The Fastest Growing Sport in the World Now Has Its Very Own Pickleball Card Game

Apr 7

Apr 7 The Fastest Growing Sport in the World Now Has Its Very Own Pickleball Card Game

When Rob Morgan stumbled across Pickleball 5 years ago, he did not expect to stay long.

“A friend had mentioned it to me, and I had given him a casual ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll check it out sometime,’ but instead of accepting that he walked to the gym with me and introduced me to everyone, and a few hours later I was online ordering my first paddle!”

Pickleball Smash is a combination of two things that Rob, the creator, loves. “I have always been a fan of card games and board games, and in the past few years I have become a huge fan of Pickleball. This was a great opportunity to combine the two.” Pickleball Smash is a fun and addicting game that both seasoned veterans and people who have never played the sport will enjoy!

Pickleball Card Game, Pickleball Smash — Courtesy of Rob Morgan

“One unexpected benefit of the game that we discovered during play testing,” explains Rob, “was the ability of the game to introduce or reinforce vocabulary and ideas of the game to new players.” The game centers around creating tricks (sets of 3 cards) and playing enough tricks to equal 11 points to win the game. Each type of shot - dinks, blocks, smashes, or the all-coveted ATP (around the pole) - has a different point value. Players collect these cards to create tricks, and the first to score 11 points wins! In addition to the point cards, there are also some penalty cards and some “lucky shot” cards. Drawing a “kitchen violation” or an “illegal serve” card will set you back, but an “Ernie,” “off the net,” or “poach” will assist players on their way towards 11 points.

The game, like the sport it is created from, is played with 2-4 players, and a round takes about 10-15 minutes. Rob says, “In the past few years, we’ve seen excitement and growth surrounding the sport explode, and we are excited to offer the first ever card game to help bring the excitement of pickleball to the table when you can’t make it to the courts.”