Pickleball, Anyone?
Martin Ciesielski
What is this pickleball everyone is speaking of?
Pickleball is an addictive racquet sport that originated as a backyard invention in the northwest United States circa the mid 1960s. It migrated to the southern states, then snowbirds brought it north to Canada. Pickleball is now the fastest growing sport in North America!
Pickleball is popular with seniors (easy on knees and hips) but also with participants of all ages. This game can be as relaxed or competitive as you make it. With three pro leagues competing for television contracts and prize money tournaments, pickleball has attracted sponsorship from prominent sporting companies.
The game of pickleball is played with a hard plastic ball with holes, a net, and paddles. Somewhat a cross between tennis and table tennis, the rules and play are similar (besides the quirky “kitchen” rule). If you have any racquet sport experience, you will find a smooth transition into pickleball. Being a social game, the majority of games are played with a partner.
The court is the same size as a double badminton court (20' × 44'), much smaller than a tennis court. The smaller court leads to less running but a quicker game. Pickleball is played on a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces including gyms, refurbished tennis courts, hockey rinks, and even personal driveways! Pickleball facilities are standard for resorts and RV parks in the snowbird states and Mexico.
With the wide variety of venues available year-round, entering the world of pickleball is simple. Some beginners prefer private lessons or watching YouTube videos to learn the rules of the game, but partnering up with a fellow “pickler” or joining a drop-in program at your local recreation centre is even better!
The rise of pickleball’s popularity stems from the fact that it is very social, inexpensive, healthy exercise and, ultimately, fun. The first step is to just get out there and play, but I take no responsibility for any addiction to the game that may follow.
Are you looking for more pickleball resources? Leagues, public courts, recreation centers and more. Click here for our pickleball resources guide.
Martin Ciesielski was a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools for thirty years. He enjoys writing in a variety of genres including travel, poetry, songwriting, and music blogging. Martin hopes this article will encourage readers to give pickleball a try!