Pickleball

[gamecockcat]

Anybody play? I'd never heard of it until I moved to Colorado in 2017. According to a Fox News story I just read, it's the fastest growing participation sport in the US.

I've played a very little bit and watched others play and, honestly, I don't see the appeal. Most of the play that I've watched involved very little movement so I'm a bit skeptical of the 'great exercise' angle (admittedly, all of this is anecdotal evidence). I've even watched some YouTube videos of higher-level tournament play and, again, it doesn't seem like much movement going on. I'm a tennis player and we have a couple of guys who regularly play doubles with us that are pushing 80. They move a lot more in doubles than pickleball players do, imo. I'd say walking 9 holes in golf is a lot more exercise but that's a guess.

I guess for some people, being easier on the joints is a selling point. I don't know. I guess I might get to the point of playing regularly at some point in my life, but I'm also thinking that, if I'm too old to play tennis doubles, I probably don't really want to play pickleball either.

Opinions?

And for the Paddock posters who have a warped sense of humor, 'pickleball' is the real name of a sport and not a pastime engaged in during Pride Month.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Pickleball is taking over the world. The gym I play pickup hoops in is swarmed by pickleballers before & after we play. They swarm around like buzzards daring us to stay one second longer on the court than we are supposed to and they heard in & out of the gym in huge packs like cattle. It’s insane.

It will probably wind up as an Olympic sport. Which is sad.

 

[rick64]

Looks like oversized ping pong. Or undersized tennis.

 

[DSmith21]

I have played a little pickleball and it's pretty fun. It is more about quickness and fast reaction than tennis. Tennis definitely has more running. Pickleball is still a decent workout as the ball doesn't bounce nearly as much as a tennis ball. So you have to get to it much faster. The first few times you play, expect a sore lower back and hamstrings from hitting a bunch of low balls with the short racquet. It's nice for mixed doubles as it is not a power game.

 

[rudd1]

-I play a ton of dubs tennis.

-at my club we have one of our courts painted with pickleball lines...and have a rolling net. My wife enjoys it quite a bit...and while I heavily prefer tennis, pickle is pretty fun.

-you can get after it and break a sweat if you want to or you can take it easy...works different parts of body than tennis: ***/lower back and hammies as you're constantly squatting to get the ball.

 

[drew_ukfan_rivals]

I’d rather play tennis or racquetball. I hate standing around if I’m playing a “sport”. It’s why I can’t get into golf

 

[Deeeefense]

I play tennis regularly. I tried pickle ball once but it messed up my tennis stroke the next day so I didn't play anymore after that. My impression is yes there is much less movement than tennis, but you are constantly bending because the plastic ball doesn't bounce like a tennis ball so you have to bend to get under the ball on your ground strokes. Someone that plays both told me that there are actually more injuries with pickle ball over tennis, primarily due to the sudden moves and constant bending.

 

[Ron Mehico]

They are building some massive outdoor/indoor pickle ball complex about a mile from our house this coming spring. It’s the 2nd location with the first being in St Louis. They’re setting it up kinda like a top golf/family fun center setup. Actually sounds pretty cool so I guess I’ll be trying it soon with the kiddos.

Pickle ball world!

 

[TortElvisII]

Playing pickleball gives you Monkeypox.

 

[mrhotdice]

Playing pickleball gives you Monkeypox.

True, I read it on the Internet.

 

[_Mav_]

Here's a snippet of fast-paced action between two of the world's top-ranked doubles teams...

 

[Mdnerd]

As a 40 something former D1 tennis player with a bum shoulder, I absolutely love pickle ball. Tennis days are a decade behind me, and this game is a ton of fun and gets the competitive juices flowing again.

 

[Laparkafan]

They had some pickle ball tournament yesterday on FS1 - wonder what they payouts are - probably no where near ATP

 

[_Mav_]

- wonder what they payouts are - probably no where near ATP

Ya think?

 

[lex cath]

The only thing I know about pickle ball is it’s annoying as hell on the beach

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I'll stick to 4-square at the summer camps, thank you..

 

[nerdcat_rivals308595]

I enjoy playing. As far as exercise, though, I played for two hours recently, and my I-watch didn’t acknowledge that my heart rate got high enough to consider it exercise.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Looks like oversized ping pong. Or undersized tennis.

Not played (yet). But considering it.
It does look like a mesh of ping pong and tennis. Depending more on reflexes than athleticism. But more exercise than doing nothing.
I like racquetball, but not many courts around.

 

[RMP82]

Looks foolish to me but to each their own. At least it keeps folks active and out of the house.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Looks foolish to me but to each their own. At least it keeps folks active and out of the house.

This. Imo the draw is the game can be played by people with poor mobility or just beginning their attempts at getting in shape. I'll definitely support anything that helps those people get up and get moving.

 

[Elmilaren]

How do I start with pickleball? Are there any tips for beginners?

 

[Gifftedesse]

I agree that sports can vary in terms of movement and exercise intensity. While pickleball may not require as much movement as some other sports, it still offers a fun and engaging experience for many people.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

Pickleball spam - it's sweeping the nation! [laughing]

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I’m too young to play. Sorry.

 

[AIChatGPT]

I enjoy playing. As far as exercise, though, I played for two hours recently, and my I-watch didn’t acknowledge that my heart rate got high enough to consider it exercise.

Singles or doubles?

 

[august-west]

We just had a PB tournament in my hometown over the 4th and 150+ teams were involved. The city built something like 6 courts and now have plans for 6 more and I’m talking a town of 3000 people.

I walked by the other morning, around 7:30 am, the courts were full and people were hanging out in the bleachers waiting for a game. I didn’t see much back and forth volleying but they were smacking the ball around.

 

[vhcat70]

They need to put mufflers on the balls and/or racquets.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

So people - especially older folks - are outside engaging in some physical activity they find enjoyable and some of you are complaining about it?

 

[Tskware]

So people - especially older folks - are outside engaging in some physical activity they find enjoyable and some of you are complaining about it?

Yep. I am not into PB either but my wife has made a lot of new friends playing so I am good with it.