Hint: It has nothing to do with cucumbers.
But it has everything to do with FUN!
Okay, that was really cheesy. But true. Here’s the quick description: Breed tennis with ping pong and you get pickleball!
The sport involves smaller versions of a tennis court and net, and larger versions of ping pong’s paddle and ball. Pickleball paddles are larger, usually wooden and square with rounded corners. The ball is of the whiffle variety. The game is played a lot like tennis. You can even play doubles. I’m not going into the rules or how to keep score here (that’s what the Internet is for).
The great thing for us Seattleites is that pickleball courts are small enough to be indoors, so it can be played year round. We have a couple make-shift courts at work, so I can get some cross training during lunch or if I need a break.
The really great thing is that it works a lot of the same muscles that tennis does (muscles that you don’t use when running). Probably not to the extent tennis does because the smaller court, but I played the past two days and my glutes are hurtin’. It also gets your heart rate up, and works your lower back muscles, shoulders, thighs and (probably) stomach.
For more information about Pickleball, visit the USA Pickleball Association site HERE.
9 comments
ahh ha that's what it is! we did play that as a kid, just had no idea what the name was
I want to try this. Looks like tons of fun. I need to Google for courts in Bay Area.
It is TONS of FUN! And a great workout, too! I bet that Pickleball USA site has a court listing.
Kerrie! Love the new blog layout. Looking forward to seeing you next Saturday 🙂
I played a lot of pickleball in college at the (sorry) UW. How fun that you can play it at work.
With a name like Pickleball, I know I would love it!
I learn something new every day
I like the new blog look…and YAY for our first marathon in 2011 🙂 Pickleball sounds like great cross-training.
So fun!!! My friend Jessica's boyfriend plays all the time at the Y! I bet it is a good workout. I always hated playing tennis because you have to have fast spurts. So pickleball must be the same! How fun to get a good game in during lunch!