Pickleball is a blast!

[Tim Hancock]

I played tennis and ping pong a bunch in college with several buddies in the late 80's. It was always fun trying to beat each other.

Fast forward to last week when one of my old competitive buddies convinced me to play pickleball at some new courts built by his house. We are both 57 but have remained in somewhat decent shape. I thought pickleball was some "game" played by retirees at the rest home but after playing for 2hrs straight in singles games I was sweating like a pig and will admit to being sore the next day.

He has been playing on occasion for about a year with his adult kids so he has me at a disadvantage for now but I just ordered a decent carbon paddle and will be setting up a wall at my house to start practicing against. (I am not gonna let him know about my home practice setup.... I want to get a lot better quick so I can start whipping his azz like I used to do in tennis 30+ years ago. Lol) Been watching tons of videos on technique and strategy. Can't wait to get my new paddle and get my practice wall set up.

It is very different than tennis and my tennis strategy and shot style is just about worthless but I had a blast. Am guessing I may be hooked.

[flatbutt]

That's how I felt about racket ball back in the 90s. Or was it the 80s?
I wish I could still play.

[stealthn]

My brothers in law teach PB, they are heading to Cuba with a bunch of folks to do a camp, it’s fun. They also said try Paddle as well, like pickle ball but has walls you can hit off.

[Deschodt]

Glad you enjoy it. I personally loathe pickle ball but there's room for all - well not on the courts, please stop hi-jacking tennis courts ;-)
I tried it a few times to be sure, in a way it's fun to be immediately decent at something new (if you played tennis), but overall I was not a fan of the weird scoring, the lower back pain from bending over for shots in that kitchen you are not allowed to step in, the lack of satisfaction from hitting a solid tennis ball or a nice serve (it's all pik pok), I feel like it's beach paddle ball - me no likey but I would not mind whatsoever if a lots of the courts hadn't been taken over (as opposed to building their own). Playing near PB games is very annoying - loud in a cheap way.. But again, if the internet taught me anything it's we're all different and it's all good ;-) Hope you enjoy in good health !

[stomachmonkey]

You crack me up Tim.

I've met very few people in my life who approach new things with such energy and enthusiasm.

You're alsway like, "if I'm gonna do this I'm goin full monty turned up to 11"

On a side note, we are installing new pickle ball courts in our community this year and my next door neighbor who is a prominent PT in the area is really excited. He said Pickle Ball has been the biggest contributor to the growth in his practice in 20 years. LOL.

[Scott Douglas]

Around here they've taken to building PB courts in the abandoned stores of the local malls that have been vacated. Air conditioned, out of the sun, and the noise doesn't bother anyone either.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You're alsway like, "if I'm gonna do this I'm goin full monty turned up to 11"

Guilty as charged.

[Bill Douglas]

A friend of mine who is critical of everything really likes it and I've agreed to learn to play it LOL

[rattlsnak]

We are big tennis players and finally enough friends were bugging us to try it and we did.. I do like it a lot but tennis is still way better fun to me. I do like the fact that you dont have to invest a lot of time in it. Have an hour to kill? Run up to the corner and you can literally play 10 games in an hour.. I can see it being addictive.. And i'm the same way. Try something new and go 110%!.. We just bought some nice carbon paddles also..!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

We are big tennis players and finally enough friends were bugging us to try it and we did.. I do like it a lot but tennis is still way better fun to me. I do like the fact that you dont have to invest a lot of time in it. Have an hour to kill? Run up to the corner and you can literally play 10 games in an hour.. I can see it being addictive.. And i'm the same way. Try something new and go 110%!.. We just bought some nice carbon paddles also..!

I always liked tennis but don't have any friends nearby who play anymore.... the fact that my old buddy is available and wants to play pickleball is reason enough for me to start playing pickleball instead. I also see it as being an easier game to be able to play somewhat competitively as the years keeping ticking by. Smaller court to cover and slower pace.

[rattlsnak]

Its a slower pace now, but it will get really fast once you get better. There are a LOT more injuries in pickleball then tennis.

[Tim Hancock]

Fast forward 3 months.... Played my buddy nearly every Saturday morning outdoors in singles for 2 months and got way better. Then it finally got too cold and public court nets were taken down. Already on my 3rd paddle (CRBN 3X). Just found a somewhat local club that has moved indoors for winter and have been playing doubles with them on their intermediate to advanced player nights in an old school gymnasium. Doubles is so much less work LOL

Of course my buddy who lives 45 minutes in the opposite direction still wanted to play singles on Saturday mornings so I did some major rearranging in my shop and set up a court in there. When he comes on Saturday mornings I just raise the big bi-fold door and pull my RV out then turn the heat up to 50 in that room and we play for a couple hours. Lighting is not ideal and we could use another few feet around the perimeter, but it is awesome not having to drive 45 minutes every Saturday to play.

Last weekend my daughter and son in-law bought a new used boat that they parked inside for a few days, but thankfully she moved it to a storage building.... Back in business now. Needless to say, my wife is less than thrilled with me picking up another hobby.





Good enough for now

[Rusty Heap]

I Loved Racquet ball in the 80's, even took a couple of community college classes with it. Intense work out if you want to get a good sweat going......I called it 3D pinball. I play left handed and that freaked out some righty's

[Seahawk]

You are a mad man, Tim.

I love it.

I grew up playing Squash but will be looking at PB after the hip stuff.

Got to move.

[stevej37]

Pickle Ball courts popping up all over around here in the last few years.

[Tim Hancock]

McEnroe, Agassi, Roddick and Chang played an exhibition last year. They are supposedly doing it again this year in February. Last years match can be found on YouTube.... It is entertaining.

[jyl]

Never played pickleball, played tennis as a youth - so know nothing . . . how would you compare playing pickleball and playing tennis?

[Tim Hancock]

Pickle seemed easy to start playing having played tennis in my youth. Cool thing is that as you get better and play better players the game evolves in strategy and shot making.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Not as much advantage being a lefty in PB as in Tennis.

[look 171]

A couple of my riding buddies started playing at the local court. He started to tell me the older folks (most are in their mid 60s and up) are damn good and fast. He gets his butt whip playing double with this couple, 68 and his wife at 63. My friends are in their mid 50s. Not sure if they played tennis in their past? I am tempted to joint in but with my injured knee in recovery, its best I take it easy before I crank on the tendon and torn meniscus.