Pickleball

March 9, 2023

It might seem unusual to have a page here on my website dedicated to pickleball, but I enjoy playing it so much that I just couldn't resist it!  I love introducing new players to the game, the fastest-growing sport in North America (arguably the world), and I'm willing to spend hours teaching them the basics and hopefully, at the same time, imparting my love for the game to them.

However, I will add this warning; if you've never tried the game but are considering it, prepare to become obsessed if not addicted, I've seen it happen quite often!  Of course, one could argue that this is one addiction we can all embrace since playing the game has all sorts of health benefits, fresh air, exercise, laughter, joy, comradery, friendly competition and good sportsmanship.  Pickleball is a game where a sense of ethics plays a big role since players are expected to call their own team's faults and line calls and this is something that I see all the time.

I'm not trying to put anyone off, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention pickleball injuries.  Pulled or strained muscles, broken bones, concussions, falls, etc. can and do occur with players who are new to the game.  There's an adage that says, "no ball is worth the fall!" and it's so true.  Don't be one of those people who pushes themselves beyond their capabilities and ends up getting hurt!  Enjoy the game but be careful and play within your own physical limitations.

Pickleball has evolved a lot just in the past decade, having once been a sport relegated to seniors and retirees (I still meet people today who believe the sport is only played by seniors), to a sport that is quickly being dominated by a much younger demographic.  Ben Johns is perhaps the best male player in the world at 25 years old and Anna-Leigh Waters, who turned pro at 12 years of age, and as of this writing is 17 years old, is the highest ranked female player in the world!  It's absolutely amazing to watch these professionals play the game and I encourage you to watch a game or two played at this high level.  I've included some links below to YouTube videos of pickleball being played by professionals for your viewing enjoyment.

Mixed Doubles, 2022 Red Rock Open in St. George, Utah

Men's Doubles, 2022 Acrytech Open in Atlanta, Georgia

Ladies Doubles, 2022 Orange County Cup in San Clemente, California

Pickleball is an easy sport to learn which plays a huge role in its growing popularity.  When people are first introduced to the game, most will quickly discover that not only is it fun to play but that they can actually improve rapidly, going from a beginner to an intermediate level player in a very short time.  

Another attractive feature is the relatively low cost of the equipment required to play.  Unlike other sports such as golf, all you really need to begin playing pickleball is a paddle and some good court shoes (Tip: you don't need a pro level paddle when you are learning the game but please don't scrimp on the shoes, I have seen several injuries occur as a result of players wearing cheap runners instead of proper court shoes). 

Again, unlike golf where green fees can be very expensive, there are no additional costs to play pickleball if you live somewhere where public outdoor dedicated pickleball courts have been built.  If you decide to join a local pickleball club, and most urban areas have them, membership fees are very reasonable.  Our pickleball club on Vancouver Island charges $20.00 for a one-year membership. 

Depending on where you live, you might find private facilities where pickleball is played indoors in colder climates or in air-conditioned comfort in hotter climates, but these clubs typically charge a drop-in fee or monthly/annual dues for membership and they could be pricey.  While I prefer to play outdoors, some people may find the idea of playing indoors year-round in a temperature-controlled environment with no wind appealing.

There's no point in trying to explain the game in too much detail here on this website so I have also included some links near the bottom of this page where you can learn more about this wonderful and amazing sport if you're interested.

Here's a performance (dry-fit) shirt with a pickleball theme that I designed for fun.  If you've been playing for awhile, you'll understand what it means.  If you're new to the game, you might know what it means but, if you've never heard of pickleball until now, this is an invitation for you to learn more about this fabulous game.  hint: deep serve, deep return, drop shot (or drive), start dinking!!

What is Pickleball? 

Official Rules of Pickleball 

How to play Pickleball

History of Pickleball (including how Pickleball got it's name)

Pickleball Education (great pickleball blog on the Selkirk website)

I welcome any comments as long as they are respectful.  I can handle criticism and opposing viewpoints, in fact I encourage them.  Join the discussion on any of my web pages.  Polite, courteous, or neutral comments will be published for everyone else to see.  Comments that are deemed rude, inappropriate, vulgar, hurtful, racist, misogynistic, violent, or sexual (among others) will not be published.  Remember, we can all agree to disagree and still be respectful!