Racquetball had a similar surge in popularity and even has a pro tour, etc. but it didn't sustain itself.
Bahh its just the next racquetball. Will have a peak of popularity then fade away like most sports that don't require that much skill or athleticism.
It's table tennis played on top of the court. I like table tennis. I'd probably like pickle ball. For a once in a while play after a couple beers.
It only has two advantages over tennis: You don't have to run as much and its more social. Everything else tennis does better: better challenge, better exercise, better variety of shots, better acoustics, better feel. Because of that Pickleball will always tend to draw the elderly, the overweight, the unathletic chatty Cathy's.
Racquetball never had the former high level tennis players jump on board. It's a completely different beast than tennis, other than the fact that you use a racquet, there are very few similarities. Do a little research and see where the top ranked Pickleball players in the country started... Tennis. Former D1 players, former teaching pros that have transitioned to full time Pickleball playing and teaching.
Pickleball is enough like tennis where a former good player (like myself) can pick it up very quickly, and start to relive the glory days of dominating opponents on a court. I'm not gonna lie, thats one of my favorite things about playing at this point. The other thing that I love about it is that it incoroporates my favorite aspects of doubles; touch shots, angles, reflex vollys, etc.
I keep bringing it up, but the other part of this is $$$. Companies and organizations are throwing serious money at this sport. Many of the dedicated players of the sport have money to spend. Their kids are grown and out of the house, they can travel to play/watch these national tournaments. They spend $500+ dollars for two day clinics where they get to play hit and giggle with gold medal winners. These are people with means, they have multiple houses, and play seasonally in both locations. Racquetball never had this. All you needed was a $20 a month gym membership.
As for the exercise factor, if your playing Pickleball at a high level it is a pretty good workout. You're not covering as much court as a tennis match, but the points are longer, and there is a good amount of movement. As you get to the lower levels (3.0 and down) there is a lot less movement and slower play, but the same can be said for tennis.
I also realize that I live in one of the Pickleball epicenters of the US in Florida. I have several national tournaments within a 2 hour drive, and am just one hour away from The Villages that currently has over 200 dedicated Pickleball courts and more being constructed what seems like daily.