What is pickleball?
Physical activity is worth diversifying from time to time. Every now and then, sports facilities offer new disciplines that are either only gaining popularity or are already an international trend. One such example is pickleball, an option for anyone who enjoys sports involving more players, such as tennis or badminton.
The reference to tennis is not coincidental – pickleball is, in a sense, a combination of tennis with badminton and... ping-pong. In practice, this unusual blend has proven to be an extremely successful idea. Americans in particular have fallen in love with it – in 2015, pickleball was named the fastest growing sport in the US. While 100,000 players played it in 2010, just 10 years later the number rose to 4.8 million [1]. Studies conducted in the United States have shown that in terms of popularity pickleball has already surpassed even tennis. This is particularly evident among women and the elderly [2].
Who can play pickleball?
Although pickleball may resemble tennis, it is a much more universal sport – it can be played at virtually any age, even if you have not done a similar activity before. The speed of the ball is much lower than in tennis, and the playing field is more than three times smaller, thus reducing the physical requirements we have to meet in order to play [3].
In short – the gameplay is relatively simple, so it can be enjoyed by seniors or children as well. It is also recommended when your shape would otherwise not allow for a strenuous game such as tennis or squash.
Pickleball – rules of the game
To play pickleball, you only need rackets and balls. Both are already available in most sports and equipment rental shops. However, it is worth remembering to choose exactly those designed for pickleball – badminton rackets or tennis balls will not be suitable.
Pickleball is played with composite rackets and plastic balls full of distinctive holes, which slow down the ball’s flight a bit, but also make it possible to play on windy days. Given the latter, indoor and outdoor balls tend to be slightly different (those for indoor play are lighter and have fewer holes). So before you buy, it’s worth knowing where you will be playing.
On the web you can find tutorials on how to prepare the court yourself using a paved surface and chalk, for example [5]. Fortunately, this does not have to be necessary. The sport is becoming increasingly popular in Poland as well and is now available with the MultiSport card! If you want to find a pickleball court near you, use our facility finder.
The rules of pickleball are a mix of several others. Serving is done just like in tennis – always diagonally and from behind the baseline. The serve must be made with an underarm stroke, i.e. from below the player’s waist line. The ball must then bounce off the ground and bounce a second time after the return (the so-called two-bounce rule). The game is played until 11 points are reached with a mandatory two-point lead. Importantly, points accrue only to serving players [6].
Why is it a good idea to play pickleball?
Players who have already learned the sport note that it does not require weeks of training before playing “for real”. So it may turn out to be ideal if you are looking for active entertainment for an afternoon with friends or family. However, easy rules and a low entry point do not mean a lack of excitement – the exchanges in the match are long and the ball reaches the players many times. It is even said that quick exchanges are the essence of pickleball.
In addition, small courts make it possible to talk even during the game, and a good strategy matters more than physical strength or speed. Perhaps that is why players of all ages and fitness levels have fallen in love with pickleball [3].
What’s more – like any year-round sport – pickleball can be a reason to get together more often and great motivation to get moving. By the way, this is an added benefit of the pastime – you can easily achieve certain regularity of exercise by incorporating it into your regular schedule and training plans.
And what about health benefits? Studies show that tennis and pickleball have equally good effects on physical and mental health [2]. It is worth noting, however, that pickleball also allows the elderly, children and less “sporty” people to play actively.
What are the health benefits of pickleball?
- Healthier heart – running, jumping and swinging make pickleball a great aerobic workout that improves cardiovascular fitness.
- Improved figure – as a high-intensity game, pickleball supports calorie burning.
- Stress reduction – physical activity has a positive impact on our psyche, but there is also a social aspect to this type of game – spending time with loved ones will further allow you to relax after a hard day.
- Better fitness – the peculiarities of pickleball mean that the game affects many muscle parts simultaneously – so pickleball improves your overall fitness while not over-exerting the body [7].
Pickleball is a great way to add variety to your workout plan, enhance it with cardio, and spend more time with your loved ones without sacrificing your daily dose of activity. Perhaps pickleball will be the thing to convince a loved one to move more? All you need is a ball, a racket, the MultiSport card and good intentions!
[1] http://tenisista.com.pl/pickleball.html
[3] https://www.pickleball.org.pl/pickleball
[4] https://www.pickleball.org.pl/czym-grac
[5] https://www.pickleball.org.pl/kort
[6] https://tenismagazyn.pl/zasady-gry-w-pickleball/
[7] https://pickemall.pl/pickleball-jest-dobry-dla-twojego-serca/