You may feel like you’re “in a pickle” if you haven’t tried pickleball.
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All the cool kids are playing the game. And I mean cool kids ranging from youngsters to seniors. It seems just about everyone is playing the sport. It’s been around for over 50 years, and now it’s trending as one of the most popular sports around.
Why? I assume because it’s pretty easy to pick up. The low-impact sport is easier than tennis and provides a decent workout with the bonus of social interaction. I’d describe it as a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton. Jim Aldrich, co-owner of Pickleball Virginia Beach, described the sport like you’re standing up on a ping pong table playing. He thinks the popularity has to do with the smaller court that lends itself to be a more social sport.
Last year, my husband and and I decided to give it a try. We took an introductory lesson.
Admittedly, the rules confused me. It took me awhile to get the tennis rules out of my head. You can’t volley in “the kitchen.” That’s the area close to the net. It’s really hard to stay out of the kitchen, just like at home. Scoring was confusing, too. I was a slow adapter to the rules.
However, hitting the ball was easy. I think that’s what hooks people along with the soothing paddle pop sound effect. So, we were gung ho after the first lesson.
We played at a public pickleball court and then joined a friend for doubles at his club. My husband continued playing at his friend’s club for several months. Now, our paddles are dusty. It’s been almost a year since we’ve picked up our paddles.
With the growing popularity, it’s not easy finding an open pickleball court. If you’re a “pickler” (pickleball fanatic), here are some suggestions to get your pickleball game on:
Go big and build your own pickleball court
Thomas Dye shows off one of the pickleball courts his company installed. He recommended having a 30 by 60 foot area in your yard if you want to install a pickleball court. (Lee Belote/For The Virginian-Pilot)
If you’re a die-hard pickleball player and have the space, you could always build your own court and invite friends and neighbors over to play. There are indoor and outdoor options.
A standard pickleball court requires a space of 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. Thomas Dye, a Virginia Beach-based home builder, installs Versacourt pickleball courts. He recommends some additional space around the court for optimal play and safety. He suggested a 30-by-60-foot area. Dye said his customers want unlimited play with no waiting or reservation.
“The courts are all backed up with heavy demand,” Dye said. “My customers wanted better access to courts, and the best way is to build their own.” Visit twdhomes.com for more information.
BETHESDA, MARYLAND – APRIL 13: Michelle Ezra, Shelley Caplan, Rob Slattery and Kyle McKinney play pickleball on a backyard court on April 13, 2023 in Bethesda, Maryland. Pickleball is a game that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. According to a report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row in 2022. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Other options include joining a club, playing at public courts or finding a pickleball festival.
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
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