SYRACUSE — A confused look, a smile and “What?” is a common reaction to hearing the word pickleball. But enthusiasts are not deterred. They’ve heard it before and they’re ready to explain. Actually, they’d rather just get a game of pickleball under way.

It’s not a sport that’s taking the country by storm and it may never have Olympic status, but pickleball has definitely been gaining in popularity since its humble beginnings in Washington state 46 years ago.

This two- to four-player game is somewhat of a cross between badminton, ping pong and tennis. Picture a regulation badminton court with a tennis-height net, an oversized ping pong paddle and small wiffle ball.

While a city in Florida may boast a pickleball facility with 176 courts and the Syracuse Community Center has just two, these local courts are busy every weekday from 10 a.m. to noon, with players often waiting on the sidelines to get in on a game.

Syracuse resident Tom Roebuck played on those Florida courts several years and got hooked. When he came home, he found another pickleball enthusiast, Jerry Rea, who set up a court in his hangar at the Wawasee Airport.

After playing there many times and getting others interested, Roebuck approached the Syracuse Community Center with the idea to make the sport more accessible to locals. The community center welcomed the idea, taping out the 20-by-44-foot court in the gym. Roebuck purchased a portable net, a few paddles and balls. The community center taped out another court, bought a second net and more paddles, and pickleball was introduced to the area.

Susie Sharp learned the sport of pickleball at the airport hanger and now plays regularly at the community center.

“Tom (Roebuck) got us up to speed on the rules,” Sharp said. “Then it just took off. Sometimes we have so many people they have to wait. It’s fast. It’s good eye-hand coordination. And it’s active but there’s not a lot of running.”

Roebuck, an ambassador for the National Pickleball Association, agrees with Sharp that the game is active, but not strenuous.

“It’s life after racquetball for me,” Roebuck said. “You don’t have to run as much as in tennis. It’s good for all ages. One day I taught a 10-year-old and an 86-year-old.”

The 86 year old player was grateful to have learned the sport.

“I ran into him at the grocery store and he wanted to thank me for helping set it all up,” Roebuck said. “He told me he could barely play nine holes at Maxwelton (golf club in Syracuse). Now he said he can play 18 holes without a problem.”

Pickleball is highly touted as a sport for all ages and abilities.

“If you’re athletic it’s a great sport for you, if not, it’s a great sport for you!” Roebuck said. “It’s pretty casual, not very competitive. Nobody really cares who wins or loses. It’s just great exercise.”

While players change in and out quickly, and it doesn’t seem highly competitive, it certainly can be addicting. Karen Goldenberg can attest to that. Her sport, before discovering pickleball was walking four miles a day with her dog.

“Oh dear,” she said. “My husband already thinks I need pickleball rehab! I play about 10 times a week here and on an outdoor court. Sometimes I even go to Fort Wayne and play on courts there.”

Some walkers at the community center, who stopped to watch, joined a few games and have found themselves hooked. These have included players with hip replacements, knee replacements and pacemakers. Snow days have attracted local school children and teenagers to the community center, where they’ve quickly picked up on the game.

All the players at the community center agree that the people make the game a true winner.

“We just have a great time out here,” said Kathy Tittle, a retired art teacher from the Goshen School system. “I had never heard of it before, but it sounded appealing. I like the quickness, the activity, the sound. But really I like the people I play with.”

Each player is eager to teach newcomers the game.

“Advanced players are accommodating to new players,” Sharp said. “We’ll teach not only the strategy and rules, but also tips on how to hit the ball better and how to serve correctly.”

Roebuck, who said the rules are only slightly confusing for the first 10 minutes, also said anyone can give him a call and he’ll provide free lessons. Contact Tom Roebuck at (312) 316-5553.