THE BASICS
You’ve mastered tennis, ping-pong and badminton, so now what? How about a combination of all three?
Pickleball is a hybrid racquet sport that uses large paddles and a hollow, plastic perforated ball, known as a wiffle. Popular with boomers and retirees (aka picklers), it’s typically played on a doubles-sized badminton court with a lower-than-usual tennis net.
The game was invented in the 1960s on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and depending on who you talk to, either takes its ridiculous name from rowing terminology or a peppy cocker-spaniel. I can confirm it has nothing to do with anaerobic fermentation.
In a community hall armed with what looked like an oversized beach paddle, I was prepared to pickle. But first, the rules.
In pickleball, the serve must be performed underhand, hit below the waist and made diagonally crosscourt; the serving team can only score; games are played to 11 points, and you have to win by two. The first game would act as a friendly spell for all new picklers to become familiar with the rules and equipment. The goal upon service was to make a beeline for the edge of the no-volley zone – or “kitchen” – near the base of the net to gain greater access to the wiffle and tap it back into your opponent’s territory.
The plastic ball ricochets off the paddle with a great reverberating “thwack” and was far quicker than expected – on several occasions it pinged off into a neighbouring game. It also doesn’t generate as much bounce as your average tennis ball, requiring a quicker response time for the counter hit.
The court allows for fast-paced rallies and the ability to place the ball almost exactly where you want it. The dilemma when playing with an unfamiliar doubles partner is miscommunication and the frequent clashing of paddles. While often considered a game for the ageing, it’s fast-paced, competitive and certainly requires an ounce of spring chicken.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT
Despite the smaller playing area – it’s about three-times smaller than a regulation tennis court – running around a pickleball court certainly breaks a sweat.
Jeff Parke, Pickleball Auckland Central president, says that when played as singles it is “nearly as much of a cardio workout as tennis”. “A Fitbit will register 5000 to 6000 steps during two hours of pickleball.”
In the doubles format, there’s still a decent amount of exertion involved, and you’ll often find yourself consistently running back and forth between the service and no-volley zone. “There is a lot of hand-eye coordination and balance involved, but less running after the ball,” Parke says.
One of the biggest drawcards is the social element, he adds. “Players are all often within four metres of each other during intense play on the kitchen line. There is usually a lot of friendly, competitive banter going on.”
RISK RATING
While the risk of tennis elbow is lower, Parke states that tumbles are somewhat common.
“The game tempts some players to make moves their bodies don’t want them to make.”
He recommends a proper stretching regime and warm-up to reduce the risk of on-court injury.
And, while sometimes there’s no escaping flying wiffles or paddle contact, Parke believes that “a prime safety consideration when playing near other courts is that stray balls should signal stop of play and re-serving”.
“This is not always so easy, as players really get into play and want to ignore a ball rolling across the court. However, stepping on a ball and taking a serious tumble is a real risk and must be avoided.”
Those with heart, back and joint problems should consult a medical professional first.
