Pickleball is spreading

[Ronaldo]

Think of it this way: Once you are too old to play tennis, even doubles, pickleball will always welcome you. With your shortened vision perceptions and shortened mobility range, it will seem just like tennis to you. As your body and mind and the view of the world shrinks, pickleball will be the shrunk version of tennis, so you are playing the same sport, relatively speaking.

Turn a deaf ear to this outcome

 

[Nostradamus]

It seems that even pickleball ball machines have arrived in the market!

And new pickleball-specific court surfaces!

Will this ever rival Wimbledon ? will there be grand slams for Pickelball ? what would the top athletes look like ? what kind of training do you have to do ?

 

[sureshs]

what would the top athletes look like ?

Kind of like you

 

[sureshs]

Turn a deaf ear to this outcome

Exactly. Old people have hearing problems and are not going to be bothered by PBall noise.

 

[Ronaldo]

Will this ever rival Wimbledon ? will there be grand slams for Pickelball ? what would the top athletes look like ? what kind of training do you have to do ?

Carb-loading at,

 

[Ronaldo]

Exactly. Old people have hearing problems and are not going to be bothered by PBall noise.

What? And Senior moment calls

 

[BenC]

Pickleball noise in a random Youtube video suggestion ... that is pretty annoying. "Strange type of tennis game" ... lol.

 

[TennisDawg]

You are correct -- as with many (all?) sports, playing is always more fun than watching...esp baseball imo...i'll pretty much play any type of game, anywhere, anytime...from cards to racing, you name it I've probably at least tried it (or some form of it). I've also played pickleball...not competitively, but just hitting. Basically it just felt like overgrown table tennis. Do i hate it? absolutely not...and encourage anyone to try it if they have not...so long as it does not screw up the tennis courts ('get off my lawn'). but to me it's more of a 'novelty' type of game...like darts, ping pong, stuff like that. to me it's more of a game versus a sport...but there's probably a decent chance when my knees are shot i'll be capping three pickle teams like i am now...

just realized i prolly just opened a whole new can o worms with that game v sport comment...

The watching pickle ball is what will prevent it becoming popular. Dinking at the no volley zone is monotonous and the better you get at pickle the more proficient you will dink. You dink dink dink dink until someone pops up a high ball then bam you smash the ball. The dinking requires focus if you’re playing, as far as spectators it looks very boring. Watching it on TV is not interesting st all. But I think Pickle is very popular as a social and recreational activity and is here to stay. Doubles is far more popular because It’s more fun and seniors prefer it over singles. To it’s credit pickleballers are generally more inclusive than tennis players, there are some clicques (many are former tennis players). Recreational tennis as far as walk on play at public courts has dwindled and completely died out in some areas which I think has something to do with tennis players going into pickleball.

 

[Ronaldo]

Pickleball noise in a random Youtube video suggestion ... that is pretty annoying. "Strange type of tennis game" ... lol.

Sound of a woodpecker just louder

 

[Dartagnan64]

But I think Pickle is very popular as a social and recreational activity and is here to stay.

Pretty sure that has been said about every niche sport fad in the history of sports.

Not sure it will survive beyond the current boomer wave of geriatrics. The gen X will still need to be working when they are older and the millenials will be too busy on their phones.

 

[BenC]

I'm just glad nobody's reposted the pickleball pics from the nudist resort.

Also, holy crap there are a lot of Google search results for "nudist pickleball".

 

[Ronaldo]

I'm just glad nobody's reposted the pickleball pics from the nudist resort.

Also, holy crap there are a lot of Google search results for "nudist pickleball".

Thanks, enough pickles in tennis, in and out of the closet

 

[TennisDawg]

Pretty sure that has been said about every niche sport fad in the history of sports.

Not sure it will survive beyond the current boomer wave of geriatrics. The gen X will still need to be working when they are older and the millenials will be too busy on their phones.

Lol but pickleball can still be played while texting.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Lol but pickleball can still be played while texting.

There is a lawn bowling facility next to our tennis club. For years it was a bastion for the senior looking for activity. But the last few years I've noticed its become exceedingly popular with millennial groups. I think that's because its an ideal activity for drinking and texting. Much better than pickle ball if you ask me. You can likely hold a beer while playing pickle ball but you can't really text and selfie like you can with lawn bowling.

 

[Ronaldo]

There is a lawn bowling facility next to our tennis club. For years it was a bastion for the senior looking for activity. But the last few years I've noticed its become exceedingly popular with millennial groups. I think that's because its an ideal activity for drinking and texting. Much better than pickle ball if you ask me. You can likely hold a beer while playing pickle ball but you can't really text and selfie like you can with lawn bowling.

