Why Play Pickleball?

Playing Pickleball began for me in November of 2017 when a friend of mine's brother challenged him to play.  Neither of us had even heard of the game.  Going to Wikipedia I found the following: "Pickleball is a paddle sport (similar to a racquet sport) that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.[2] Two, three, or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball, over a net. The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar to tennis, with several modifications. Pickleball was invented in the mid 1960s as a children's backyard pastime but has become one of America's most popular growing sports among all ages. "

​ We got some paddles and balls and went to a nearby tennis court to try out this new sport and we have been playing ever since. 

My reasons for continuing  to play are really quite simple:
 
(a) It is a great sport to remain active and help stay fit (I am in my early 60's),

(b) it is less punishing on my aging body, 

(c) it is a lot of fun, and

(d) it has been a great way to make new friends. 

I love the strategic part of the game and I am always looking for ways to improve  and honestly for the first time in a long time I look forward with anticipation of getting a good workout playing 3 times a week for approximately 2 hours a shot.  I am in the best shape I have been in decades with I find a lot more energy during the day and sleeping better at night.  

Finally, it has given me an outlet to teach others from which I get a lot of personal satisfaction seeing people improve so rapidly as the racket skills are not hard to learn as play can actually begin in minutes for some with racket sport bacgrounds after instruction in the unique rules of the game which most approximate tennis with a few twists.  I also enjoy organizing round robin play and have recently launched a beginners clinic at Bohrer Park Activity Center which has become very popular very quickly and is a blast to do. every Friday morning from 8:30am until 10:00am.    

Give pickleball a try.  I am warning you though you may be hooked for life!

Art Shenk