Ever heard of pickleball?

Well, for those who are practically hooked on the game, it is described as a combination of competitive sport, plain fun and camaraderie for anyone from 18 to 80-plus.

Pickleball has recently been deemed the fastest growing sport in America and has been described as “a combination of table tennis, tennis and badminton.”

The game uses a Wiffle ball and paddles that look like large table tennis paddles. The rules of pickleball are similar to those of tennis.

If you’ve driven down Golden Eagle Blvd. when the sun wasn’t too high in the sky, you’ve likely seen folks playing pickleball on the courts adjacent to the high school.

Locally, the Fountain Hills Pickleball Club has grown in membership to around 300 members with games being played on its six courts daily for beginners, intermediates, competitors as well as mixed open play sessions.

According to club member Dave Long there is, however, a warning for anyone thinking about giving pickleball a try: The United States Pickleball Association (USAPA.org) calls the game a “highly contagious, progressive and incurable disease” and estimates that between 40,000 and 50,000 people worldwide are currently infected.

“While rarely fatal, the disease has an enormous positive impact on the lives of the infected,” claims USAPA.

For folks who are interested in the sport, there are several ways to get involved now that the fall months will shift Arizona into prime pickleball weather just about 24-7.

Orientation for beginning players is held the second Saturday of each month, October through April (except for December), from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the courts adjacent to Fountain Hills High School on Golden Eagle Blvd.

Space is limited to the first 20 players who sign up via email to fhpickleball@gmail.com. A fee of $15 for this session may then be applied to the membership fee of $40 if interested parties join the day of orientation.

Paddles and balls are provided and players must be 18 years of age or older. All participants are encouraged to bring water, wear athletic shoes and a visor.

To learn more about the Fountain Hills Pickleball Club, visit the website at fountainhillspickleball.com or search FaceBook for “Pickleball in Fountain Hills, Az.”