WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?
Fast becoming one of the most popular racket sports in the world, Pickleball brings together some of the best elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, into a fun and exciting game for people of all ages and abilities.
Pickleball is a great game for all ages – it is based more on control and reactions rather than just power and as it’s on a smaller court, doubles doesn’t require as much movement as other sports.
Pickleball was founded in 1965 by Joel Prichard in Washington. There are two potential stories for how the sport got its name. The first is that the sport takes its name from the term ‘pickle boat’ which is used to describe a crew of rowers that have been put together at random for a race. Joel’s wife, Joan who was a keen rower, said the sport reminded her of a pickle boat because it’s played by random groups of people who were often leftover from other sports.
The other story comes from the Pritchard’s neighbours, who claimed it was named after their family dog ‘Pickles’. The dog would apparently run across the garden with a Wiffle ball (similar to a pickleball) and play with it, hence the sport was named after the dog.
Head coach, Phil Vivian, is a qualified Pickleball coach and is available for individual and group coaching sessions.
Pickleball can be played on a regular tennis court with temporary markings. The club has 8 paddles kindly donated by Phil Vivian and many yellow Pickleballs, which can be used by club members to give the game a try. Court 4 and 3 will be dual purpose Pickleball and tennis courts. Court 4 has been painted with pickleball lines. Painting Pickleball lines onto the court 3 will be done when the weather allows. Currently they are marked out with tape.
A Pickleball club membership is available, which allows you to play Pickleball in your own time, outside of club group tennis sessions, as well as being able to join in our group Pickleball sessions on Tuesday evenings from 5.30pm onwards and Sunday afternoons 2pm-4pm.
This is classed as a hiring membership and does not give full membership rights.
To download a membership form, click here.
