AJ serving, Steve admiring...at the Utah Huntsman Senior Games

Pickleball has been around for more than 30 years, but most people, when asked if they’ve heard about it, look at you like you’re pulling their leg or worse. That may change; pickleball is said to be one of the fastest-growing sports in America and is most probably THE fastest-growing game among geezer-jocks, those of us over age 50 who still picture ourselves as athletes.

But what is it? It’s a court game…a game played on a court almost exactly the size of a badminton court, one-fourth the size of a regulation tennis court. And it looks a bit like a miniature version of tennis. The court itself is striped similarly to tennis with a couple of small exceptions. Usually played as a doubles game, players face each other across a net strung just a couple of inches lower than a regulation tennis net. Equipment consists of paddles and a “whiffle”-type plastic ball. Paddles are constructed of different materials but the typical paddle is constructed of a composite with a waffle-type core that may have a graphite skin.

Serves are done, as in tennis, to the opposing diagonal court. Serves must be made underhand. The receiving team must let the first ball bounce once. And, when they return the ball, the serving team must, in turn, let the ball bounce once as well. After that, “game’s on!”, and volleys, kills, short and soft shots, strategies and so forth are all the order of the day. I’ve played some serious racquetball and squash and it’s a more strategic game than either. I’ve played some fun tennis and, if you aren’t a tennis “A” player, pickleball is a better, faster workout. Like any game it has its limitations, but for geezer-jocks like Irene and I it’s the cat’s meow.

It’s also a fanatic’s game. A year after having introduced ourselves to the game, we are playing in Senior Olympic tournaments in three states, we are the upcoming Club President(s) at Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort in Casa Grande, AZ., a growing pickleball hotbed, and, as we travel the U.S. during the summer, we are consistently on the usapa.org site looking for places to play. Sounds like addiction to me, but in a good way!

Wanna know more? Check out the USA Pickleball Association site at http://www.usapa.org.