Lockdown Sport - Pickleball
Written by Mercedes Baxter Chinery
23rd September 2020
I have tried (for varying lengths of time) a multitude of different sports, including rowing, athletics, squash, tennis, cricket and archery (the last three of which I still do). I was introduced to pickleball this August, after the lockdown restrictions were eased and cannot play often enough.
A pickleball ball and paddle
Pickleball is a cross between tennis (tennis played on a mini tennis court), badminton and table tennis. It is played with a paddle (mine is made of ) and a plastic ball with holes in it (similar to the ones they used at primary school for hockey – but much sturdier). The court layout is similar to a badminton court – with a ‘kitchen’ line (no volley zone), but with a much lower net. It was invented in the US and is a fast growing sport there as well as gaining in popularity across Europe and Asia!
A pickleball court (yellow) marked up over a tennis court.
It is fast paced, energetic, fun and a killer on the quads, is open to everyone (my whole family gets involved) and easy to pick-up. If you are interested in picking up a new sport I would recommend pickleball!!