“Pickleball?” I remember thinking when I first heard of the game. I’m sure I scoffed at the name and at the idea of hitting a weird wiffle ball over a short net on a court much smaller than my beloved tennis courts.
A tennis player tennis since I was five years old, at forty I’m now Director of Court Sports at Quail Creek Country Club here in Naples. Tennis has been a huge part of my life and I still avidly compete in our Pro League at a 5.5 level. But pickleball? I was sure it was a fad, soon to go the way of fidget spinners and twerking.
Until I played. A member of my former club introduced me to the game at a local park. At first, older guys and women in crazy outfits were killing me. Wait a minute, I thought, I played college tennis and teach the game for a living. But with my strong tennis skills, I was soon competing against the higher-level pickleball players. And loving it. It helped my tennis net game, my focus, my footwork, and my desire to broaden my network of sports-loving friends. Oh, and it was fun!
By the time I accepted my current position in 2019, I realized that an upcoming racquet sports redesign at Quail Creek had to include the addition of six new pickleball courts, not the four that club management had planned. From skeptic to enthusiast, I had already become certified to teach pickleball and was eager to introduce the game at my new club.
I’d heard grumbling from many tennis players and teaching pros: It’s too loud. They’re taking away tennis courts and converting them to pickleball. It’s not really a sport. You don’t get enough exercise. But I saw that many of the top pickleball players nationally had transitioned from high-level tennis to the newer game, fueled by the challenge of mastering a second sport and thriving on the competition as it became the country’s fastest-growing athletic pastime.
It’s estimated that today nearly five million people are playing pickleball in the U.S. alone. Its growth has averaged 11.5 percent a year since 2017, with no signs of slowing down. In pickle-crazy Naples, we have access to nearly 100 public courts in parks across the city, with many more at private tennis and country clubs. And that number keeps increasing. The best news for novices: You can just show up. At most facilities, pickleball is a pick-up game with no need for reservations or partners. You’ll find that players are, for the most part, friendly and encouraging, eager to help teach the game and its quirky rules.
Unlike tennis, players of all ages can pick up pickleball in a very short time, incorporating the nuances as they enjoy meeting new people and gaining confidence. At my club, we host mixers, exhibition matches, pro-ams, a pro league, and clinics, many of which are combined with simultaneous tennis events. A high percentage of our tennis players now play pickleball too and some of our pickleball devotees have become tennis players. Even golfers can be spotted hitting the court for a quick game before or after the links.
As we age, pickleball, with its smaller surface, can prolong our active lives. And, because it’s easier to master at any age, we have whole families turn out to play together. I’ve also found that if novices start with professional instruction and some fitness tips, they’re much less likely to experience injuries.
If you told me five years ago that I’d be promoting pickleball, I’d have said you were crazy. Now I’m just crazy about the benefits this game with the funny name offers to our clubs, parks, and players of all levels and ages.