Pickleball

Check out this fast-paced sport that’s growing in popularity!

Pickleball, a racquet sport similar to tennis or badminton, was started in 1965 by a Seattle family looking for a new game to play. Half a century later, pickleball courts are popping up around the country as people look for new ways to get outdoor exercise. is fast-paced sport o ers fun for people of all ages and is easier to learn than tennis. Pickleball is played on a pickleball court or tennis court marked with pickleball boundary lines. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court and the net is typically lower. Some pickleball courts are indoors, but may be hard to nd. Pickleball can be played in singles, with one person on each side of the court, or in doubles, with two people on each side of the court. Beginners may enjoy playing doubles because it o ers better court coverage and easier return of the ball to opponents.

Like tennis, each game starts with a serve. Pickleball uses an underhand serve into the opponent’s service box, which is diagonal from the server. e ball must bounce into the service box and be returned with a bounce over the net and into the server’s court. A match consists of the best 2 out of 3 games that are played to 11 points with a lead of 2 points over the opponent. ere are many di erences between tennis and pickleball rules, so make sure you know how to play correctly. Check the o cial USA Pickleball site at usapickleball.org to learn how to play. You can nd videos online which explain the rules for Pickleball and give instruction and tips on technique.

EQUIPMENT

Pickleball equipment consists of a small solid racquet, called a paddle, and a hard plastic ball similar to a whi e ball. Paddles and balls can be found at most sporting goods stores. Paddles can be made of wood, plastic or berglass – I personally have enjoyed using a berglass paddle.

Di erent court balls used for indoor and outdoor play. Because the ball has holes, windy days can make playing pickleball more of a challenge. e price range for equipment can range widely, from $20 to $150 and up, but you don’t have to invest much money to start playing – I found my set online for $40.

To play pickleball, you’ll also need good court shoes that allow for quick lateral and front-to-back movements.

BENEFITS

Pickleball is a fun, energetic game that demands quick decisions and strategy to outsmart your opponents. It’s a fast game, it’s not hard to learn, and the equipment is easy to pack for a family vacation.

Pickleball will make you work hard and break a sweat, too, which can be good for your health. A study by Leslie E. Smith, et al., published in the International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology found that, after a six-week training period, a group of 15 middle-aged or older men and women who played an hour of pickleball three times a week had a signi cant reduction of cardiovascular risk factors over that period. LDL cholesterol and blood pressure were lowered while increased HDL was reported. Prolonged aerobic activity was associated with increased oxygen consumption was associated with prolonged aerobic activity. Pickleball is a moderate-intensity activity, burning around 350 calories a match.

If you’ve mastered the basics and want a challenge, Pickleball tournaments are a great way to meet other active people. You can nd and join tournaments online at usapickleball.org.

If you’re interested in trying a new sport, pickleball will de nitely keep you moving! By Gretchen Holmes, MS, Boone Health Exercise Physiologist