(Radio Iowa) Pickleball is said to be the fastest-growing sport in America, and more than 20 Iowa cities have opened new pickleball courts this year. The game is played on a small court with a net, similar to tennis or ping pong, and players use paddles to hit a plastic ball with holes across the net to score points.

(That’s Stephanie Mehmen (MAY-men), general manager of Pickle Palace in Cedar Rapids.) The restaurant and event space opened in January and has six pickleball courts. Jesup resident Megan Gable started playing pickleball with her kids last year.

Photo from USA Pickleball Association.org.

While more courts are being found in cities like Des Moines and Davenport, rural Iowans are jumping on the trend, too. Two years ago, Winthrop resident Dave Flexsenhar converted the hay loft in his barn into a pickleball court. He plays there in the wintertime every week, or on rainy days when they need an indoor court.

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the number of pickleball players has tripled in the past three years.