Frisbee Golf really attracts a crowd, Bill Murray approved

 

[TennisDawg]

There is a lawn bowling facility next to our tennis club. For years it was a bastion for the senior looking for activity. But the last few years I've noticed its become exceedingly popular with millennial groups. I think that's because its an ideal activity for drinking and texting. Much better than pickle ball if you ask me. You can likely hold a beer while playing pickle ball but you can't really text and selfie like you can with lawn bowling.

Good point and you have to lift your head far to often and even talk and sometimes make eye contact in pickle ball.

 

[sureshs]

I'm just glad nobody's reposted the pickleball pics from the nudist resort.

Also, holy crap there are a lot of Google search results for "nudist pickleball".

As per your request:

 

[Pro Kenneth]

This thread informed me of the ignore feature, which I have now used twice.

 

[Mark Bosko]

So is table tennis. Doesn't mean it should be anything more than a niche sport for the elderly. The thing that keeps people addicted to sports like tennis and golf is that they are so hard to master. You can always improve. After a while Pickleball excitement will fade as people realize you can only hit a few different kinds of shots, all of which aren't terribly hard to master.

Table tennis is an olympic sport, I wonder if pickle ball will be some day?

 

[sureshs]

Table tennis is an olympic sport, I wonder if pickle ball will be some day?

https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/2014/04/13/the-road-to-the-olympics-is-paved-with-pickleballs/

To make the journey, pickleball would first have to be recognized as a sport by the IOC (International Olympic Committee.) To do this, pickleball would have to gain administrative oversight by an international, non-governmental organization. This oversight by an international governing body allows a sport to gain International Sport Federation (IF) status.

Once a sport gains IF status, its governing body can apply for admittance to the IOC. The IOC judges each application in accordance with multiple rules and regulations.

First of all, the sport’s IF must have held a world championship competition prior to application for inclusion. Ready for a world pickleball tournament anyone? Fun!

Secondly, a sport must be widely practiced. And widely practiced, unfortunately, means a wee bit more than 150,000 players across North America. According to the Olympic charter, the sport must be practiced by men in at least 75 countries on 4 continents and by women in at least 40 countries across 3 continents.

If a sport meets these standards while also “increasing the value and appeal” of the Olympic Games and “reflecting its modern traditions,” the IOC still won’t introduce it as a new Olympic sport right away. The sport can be initially included as a “demonstration” sport while the sport’s IF applies for inclusion. Unfortunately, there’s a holding period–the application process must begin a minimum of 6 years before the scheduled Olympic Games in which the sport hopes to debut!

 

[atatu]

Table tennis is an olympic sport, I wonder if pickle ball will be some day?

Pole dancing has a much better chance.

 

[Ronaldo]

Pole dancing has a much better chance.

Creative Pole Vault, eh?

 

[jonestim]

It has surpassed tennis locally. A few years ago the town was putting in a new park and had 4 tennis courts slated to go in. At that time the pickleball contingent was growing and 16 pckleball courts went in instead of the tennis courts. They held a tournament there this weekend and there were about 300 competitors. Only around 50 were under 50 yrs old. Meanwhile, every tennis tournament in town has called it quits because there wasn't enough participation.

In the last couple years they put in a few indoor pickleball courts at my club, some at another indoor sports center that doesn't have tennis, opened a pickleball specific club, and we have a Pickleball Academy.

Our head tennis pro at the club is now also a pro pickleball player.

pickleball..... ugh

 

[thehustler]

Table tennis is an olympic sport, I wonder if pickle ball will be some day?

After seeing those videos it'd be like this on TV:

And here's the first point of the match.
Wow 10 shots in the rally, nobody is giving an inch.
20 shots.
30 shots.
40 shots.
Let's go to commercial.
*5 minute commercial break*
Wow you had to be here to see that. No just kidding, they're still on the first point of the match.
Oh looks like Cletus pulled a muscle in his back bending over at the waist reaching for the same shot again and the match is over due to retirement.
Hmm it looks like all these matches are won due to retirement with someone always getting injured in the match somehow.

Table tennis at least has action. They have to move all over the place and at least rallies in that can look awesome.

