Popularity of pickleball on the rise in Collier County

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NAPLES, Fla. Pickleball is gaining fans throughout Collier County.

Unlike the name, pickleball is not played with a pickle. Instead, the game is played on a small court with a perforated ball and a racket similar to a tennis one.

Pickleball player Richard Nadeau is grateful for the sport.

“I’ve had four back surgeries, (so) I can’t serve the ball in tennis anymore,” he said. “Pickleball was a godsend for me.”

The county hosted the U.S. Open last year, which drew 12,000 spectators, as well as a $2.5 million economic boost to the area, according to the Tourism Bureau.

Pickle-Pro LLC, a Naples-based company that manufactures rackets, became the first company in the world to have its own pro-shop and indoor pickleball courts in one location.

“It’s really convenient for our customers,” said operations manager Tom Watson.

The company also sold 80,000 rackets within the last four years and is growing by 150 to 200 percent each year.

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