Pickleball Is Now the Fastest-Growing Sport in North America!
by David Jay Bedford
Pickleball is considered a “paddle ball” sport. It attracts men and women of all ages. The sport involves using a paddle, which is like an oversized table tennis paddle and is used to hit a ball similar to the one used in wiffle ball.
It’s like tennis and badminton in many ways. It’s played on a rectangular court that is around the same size as a double’s badminton court. The court measures 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. And yes, a ‘ball’ is hit back and forth over a net.
The sport is most often played with two players on each team. But singles play is also popular.
What’s required? Shoes and paddles!
Pickleball shoes are the same as tennis court shoes. But newcomers to the game often use traditional running shoes as they decide how deep their involvement in the sport will be. Pickleball paddles vary in price and quality from a $25 intro level paddle to the professional paddles priced in the hundreds.
Pickleball is a major part of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at the Montgomery Community Centre.
Terri is a regular. She plays pickleball three times a week at the Montgomery Community Centre. Terri is in her late 60s and says she heard about the sport around ten years ago and helped convince the Centre to buy the nets, stripe the floor, and promote the availability of pickleball to the Montgomery community. She says she plays because it is great for keeping in shape, staying flexible and basically, it’s, “Fun!”
Pickleball is featured every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at the Centre from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The drop-in fee is $7. A punch card for 12 sessions is $60 bringing the individual price down to $5 per session. Drop by and find out more! Or visit the Canadian Pickleball Association website.
And yes, there is a Professional Pro Tour across North America!
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