 

[Nostradamus]

After seeing those videos it'd be like this on TV:

And here's the first point of the match.
Wow 10 shots in the rally, nobody is giving an inch.
20 shots.
30 shots.
40 shots.
Let's go to commercial.
*5 minute commercial break*
Wow you had to be here to see that. No just kidding, they're still on the first point of the match.
Oh looks like Cletus pulled a muscle in his back bending over at the waist reaching for the same shot again and the match is over due to retirement.
Hmm it looks like all these matches are won due to retirement with someone always getting injured in the match somehow.

Table tennis at least has action. They have to move all over the place and at least rallies in that can look awesome.

Why is pickelball always Doubles ??? is there a singles pickelball ?

 

[Ronaldo]

Pickleball Academy? For lil picklers or those who are pickled-at-heart?

 

[thehustler]

Why is pickelball always Doubles ??? is there a singles pickelball ?

I think there is, but it might be too fast paced for the core group, since you know, you'd actually have to cover the whole court and not just a teeny tiny area. Games could go faster, lobs could happen, smashes as well. Oh my!

 

[Mark Bosko]

Pole dancing has a much better chance.

I don't know, curling is an olympic sport.

 

[Mark Bosko]

https://blog.pickleballcentral.com/2014/04/13/the-road-to-the-olympics-is-paved-with-pickleballs/

To make the journey, pickleball would first have to be recognized as a sport by the IOC (International Olympic Committee.) To do this, pickleball would have to gain administrative oversight by an international, non-governmental organization. This oversight by an international governing body allows a sport to gain International Sport Federation (IF) status.

Once a sport gains IF status, its governing body can apply for admittance to the IOC. The IOC judges each application in accordance with multiple rules and regulations.

First of all, the sport’s IF must have held a world championship competition prior to application for inclusion. Ready for a world pickleball tournament anyone? Fun!

Secondly, a sport must be widely practiced. And widely practiced, unfortunately, means a wee bit more than 150,000 players across North America. According to the Olympic charter, the sport must be practiced by men in at least 75 countries on 4 continents and by women in at least 40 countries across 3 continents.

If a sport meets these standards while also “increasing the value and appeal” of the Olympic Games and “reflecting its modern traditions,” the IOC still won’t introduce it as a new Olympic sport right away. The sport can be initially included as a “demonstration” sport while the sport’s IF applies for inclusion. Unfortunately, there’s a holding period–the application process must begin a minimum of 6 years before the scheduled Olympic Games in which the sport hopes to debut!

So, maybe someday, like curling, or volley ball

 

[sureshs]

Is Curling practiced in 75 countries?

 

[Mark Bosko]

Is Curling practiced in 75 countries?

Kind of like shuffle board on ice. Ya, I can see pb as an olympic "sport".

 

[Demented]

Just like any sport, there is depth that isn't really realized by spectators until they've tried it at a proficient level themselves. I've been playing tennis for 6 years now and I picked up pickleball about 3 months ago. Dinking correctly is really hard against good players, especially tall/lanky players. Being 6 2+ is a real advantage in PB. I'm only 5'9 and I really hate losing to tall guys that look like they're barely trying.

As with any sport that started out recreational and designed towards older people, tactics will evolve and equipment will evolve to either allow new tactics or in response to those tactics. I'm playing with a super extended length teardrop carbon fiber paddle that is head weighted. For a non-tennis player, this paddle would be a tough pill to swallow. For me, it feels completely natural to whap full power topspin forehands. I don't know how high of a level I'll get to but I'm going to do it the tennis way or bust. This includes saying screw you to the kitchen and approaching behind full power topspin forehands. I'm still working on my accuracy and control but when I'm on it seems to work very well.

I've recently come to realize that PB is making my tennis game better. PB requires you stand at the kitchen line and read/react quickly to bullets being hit right at you. This is speeding up my tennis prep, it's also translating to my volley mentality on the court. It's training me to track side to side quickly and extend for passing shots. I dusted a friend of mine in singles yesterday 0 and 1 after not playing for 3-4 weeks. My backhand/serve needed a lot of degreasing but forehand/movement/volleys were immediately working better than ever,

 

[sureshs]

Anything that keeps you doing physical activity is great.

 

[Cashman]

Are pickleball and its rules controlled by a not-for-profit organisation, or is the trademark owned by a private company?

 

[sureshs]

Are pickleball and its rules controlled by a not-for-profit organisation, or is the trademark owned by a private company?

USAPA is a non-profit.

 

[sureshs]

Let us say we have a doubles tennis team who have never played PBall, and a doubles PBall team who have never played tennis.

They are each given 1 hour of lessons on the other sport, then asked to compete against each other in tennis and pickleball matches.

