OT: Pickleball Fever: anyone here catch it?

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by username

I tend to think that just about anything that gets people moving their bodies outdoors is better than nothing, and pickleball is WAY better than nothing.

Totally agree. I don't play, but seeing busy courts is a good thing physically and socially.

[72gmc]

Originally Posted by merlinmurph

Totally agree. I don't play, but seeing busy courts is a good thing physically and socially.

The Green Lake pickleball crowd seems to be just as obsessed as the tennis crowd. On the south side of the lake, I've seen tennis players in all weather, all times of the year. This morning I had an errand that took me past the north side where the pickleballers roam, and most of the courts were full despite mildly unhealthy air quality and a Monday morning.

[jlwdm]

If you want a better workout play singles.

Jeff

[pinoymamba]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

If you want a better workout play singles.

Jeff

You mean tennis?

[bthomas515]

I played for the first time last week - have played for 5 days straight

[Blue Jays]

Many of my friends play and race home from rides to go to pickleball games.
I have volleyed a pickleball back and forth to get a feel and now eager to learn.

[mdeth1313]

Not sure if anyone got to this first, but I think of it as Pickleball is to Tennis as E-bikes are to Bicycling.

[benb]

Since last time this was bumped up I went to town meeting and there was a pretty crazy thing where the pickle ball players in town had brought a motion to get a $250k upgrade for the pickle ball courts, lighting, getting the tennis lines removed and making it pure pickle ball, etc..

The pickle ball crew is older, and the older crowd absolutely dominates town government because they have the time to go to late night weeknight town meetings.. so it was a suprise when it was roundly defeated.

Kind of puts cycling in it's place.. it got defeated but will it eventually be approved?

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by pinoymamba

You mean tennis?

No. As a former tennis player I would say doubles tennis has the same issues.

Jeff

[tuxbailey]

As a long time member of this forum, I would like to confess that the last time I did an actual bike ride was last September.

I have since spending a lot of time playing pickleball. I joined an indoor club with a monthly fee as well as paying fee to play at open play sessions.

And I just spent $160 for a new paddle, after I broke the used one my sister gave me.

The cult got me

[zap]

edit

Originally Posted by Blue Jays

Many of my friends play and race home from rides to go to pickleball games.

Longer and faster rides is the solution.

[nmrt]

Steel is real! I am hoping you got a steel paddle?

Originally Posted by tuxbailey

As a long time member of this forum, I would like to confess that the last time I did an actual bike ride was last September.

I have since spending a lot of time playing pickleball. I joined an indoor club with a monthly fee as well as paying fee to play at open play sessions.

And I just spent $160 for a new paddle, after I broke the used one my sister gave me.

The cult got me

[LadyDog]

Also a former tennis player. As have gotten older, pickleball has been a good substitute.

[tuxbailey]

Originally Posted by nmrt

Steel is real! I am hoping you got a steel paddle?

Carbon Fiber

[metalheart]

Originally Posted by tuxbailey

Carbon Fiber

Which one?

I started with an Engage Pursuit, then moved to a Vatic V716mm, then to a Vatic Flash 16mm, and now using a Six Zero 16mm Double Black Diamond. Paddle development is on the move these days with lots of interesting options to match playing styles and needs.

I'm fortunate to be able to play year round here in Northern Wisconsin. We have an indoor dome with 10 or so pickleball courts than can be transitioned to tennis courts and the local YMCA just built a new facility that includes 3 indoor pickleball courts.

There is an active pickleball community with more than 400 players with a mix of older and younger folks.

I mix riding on the trainer this time of year with pickleball 4-5 times a week. Keeps me active.

A couple of my previous posts in this thread suggested that playing pickleball isn't necessarily a strenuous workout. As I have progressed to playing with more skilled players I find that I can experienced a sustained heart rate in the 85% plus range for enough duration to make a difference in my fitness. It isn't the same as riding the bike for multiple hours but it can be a workout and it is great fun.