Some pickleball players took a direct hit from a fast-moving ball. Others were struck by a paddle. Some fell on the court. All suffered injuries to their eyes.

The injuries have spiked in recent years among players of pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the United States, according to a study published Thursday. As the sport has gained popularity, it may have also attracted less experienced and less fit players, who may be less agile and more susceptible to injury, the authors noted.

"We've seen a lot more players who are not familiar with the sport entering the court, and that creates a lot of opportunity for injury," said Dr. Jonathan C. Tsui, the study's senior author and a professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

"They're not used to how fast the projectiles are moving a

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