By Marie Elium
I could do this.
That’s what popped into my head the first time I saw a pickleball game.
Baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball. Too boring. Too exhausting. Too fast. Too painful. Choices are limited if injuries and age have taken their toll on an overworked or under-exercised body.
So, if you’re looking for a team sport that’s relatively easy on your joints yet offers a comfortably strenuous workout, you’re in luck. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States with 4.8 million players last year, adding 11.5 % new players each of the last five years, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association. It’s easy to see why.
Played on a court with paddles and a ball with a distinct pingpong vibe, pickleball is like a friendlier, more conversational version of tennis. The playing surface, about a quarter the size of a tennis court, is small enough that players can hear each other and talk to each other without gasping for breath.
It doesn’t require bulky padding or helmets; just comfortable tennis shoes, gym clothes and a racket set you can buy online for about $60.
Courting Friendships
The pickleball courts at Twinsburg’s Glen Meadow Park are busy from morning through sunset. A companionable gathering spot for players of all skill levels and ages, it’s easy to jump in; just hang your paddle on the fence and wait until a spot opens. A sign explains the system, but folks tend to recognize newcomers and welcome them in.
Players have gotten to know each other well enough that they had a pickleball picnic at the park earlier this summer. Cathy Berthold was one of the picnic organizers and a big fan of spreading the word about pickleball. Her advice for newcomers? “Google pickleball and watch videos of the game, watch actual matches and then just go up (to a court) and observe.
Berthold said she had wanted to play pickleball for several years, but her husband Larry wasn’t on board initially. They started playing in 2019, both indoors and outdoors, finding that it was a sport each could play equally well against both men and women.
Another Twinsburg player, Glenn Gould, also plays tennis, but he has a special affinity for pickleball. He met his girlfriend playing the game.
“A very casual acquaintance on a neighboring tennis court suggested that I check it out some time. That person is now my girlfriend,” he adds. “In many ways, I find it a similar skill set to tennis, and I feel each game helps the other.”
Sue Wilson said she and a friend decided to learn the game, and started with a makeshift net to learn to dink (hit the ball) at home. “We then went to the courts and didn’t turn back. We were welcomed into team playing. I began to invite (her husband) Chris to go with us, and it took him a month or so before trying. Now he’s there all the time.”
Adds Chris, “Pickleball is very competitive yet friendly. It definitely gets you moving in a fun way and feels more manageable than tennis.”
It’s not hard to find enthusiastic pickleball players. When the weather turns bad, many wind up indoors in private courts or rec center gymnasiums that have been transformed into courts. Check with your local recreation department or YMCA to find public, indoor courts. Local athletic clubs and private developments, including The Wembley Club in Chagrin Falls with seven courts, are scattered throughout Greater Akron and Cleveland.
Other communities are also expanding their recreational offerings by adding pickleball courts. Hudson is constructing five tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts at its Barlow Farm Park, a $1.5 million project expected to be completed by fall.
Mentor was among the first Northeast Ohio communities to install pickleball courts. The city has 15, the first installed a decade ago, says city manager Kenneth Filipiak.
“Mentor and Lake County have a very high median age, 47, compared to other regions. Mentor is a place people tend to raise a family and stay there and we try to add a lot of recreational opportunities for everyone. It’s great exercise and promotes healthy living, and it’s something that can be enjoyed at any age.”
So why don’t more communities have pickleball courts? They’re expensive. Filipiak says that installing four basic courts can cost between $150,000 and $200,000.
Pickleball is noisy, too. In cities from California to South Carolina, residents have sued to close courts, saying the high-pitch ping of constant volleys violates noise ordinances. Manufacturers have developed noise curtains for courts, and special balls and paddles to quell the noise and the complaints. But in some places, there’s an ongoing battle among homeowners’ groups, municipalities and players. USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport, lists a senior pickleball noise specialist on its website.
All that aside, for places lucky enough to have courts, and for people able to get to them, pickleball is a sport that bridges the gap between age and athleticism.
“It’s an awesome game… and just a lot of fun,” Gould says. “We laugh a lot more during pickleball than tennis, that’s for sure.”
What’s with the Weird Name?
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington, near Seattle. Pritchard’s wife Joan came up with the name: pickle ball, a reference to the last boat that finishes a race, usually made up of a hodgepodge of crew members, much like pickleball is a mixture of several different sports, according to a story in the January 2021 issue of Pickleball Magazine.
The Court
A pickleball court is 20’ x 44’ for both singles and doubles. The net is hung at 36” at the ends and hangs 34” in the middle. A non-volley zone extends 7’ back from the net on each side, commonly called “the kitchen.”
Gear
Paddles are made of high-tech composite material. Balls are plastic, weigh between .78 to .935 ounces and are 2.874 to 2.972 inches in diameter. There are no color restrictions other than the ball must be a single, consistent color.
You can buy a set of two paddles, three balls and a carrying bag for about $60 on Amazon. Paddles are for both men and women.
What to Wear
Court or tennis shoes are a good choice for pickleball, both indoors and outdoors. Good support, rubber soles and a comfortable fit will accommodate quick, lateral movements.
As for clothing, whatever allows you to move comfortably and easily is fine. Many women wear tennis skirts, athletic shorts or skorts. Men often wear athletic shorts, jogging pants and T-shirts.
Rules
For an expanded explanation, go to usapickleball.org.
Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles being most common. The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles.
The Serve
- The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck
- Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above waist level
- The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact
- A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted, in which case, none of the elements above apply
- At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline
- The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court
- Only one serve attempt is allowed per server
Scoring
- Points are scored only by the serving team
- Games are normally played to 11 points, won by 2
- When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving
Two-Bounce Rule
- When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces
- After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke)
- The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies
Non-Volley Zone
- The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net
- Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone; this rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone
- It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines
- It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens
- A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball
The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”
— USA Pickleball
Where to Play
Bleser Park
150 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake
4 courts
Brainard Park
1840 Brainard Road, Lyndhurst
2 courts
Civic Center Park
8649 Munson Road, Mentor
15 courts
Denison Pickleball Courts
Denison Park: 1015 Quarry Dr., Cleveland Heights
6 courts
Elmwood Park
6363 Selig Blvd., Independence
6 courts
Glen Meadow Park
1961 Glenwood Dr., Twinsburg
6 courts
Orange Village Park
27950 Emery Road, Cleveland
1 court
Rec Center Offsite
8938 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights
4 courts
Reese Park
301 Clague Road, Bay Village
4 courts
Solon Community Park
6679 Som Center Road, Solon
4 courts
South Central Park
7565 Avon Belden Road, North Ridgeville
4 courts
Tri-City Park
3529 Delmar Dr., Rocky River
6 courts
Upper Glenwood Park
227 Glenwood Street SE, North Canton
4 courts
Waters Park
169 E. Glenwood Ave., Akron
6 courts
The least athletic member of her family, Marie Elium retired from team sports in the ‘70s. She may try pickleball, now that she knows what it is.