What will be the outcomes?

Assume similar age and similar skill level in the respective sport.

 

[Cashman]

USAPA is a non-profit.

Do they own pickleball or do they lease the rules and/or trademark from a private company?

 

[GrandSlam45]

Touch Tennis is a far superior game.

 

[atatu]

It has surpassed tennis locally. A few years ago the town was putting in a new park and had 4 tennis courts slated to go in. At that time the pickleball contingent was growing and 16 pckleball courts went in instead of the tennis courts. They held a tournament there this weekend and there were about 300 competitors. Only around 50 were under 50 yrs old. Meanwhile, every tennis tournament in town has called it quits because there wasn't enough participation.

In the last couple years they put in a few indoor pickleball courts at my club, some at another indoor sports center that doesn't have tennis, opened a pickleball specific club, and we have a Pickleball Academy.

Our head tennis pro at the club is now also a pro pickleball player.

pickleball..... ugh

Where are you located just out of curiosity ?

 

[jonestim]

Where are you located just out of curiosity ?

Bend, Oregon

 

[norcal]

Let us say we have a doubles tennis team who have never played PBall, and a doubles PBall team who have never played tennis.

They are each given 1 hour of lessons on the other sport, then asked to compete against each other in tennis and pickleball matches.

What will be the outcomes?

Assume similar age and similar skill level in the respective sport.

Rhetorical question? Obviously the tennis to pickle pair is going to transition much easier. A full size court with full size rackets would be much harder to adjust to.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Let us say we have a doubles tennis team who have never played PBall, and a doubles PBall team who have never played tennis.

They are each given 1 hour of lessons on the other sport, then asked to compete against each other in tennis and pickleball matches.

What will be the outcomes?

Assume similar age and similar skill level in the respective sport.

A tennis player will have all the stroke mechanics for pickleball in his toolkit already. A pickleball player will not have an overhead serve or deep topspin groundstrokes. Advantage to the tennis players. especially moving to the shorter racket, bigger ball side of the equation.

 

[sureshs]

^^^ Correct answers.

Now answer the same question about Pball but wrt to Table Tennis and Badminton.

 

[Dartagnan64]

^^^ Correct answers.

Now answer the same question about Pball but wrt to Table Tennis and Badminton.

Table tennis and Pickleballers should be equivalent since its pretty much the same sport. You just play on top of the table in Pickelball.

Badminton is a different game as there is no bounce and it's mostly played above your head. Badminton players make excellent doubles tennis players but are less proficient at singles tennis.

 

[atatu]

Table tennis and Pickleballers should be equivalent since its pretty much the same sport. You just play on top of the table in Pickelball.

Badminton is a different game as there is no bounce and it's mostly played above your head. Badminton players make excellent doubles tennis players but are less proficient at singles tennis.

Not really, world class table tennis is fast and highly athletic with crazy spins and incredible defense. World class pickleball is ...pickleball.

 

[norcal]

I would think badminton players would be sketchy volleyers because of all the wrist used.

Badminton players make excellent doubles tennis players but are less proficient at singles tennis.

 

[GrandSlam45]

For those who don't know about Touch Tennis, its a sport gaining popularity in Europe but virtually unknown in the U.S.

Forget Pickelball. Touch Tennis will hopefully someday replace Pickelball as the racquet sport of choice for seniors. Someday when I'm in my 60's, I would MUCH rather play Touch Tennis than Pickelball.

As tennis players, we should do all we can to promote this sport before the abomination of Pickelball spreads like a disease.

 

[atatu]

For those who don't know about Touch Tennis, its a sport gaining popularity in Europe but virtually unknown in the U.S.

Forget Pickelball. Touch Tennis will hopefully someday replace Pickelball as the racquet sport of choice for seniors. Someday when I'm in my 60's, I would MUCH rather play Touch Tennis than Pickelball.

As tennis players, we should do all we can to promote this sport before the abomination of Pickelball spreads like a disease.

That looks just like miniature tennis ? Why don't they call it that ?

 

[GrandSlam45]

Because they guy who invented it put a brand on it, prob so he can make some money.

 

[TennisDawg]

A tennis player will have all the stroke mechanics for pickleball in his toolkit already. A pickleball player will not have an overhead serve or deep topspin groundstrokes. Advantage to the tennis players. especially moving to the shorter racket, bigger ball side of the equation.

I know quite a few 3.5ish tennis players that are playing 4.5-5.0 pickleball. That says it all to me.