Pickleball, Anyone?

Summary

The author describes their initial reluctance and eventual enjoyment of playing pickleball with friends, despite some athletic rustiness due to the pandemic.

Abstract

Invited to play doubles pickleball, the author, initially hesitant, finds the sport enjoyable and suitable for their fitness level post-pandemic. Pickleball, played on a smaller court with a solid paddle and a whiffle ball, resembles tennis but requires less running. The author, once an avid table tennis player, performs decently in their first games, acknowledging the impact of lockdown on their athletic abilities. With no knee injury sustained, the author expresses a desire to play more pickleball, suggesting it as a sport they can continue participating in.

Opinions

The author was skeptical about pickleball, comparing it to casual games like cornhole or beach tennis.
After trying pickleball, the author appreciates the game, finding it to be a good fit for their physical activity level.
The author values the limited need for side-to-side running due to the smaller court size, which is easier on the knees.
Despite losing the first two games, the author enjoyed the experience and shows interest in playing more, indicating a positive opinion of the sport.

You want me to…hit a pickle?

Our friends invited us to play doubles pickleball with them. I was somewhat reluctant.

Pickleball? Is that like cornhole, a game you play while drinking? Or beach tennis?

Fortunately, I agreed to try. Pickleball uses a solid paddle of wood or aluminum and a whiffle ball the size of a tennis ball. It’s played on a smaller court than tennis, but otherwise looks much the same.

My husband and I were avid table tennis players until the pandemic. So we held our own. The first game our friends won 11–10. The second they won 11–5, as my lack of any sort of athletics during lockdown started showing.

Because of the court size, there’s not much side-to-side running. I didn’t torque my knee. So this is a sport I can do.

More pickleball, please!