I have wholeheartedly embraced pickleball. When I tell people this, I get one of four responses:

  1. I know!! Isn’t’ it the greatest?!
  2. I always wanted to try that- tell me more
  3. OMG why would you ever want to do that?
  4. Everyone gets hurt playing pickleball. It’s a deathtrap.

Let’s address these, shall we?

  1. Those who play pickle on the regular tend to be enthusiastic about it. We talk about how social it is: people tend to play pickle as doubles teams, so there is a lot of camaraderie on the court. Even though people still want to win, there is normally a lightness to the games. It’s also a smaller court than say tennis, so there is less running around. Plus- you serve underhand so there is not advantage to the serve. People who play tend to love it.
  2. I meet a lot of people who want to get out there but don’t know how to start. As the trend grows, so does the opportunity for lessons and leagues and courts. I will talk to anyone about pickle at any time.
  3. There are a host of people who think they are above pickleball. I actually had someone say to me- “Oh stop. Please tell me you’re not doing that? Why?” There are people who think pickle is uncool. When we are in our 50s, should we really be saying something is uncool? What does that even mean? Why do we still label activities and why do we disparage those who choose to do them? Is pickleball too middle class? Too suburban? Too hoi polloi? Is it not elite or special enough? Is it not diverse enough? What are the grounds for being snobbish around pickleball players?
  4. Do people get hurt playing pickleball? Yes. Does everyone get hurt playing? No. Here’s the thing- when people hear that it’s easier than tennis, somehow they think it is easy. News flash: it’s still a sport where you run and lunge and hit a balls with a racket. You have to be warmed up before you start and you must stretch afterwards. If you never exercise, you must take that into consideration before you start. You can get hurt, but if you take precautions you might limit the chances. As with anything, know your body, know your strengths and limitations. Know what you can and can not do. Play sensibly.

So, what would your question be if I told you I play pickleball? Ask away!!

67 thoughts on “Anything Can Happen Friday: Pickleball”

  2. Hmmm. Pickleball is now a sore spot in our neighborhood, with tennis and pickleball players squabbling over the courts in the neighborhood park, and people in the houses adjoining the park complaining bitterly that throngs of pickleball players disturb their peace with noise at all hours and gather more than 50 people without a permit. It’s ugly. I’m staying out of it, being neither a tennis nor pickleball player.

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    2. Treacy, we have the same issue at my condo complex. We have a tennis court, but the pickleball folks are in an uproar that it’s not being converted (or adapted?) for pickleball. The existing court is near residences so the noise would be problematic. Still, every month, there is a shouting match at the board meeting… exhausting. I also just stay out of it.

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    1. Oooh…a newbie! Ok…it’s a racket sport that is similar to tennis in that there’s a court divided by a net and each side has sections and rules. I’d say it’s most a combo of tennis and ping pong, but that’s open to interpretation. You play with a small, flat racket, I think mine is some sort of engineered plastic, and a ball that resembles a whiffle ball. Serves are done underhanded and there is no advantage really for a server. We play 11 point games, but again that varies. There some rules as to when you can hit a ball in the fly, and where you’re supposed to be standing. I’m supposed to play tonight, (my father in law is having issues so I’m not sure) so I will post a picture not this Sunday but the following so you get an idea of the court

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  4. Let’s see…no real questions because up north of Seattle somewhere is supposed to be (claimed fervently) THE place pickleball started years ago. It does look fun, but in many ways it also reminds me of racketball, and I hated that. At least pickle is outside versus being locked up in a cage with a glass wall! As a racket sport I love badminton, and as a paddle sport I love ping pong which I know pickle is closer to maybe? We have one or two park spaces that have added lines to basketball courts but I rarely see anyone play around here. Apparently we are just walkers, not picklers 🙂

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    1. In NYC they’ve adapted handball courts to pickle courts. Tonight we are playing in Central Park where they’re adapted the skating rink to accommodate pickle. I think it’s very ping pong like

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      1. How fun! Hope you get the win 🙂 I think I would like it, mostly because it plays in a smaller space and closer to the net. That was a big issue for me with tennis and raquetball- too much space, not enough me 😉

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  5. “I will talk to anyone about pickle at any time.” I believe you, LA! I love your enthusiasm…and I agree…those who love it LOVE it. I haven’t dabbled…I think I’m fundamentally lacking in the coordination department…but I think it sounds like a great activity — movement and socializing – what could be better? 😎

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  7. Unbelievable. Pickleball is great exercise, running, twisting and all that.
    But above all, it is what we call, fun. That is something that too many people have forgotten about. Now, go out and enjoy yourself. My serve!

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  10. The reality that people are actually fighting over pickleball players having fun and playing a sport is so sad. Is there nothing people won’t get upset about these days? I’ve never been good at racket sports, but there’s no doubt that pickleball has a large, enthusiastic following in my town and province. It’s the main thing my husband misses as he waits for his hip replacement surgery, and he misses the socializing as well as the exercise. And he’s not even a particularly social guy, but the way it’s structured for people to wait their turn by placing their rackets in certain holders, a calmness and kindness seems to settle in as players wait. The only negatives I’ve heard at all are from snowbirds returning from Florida, where this controversy rages. They come back saying that doctors are warning people that it’s very dangerous. What a lot of rot. Pickleball dangerous, having guns not dangerous! Hmm. So glad you’re enjoying it, LA!

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  11. I have to smile at this. I quickly read this post earlier this morning and didn’t have time leave a comment. Then, I went for coffee and a catch up with a couple of friends who are retired. My one friend said her husband injured his achiles tendon. Turns out he injured it playing pickelball. I immedately thought of your post. Maybe that’s validation of point 4 but, hey, you could get injured walking down the street but it wouldn’t be as much fun.

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  12. I love it but rarely get to play! I have a zoom call Fridays at the same time as beginning pickleball at the YMCA. All the other days are advanced and very competitive. You’d think it would be more fair to have two days for beginners? Or three? Instead it’s four days advanced, one day beginners.

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  15. It’s possible you might injure yourself playing pickleball, but I can’t really see that fun and gentle exercise are things we should need to be scared of. There are worse things out there. I’m fairly sure that red meat and ice cream are just as dangerous.

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      1. I currently have a sprain that is refusing to heal. Know how I did it? Levering myself out of a chair? Being old is hazardous but I’d rather be able to tell people that I hurt myself playing sport rather than getting out of a chair. 🙂

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      2. The second worst physical injury I had was because I stepped off a curb funny. So really crossing a street did my back in and I wasn’t allowed to exercise for two months. But I did want to tell people I was heliskiing or something

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      3. 🙂 I once tore ligaments in my ankle when I fell off a pair of platform soles in which I was, ill-advisedly, dancing whilst drunk.

        That was me just over 40 years ago. Fashions change but my capacity for ridiculous injuries remains.

        Heliskiing is a fine word, and one I have never used before. 🙂

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    1. I have wrist issues to the point I can’t do burpees or mountain climbers at the gym. Pickle ball doesn’t bother me. Racket is small and light. The ball is plastic and easier to hit. I don’t have any pain in my wrist afterwards

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    1. Apparently not!! Suffice to say it’s a racket sport, played on a tennis like court but smaller, usually played as doubles, as supposedly it’s a combo of tennis, ping pong and badminton. As a tennis player I appreciate that it’s less taxing on my body

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