It’s likely that you’ve heard about the sport ‘Pickleball’, but like many of us you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. In a nutshell, Pickleball is a badminton/tennis/ping-pong sporty mashup that’s great for health and wellbeing. You can play in either a singles or doubles so it’s a an awesome game for couples, families, and groups of friends. As ANZA launches ANZA Pickleball Clinics this month, here’s what you need to know:
What you need to know about Pickleball
- Pickleball is played with a flat paddle and a special pickleball which is plastic and perforated with 26 to 40 holes; these holes create more drag and are lighter and easier to hit than tennis balls and create a slightly slower pace of game
- You need a court space, and a 3-foot-long net that’s hung in the centre
- One player serves the ball underhand over the net and diagonally into their opponent’s service court. The ball is then hit back and forth over the net until a player misses. Points are scored only by the serving team. Each game goes to 11 points, but you must win by two points
So far, so simple. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently, many “picklers” (the unofficial name for players!) claim that Pickleball is a great workout that doesn’t feel like a workout. Also, it’s purportedly easier on the body – especially the hips and knees – than tennis and other racquet sports.
Health benefits of the game
Want more? According to Forbes Health;
- It’s great cardio. Picklers who committed to playing for one hour three times a week showed marked improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and cholesterol levels
- Links to lower blood pressure
- Playing Pickleball is said to be associated with lower levels of depression
- Research shows it may also improve cognitive performance
- Pickleball can support better hand-eye coordination
- Studies indicate that playing pickleball increases agility and coordination, as well as muscle strength and function
Pickleball was created in 1965 in the States and was introduced to Singapore in 1990, however, it’s only just started to grow in popularity. According to Mr Chong Siew Tan, president of the Singapore Pickleball Association (yes, it’s a thing),“It’s very easy to pick up, so everybody thinks that they are very good. On a skill level of 0 to 100, you can reach 30,40 very fast. To go beyond takes a while more.”
The ANZA Pickleball Clinics are a 6-week programme designed for newcomers to the game wanting to learn the basic skills of pickleball. We’ve enlisted the help of specialist coaches from the Pickleball Academy Singapore who’ve all played pickleball competitively and want to spread their passion for this fast paced and unique sport.
Click here to find out more and to sign up to ANZA Pickleball Clinics!
