A Game of Serious Leisure!
Hi, I’m Barrie, I’m 87 and I welcome you to my monthly blog Over50andfit.ca
Question: Why is this sport called pickleball? Answer: One version claims that the creator had a dog called Pickle, which he trained to retrieve the plastic balls each time they rolled off the court.
Why has pickleball exploded in North America to become the most popular growing sport for an estimated 40 million players? There are many reasons for its immense appeal.
The growing popularity of pickleball.
- It can be played by all ages
- Suitable for beginners and seasoned athletes
- Relatively easy to learn
- Requires a small playing area, basically the size of a badminton court or one-quarter the area of a tennis court)
- Can be played inside or outdoors
- Does not require too much running
- Can be played with budget-conscious paddles
- Fosters a strong sense of social interaction
- Its compact court area encourages communication
What is pickleball?
The players (2 or 4) use light-weight, squarish paddles, a little bigger than those used in table tennis, A brightly-coloured plastic whiffle ball is used with holes in it. There are indoor and outdoor balls, with the main difference that an outdoor ball has roughly 40 holes in it, whereas an indoor ball has 26. It’s a sport which is relatively easy to learn and play. It does not require a lot of running, yet provides good exercise. Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. You are encouraged to wear suitable shoes, warm up before playing, and come to the sport with adequate conditioning. Rules and scoring are explained at this site.
Health benefits of pickleball
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Enhances agility, footwork, balance and hand-eye coordination
- Builds stronger muscles
- Generates overall fitness
- Helps maintain healthy bones and joints
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves mood, emotional health and well-being
Pickleball emerging in the development of commercial properties
In order for commercial properties to attract more people back to offices and malls, a Toronto-based company claims: Pickleball is a way to bring people to public spaces. This company is installing pickleball courts across the country. Amenitization – a response to tenant demands for amenities in the buildings where they work, live and play -has become a popular trend in recent years.
Videos
There is a plethora of outstanding videos available, covering how to play, tips for beginners, lessons and all aspects of the game, among them:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF5RyCh7GNc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqLRRNOpe8U
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNEKTsblLGQ
If you are watching a game, don’t be surprised if you are invited to join in. This has happened to me on several occasions, and became the reason why I began playing. Players pride themselves on welcoming onlookers to play.
Give it a shot! You might be surprised by pickleball’s contagious enthusiasm.
If you are new to exercising or have not exercised for a long period of time, I strongly urge you to visit your family doctor before playing.
Yours in fitness.
Barrie Street
