Hi Neighbor!

It finally happened. I’ve been bitten by – and now I am smitten with – the pickleball bug. Yes, all those humorous YouTube videos you see of players initially being coy about the prospect of playing and then madly rushing to the courts to play all of the time once they learn the game, well, that’s me…almost.

I put off an introduction to the game for a while. I felt I had enough racquet sports in my life and on my calendar. How could I find time for more? Soon I came to the conclusion if I didn’t pick up a pickleball paddle soon, I was going to be left behind. And that, dear neighbors, was the deciding factor.

To date, I have had a soft entry into the pickleball craze by taking a few lessons with friends at Bounce Pickleball in Malvern. Mainly, I was concerned with the rules and how to keep score because everything is so different from tennis, starting with the paddle, the ball, and the court. I knew I could play the game eventually, one day even learn the strategy, but for starters, I wanted to know how to keep score and to find out what the heck is this Kitchen (aka, No Volley Zone) everyone keeps talking about?

None of it was hard to learn. Honest. I even became a bit strategy savvy by lesson number three. Yes, a good dink in the Kitchen is the shot to master.

The craze is everywhere; here on the Main Line, in Florida, in the movies (well, at least in the Apple TV series Shrinking where Jason Segel’s character plays pickleball, claiming it the fastest growing sport in the country), and just about anywhere you travel to. The distinct sound of the paddle connecting with the ball can be heard long before you even get to the courts.

Contrary to my initial belief, it is not a game for older people, although I am an older person now, so, my original thought still might ring true…My young adult children enjoy playing, recognizing not only the cardiovascular benefits but the social benefits as well. Anyone can play, and people can play just about anywhere these days because courts are accessible, both publicly and privately.

While I am not a complete pickler (someone completely obsessed with the game) yet, I understand the addiction. For me, it is similar to playing ping pong, obsessively wanting to hit the ball over and over again.

If you are looking for a place to start, Main Line School Night offers classes for beginners through intermediate levels at Upper Merion Community Center, Narberth Tennis Club, and Berwyn Squash & Fitness Club, but classes do fill up quickly. Get your pickle game on, neighbors. You won’t want to be left behind either.

Pickler-in-the-Making,

Jackie