If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Making friends used to be easier,” you’re not wrong—and you’re definitely not alone.
In childhood, friendships practically made themselves. We had school, recess, sports teams, and late-night chats at sleepovers—remember those? But adulthood? It’s meetings, errands, back pain, and asking yourself if it’s too late to cancel plans.
While making and maintaining friendships as an adult may seem like it’s objectively harder, it actually is. In fact, it’s been well-documented by psychologists, researchers, and just about every 30-something on Reddit. Go ahead—Google it.
But there’s hope for us older folk looking to make a new friend—and it’s shaped like a paddle.
Let’s talk about why friendship gets tricky in adulthood, and how a simple game of pickleball can turn strangers into doubles partners… and doubles partners into lifelong friends.
Why Is It So Hard to Make Friends as an Adult?
Before we get to the pickleball aspect, let’s take a quick look at some science behind the real struggle to make friends later in life.
According to research from the American Psychological Association, adults need many of the same ingredients for friendship that kids do: frequent, low-pressure interactions and shared vulnerability. The problem? Adult life doesn’t really offer either because we adults blur the line between friendship and dating.
“When we view behaviors that create intimacy—being vulnerable, buying gifts, taking someone out on a date—as only appropriate for a romantic relationship, we end up limiting the potential of our friendships,” said psychologist Marisa G. Franco, PhD, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland.
Here are just a few reasons adult friendships are more complicated to form:
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Fewer natural opportunities: You’re not sharing a lunch table or gym class anymore. School, dorms, and youth sports used to do the heavy lifting for us.
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Packed schedules: Between work, kids, partners, and the mythical concept of "me time," there’s just not a lot of bandwidth.
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Existing friend circles: Many people already have established groups—and adults aren’t always great at making space for newcomers.
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Fear of rejection: Vulnerability is tougher when you're older, wiser, and have already seen how friendships can fall apart.
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More selective: We’ve learned to protect our energy. That’s good for boundaries, but not always great for forming new bonds.
Oh—and here’s a fun stat: according to researchers, it can take over 200 hours of shared time to build a close friendship as an adult.
200 hours?
And it also sounds a little daunting, right?
Enter Pickleball: The Friendliest Sport on the Court
Here’s where things get interesting.
Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in North America for four years in a row (and counting…), isn’t just easy to learn and fun to play—it also happens to be incredibly good at bringing people together.
Like, friendship-building-machine good.
Here’s why:
It’s Social by Design
Pickleball is most often played in doubles, which means you have to talk to someone. Add in rotating partners during open play, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for low-stakes conversation, teamwork, and connection.
It’s kind of like speed dating, except no one’s trying to impress you, and everyone’s wearing court shoes.
It’s Accessible
You don’t need to be athletic or have prior experience to jump into a game. The rules are simple, the court is small, and the vibe is welcoming. This means players of all ages and abilities can play together, removing the usual barriers to entry and friendship.
It’s Good for Mental Health
Playing regularly has been linked to reduced feelings of loneliness and depression and increased life satisfaction. That’s no surprise when you consider that consistent, enjoyable social interaction is one of the top predictors of long-term happiness.
The inclusive nature that pickleball intrinsically produces, leads us to consider the potential of this sport in the field of mental health, as recognized by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe (2016).
– Pickleball and mental health in adults: A systematic review, National Library of Medicine
It Builds Real Community
Whether it’s a drop-in game, a tournament, or a post-match coffee run, pickleball naturally leads to community. And it’s not just regular folks who feel this way—tennis legends do, too.
In a recent interview, Andre Agassi said that “pickle”—as he affectionately calls it—gave him and Steffi Graf something they never found in tennis: true community. Unlike the isolating nature of singles tennis, pickleball gave them a shared space to laugh, play, and connect with others.
“You actually have a partner. You talk. You have something in common. It provides something that gets more and more rare as you get older.” – Andre Agassi (Instagram)
How to Make Friends Through Pickleball
Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips:
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Show up regularly: Familiar faces become friends over time. IPOP offers Open Play with divisions for all skill levels, available all day, every day.
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Say yes to new partners: The rotation system is your secret weapon for meeting people. Open Play is perfect for this: you register for an event and play with 5-25 other players over two hours, with a new partner every time.
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Stick around after the game: Whether it’s coffee, stretching, or just chatting, friendship often starts after the final point. IPOP has a lounge and a kitchen area with tables and chairs—perfect for getting to know each other after a game.
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Join a club or community like IPOP: Places like IPOP are built around connection and inclusion. We’re not just a place to play—we’re a place to belong. Go to www.ipop.fun and create a CourtReserve account to get started making new friends.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Go It Alone—Make Quick Friends Through Pickleball and at IPOP!
Making friends as an adult can be a challenging task. That doesn’t mean it’s hopeless.
Pickleball offers more than a paddle and a court—it provides connection. It gives you the chance to show up, sweat a little, laugh a lot, and leave with more than you came with.
Maybe even a new friend.
We’re the Inclusive Place of Pickleball (IPOP). Inclusive is the first word in our name for a reason… We want everyone to be able to come and play pickleball, enjoying the benefits of this sport, especially its social aspects.
We get it—making friends is challenging at any age, especially when you get older. And in this digital age, we’re all more acquainted with our devices than ever.
What’s the solution? Booking in to play at IPOP!
We have tons of great ways to meet people through pickleball.
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First, you can book a private court if you actually have a few people you want to play with.
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Second, you can book a spot in our Open Play divisions.
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This is perfect for individuals who want to play pickleball and meet new people. You just book into the Open Play spot that corresponds to your skill level (Novice, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced), show up, and play with everyone in your skill level division. Simple! And fun!
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Third, we offer a variety of coaching and lesson options for you to choose from.
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Beyond private lessons (which we also offer), we’re providing Skills and Drills sessions, Intro to Pickleball (free for the first lesson), and subsequent themed lessons that you can book as a package or individually. Again, you’ll meet and play with people at your skill level.
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Fourth, you can meet new people on Saturday nights at our Super DUPR Saturday Scrambles!
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Get your DUPR number up and meet new people by playing with a new teammate every 13 minutes!
Sign up for a free IPOP CourtReserve account on our website, www.IPOP.fun, and book yourself into a potential new friendship today!
Want to meet new people and have a blast doing it? Come play at IPOP.
Your next friendship might be one dink away.