In case you haven’t noticed, pickleball has overtaken the world. Invented in the early 1970s, it sat dormant for decades with little apparent growth, but in recent years has exploded with (by my count) about three dozen courts in the Holland-Zeeland area and likely more to come.

Pickleball had a natural barrier to overcome — a chicken and egg problem of sorts. No opportunity for people to play unless there were courts and equipment, and no reason to manufacture equipment and build courts unless there were people to play. It was like a boulder sitting in a depression at the top of a hill. It needed a push — what chemists call “activation energy” — to get it rolling.

Apparently, a critical mass of tenacious folk in the state of Washington provided the activation energy, and now, like Starbucks and Apple and our nation’s COVID-19 that all began there, the sport has spread across the U.S.

One reason for its success is that it is cost-effective. The area needed for a pickleball court is one-quarter that of a tennis court, and because most pickleball is team play (two against two), pickleball offers eight times the bang for the buck in real estate. Also, since its devotees include middle aged and retired folk who serve on town councils, it has a voice at the table.

Pickleball is not just for worn out tennis and racquetball players, put to pasture in their later years. As a former enthusiastic of both of those sports, I initially viewed pickleball with a bit of disdain. No more. Granted, not as much running as tennis or pounding as racquetball. A different skill set is needed. Fast reflexes are essential and spin can be helpful — similar to table tennis. Unlike tennis, serving is not important; instead volleying and coordinated team play are key.

I became a convert two years ago — a new religion of sorts. All religions have informal rules not stated in the catechismal creeds, such as when it’s appropriate to clap or shout “AMEN!” I’ve discovered and list below some unstated rules of pickleball — which also provide good advice for living:

— Community Columnist Tim Pennings is a resident of Holland and can be contacted at timothy.pennings@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found at timothypennings.blogspot.com.