Read the first blog entry here.
Well, I’m back, which means I’ve survived! I embarked on my pickleball journey a couple of months ago and after playing - or should I say learning to play - for two months, here are six things I’ve learned.
1. Footwear is SO important. I’m extremely lucky in that part of our APP uniform is a pair of Skechers Viper Court Pros that I’ve also been wearing to play pickleball in. The side-to-side stability here is uber important - yes UBER. My cousin, Tracey, was diving for a ball at the net, but she didn’t have court shoes on, so she lost her balance and decided it was easier to go down than pick herself up. Well, what she learned the hard way was that when they paint pickleball courts, they put sand down first, so that there’s better traction when you’re going after balls you may or may not have any business going after. The end result was that she tore the leggings she was wearing and put a nasty scrape on her knee that lasted a really long time. Honestly, it could have been way worse. Invest in court shoes, I promise, it’s worth it.
2. If you wear corrective lenses, it can become a SITUATION - don’t let it. I’m nearsighted, and although my prescription is relatively mild, I personally feel like I can’t see much far away especially if it’s a day with low humidity. So when I play pickleball, I prefer to wear corrective lenses. Well, apparently there’s a reason they make sports glasses with anti-fog characteristics. One day, during an “advanced beginner” class that I took at PowerPlay Pickleball, I made the mistake of wearing a hat (I need something to keep my hair out of my face) and regular glasses. Girl, WHY. That was miserable and my own fault. I am now on the hunt for a good pair of prescription sports glasses, so if anyone has any recs, send ‘em!
Aside from needing to see, eye protection is something that most instructors will advise you get when you first start playing. Nobody needs to forfeit an eye to the game of pickleball off an errant ball, or heaven forbid, your partner’s paddle.
3. Stretching is your friend! I’ve always been a big believer in stretching before and after a workout - I did it throughout my skating career and I still do it now when I’m just doing strength training or hiking. Pickleball is no different. Especially if you’re just starting to play, like I am, and/or have no racquet sports background, like I don’t, you’re likely utilizing muscles you aren’t used to working. Find ways to stretch your body so you’re less impacted by the movements in pickleball when you wake up the next morning. Fun fact - I was surprised at how good a glute workout pickleball is. “Ready position” basically has you in a squat for the duration of your play time!
4. Everyone wants to play pickleball. As a journalist I’m never supposed to use absolutes like “always,” or “never” or “everyone” or “nobody,” but I feel like in this case it’s fine to break the rule. It was really easy to put together a group from my friends and family that all wanted to learn. I have even more friends that want to come learn to play with me that haven’t yet! This is a great way to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a while - pickleball is fun, inexpensive, and easy to pick up!
5. You Meet So Many People! It’s true what they say - pickleball is the perfect activity to expand your friend circle. Whether it was in the advanced beginner class, renting a court with my friends, or just hanging out at PowerPlay Pickleball, there are so many like-minded individuals who all want to have a good time, learn new things, meet new people, and get some exercise. Especially as you get older, all of these things are so important, and pickleball makes it super easy to combine all these traits.
6. Everyone has a pickleball story. I’ve noticed something interesting. Whenever I tell people I started playing pickleball, they always have some sort of personal anecdote about their own relationship to pickleball, whether it’s how they themselves play or they know someone with a unique story. It always evolves into a double-sided conversation. I was at a party over the weekend and I mentioned how I just started playing pickleball, and one of the people I was talking to told me how his brother got dragged into pickleball after having played tennis and is now thinking about going pro! Pickleball brings people together - whether it’s on or off the court!
Do you have an interesting story about how your learned to play pickleball? Share it here.
