What’s the dill with Oklahoma City’s new popular pastime, pickleball?

It’s time to grab your paddle and hit the courts, OKC! If you haven’t checked out one of Oklahoma City’s pickleball attractions, you may have to make a reservation ASAP because April is National Pickleball Month. This sport has become increasingly popular throughout the nation, and thanks to locations like Chicken N Pickle and OKC Bricktown Pickleball (aka Brickleball) you won’t have to travel far to try it out. 

The sport was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, and, contrary to what one may assume, there aren’t any pickles involved. (Fear not though, fit your pickle craving in with an order of fried pickles from Chicken N Pickle.)

According to the USA Pickleball website, the origin of the name is still up for debate with two differing accounts:

1. According to Joel Pritchard’s wife (Joan), she started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.”
2. According to Barney McCallum, “the game was officially named after the Pritchards’ dog Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it.”

Regardless of if the name relates to the creation of a boat crew or one of the dogs of one of the inventors, it is certainly one to bring joy to your life! Like tennis, pickleball is played either as doubles or singles, but you can also play with only three people. On a badminton court, all players will need a paddle and at least one ball for the game. If you need a rundown of the rules, this link provides a decent overview.

With opportunities becoming increasingly available for gatherings, meeting to do something active presents a safe way to return from a mostly at-home existence. Pickleball is a great option for anyone who wants to share a new experience with a friend instead of going to a bar or restaurant.

Both Chicken N Pickle and OKC Bricktown Pickleball encourage reserving a court to play. Each location offers rental of paddles and balls, but you may also want to bring your own.

If you want to get really serious about the sport, there are options to join a league for the summer season or become an annual member of the Greater Oklahoma City Pickle Ball Club (GOPB)! The GOPB began in 2009 and has grown from just a few players to over 800. A detailed history of the club can be found here. Many of their events happen at the Santa Fe Family Life Center or the Kickingbird Pickleball Center, and both locations offer free lessons! At Kickingbird, lessons are on April 1st, 8th and 15th  from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and on Monday evenings from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on April 5th, 12th and 19th. The Santa Fe Family Life Center (6300 N. Santa Fe) lessons are every week Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Players range in age from 11-87-years-old.

If you’re 80+, your membership for the Greater Oklahoma City Pickleball Club is free! Otherwise, the $40 membership dues include a club nametag, free balls at all locations, and court supplies and usage—a great deal if this becomes your new hobby!

That’s the dill, OKC! Give pickleball a try and let us know your favorite spot to play!

This article originally appeared on The Better Life blog.