, followed by Mississippi with 26.4 and Kentucky at 30.2.
