I’ve only played pickleball a handful of times, but it’s a fun game and a hell of a workout if you’re playing singles.
I still prefer tennis by a mile though. Went to hit with my wife on 95F+ weather this afternoon and she kept running me around the court and hitting winners on me. Not very nice of her imo.
I’ve always enjoyed pickleball over tennis. My mom and stepdad played and were always nursing sore elbows. Turned me off of tennis, but otoh I always had access to a medicine cabinet full of vicodin, percocet, and valium. Never got to try quaaludes 
Really want to give pickleball a try as it looks like a blast, but for the love of god will someone PLEASE change the name?
What’s the name in Japanese? I assume it’s basically the same.
I can report that I saw zero pickleball courts in Japan. Only two tennis courts, though, so small sample. How big is it over there?
Too late to change the name unfortunately. Stupid name, but legitimately the most fun sport. And it can coexist with tennis just fine despite what lots of stuck up tennis players would have you believe. Each game can improve your play in the other. Pickleball will really help your net game in tennis for example.
Source: been playing competitive pickleball since 2018 and was briefly sponsored by an apparel company before being sidelined with two surgeries for a while. I’ve played with TONS of tennis players from rec level up to and including D1/teaching pros/touring pros. Every single one of them loves pickleball and most were hesitant to try it at first. Dan you should hook up with some higher level players and give it a shot, I’d be happy to facilitate that somewhere in the Philly area if you want.
ETA: I will say that I think it is much more fun to play than watch. Doesn’t translate to the screen as well as other sports imo. But rallies like these are absolutely addictive as a player.
https://twitter.com/TheKitchenPB/status/1674947097781587972?s=20
https://twitter.com/TheKitchenPB/status/1670589554443821056?s=20
https://twitter.com/TheKitchenPB/status/1668026651190628352
https://twitter.com/TheKitchenPB/status/1670241426427494400?s=20
It’s named after a dog.
It’s caught on in Mexico. Here in northern Baja we only have 4 public courts in the 20 court tennis center. And its controlled by retired people who refuse to allow a challenger court so better players wont play there during the peak times. Though most condos have taped lines on their tennis courts. But in mainland Mexico most bigger cities are building dedicated public courts. I assume land being so much more expensive here is the cause.
Ive always loved tennis but since I started playing pb a year ago Ive only played tennis a half dozen times. I still love singles tennis most but doubles pb is great and I always despised doubles tennis. Not having continual arm and feet soreness is nice too. Though its definitely harder on the hips.
I dont know if Id agree that it helps your tennis game that much. The short compact swings and slow waddling movement that pb calls for pretty different from the strokes and movement that tennis needs.Seems like a tennis background helps you beginning to play pb but is a hinderance as you level up. At least it was for me. It definitely helps to improve reflexes, especially at net.
While we’re the subject, can anyone suggest a good pair of shoes? Ive wearing holes in the toes of my addidas barricades every two months or so. Playing like 10 hours a week. Ive heard the skechers are pretty durable but think they meet be overpriced with how much theyre spending marketing them,
I’ve head it’s a hybrid between tennis and table tennis. Which would you say it’s closer to?
Japanese name is the same–pronounced the Japanese way. And as you say, I’ve never seen a court here and the one time I looked into it, it looked like the sport barely has a presence here. Which is surprising. Given the aging population and space limitations, one would think it could become quite popular in Japan.
All the more reason to change the damn name.
I’m old man shouting at clouds except that old man plays p-ball.
Main complaints are
1 the noise
2 complete lack of court etiquette
They bring 50% more players than they need so there are 10 or so people meandering around. Tennis requires a much bigger field of vision AND the high potential of needing the full surface plus some to chase down lobs, etc. it doesn’t help that at my park (adjacent to my property), the one tennis court wo pball lines has the only door.
I’d deal with the noise if the etiquette is good. I’ve taken to vocally praising folks that wait to use the door.
All in all I think the more total users of courts will be a benefit. I do see a lot of retired people playing which is good.
A lot of tennis players are distracted by the extra lines on shared courts, doesn’t really bother me.
Idk what to do about the noise.
Are human line judges actually necessary anymore?
I’ve found Babolat Mach 3s to be the best shoe for me so far. Still have gone through several pairs, but the outsole holds up way better than any other and the toe guard holds up well if you drag your toe at all. I’ve been getting about 80-100 hrs of play/drilling out of each pair. I buy them from TennisWarehouse/MidwestSports as they always have a good discount or promo code.
The common description is it’s a combination of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. It’s not really super close to any of those though. Table tennis experience helps a lot at the net since you are 14 feet away from your opponents which is about the size of a table and hand speed/reaction time is important. Tennis experience helps with ground strokes obviously. Not sure how badminton factors in.
Super valid complaint. I don’t pay anywhere that shares space with tennis now, and I don’t play with idiots who are unaware of their surroundings. Unfortunately a lot of people with no prior sports or social awareness experience do play though and they are annoying.
Thanks for recommendation.
I’ve found that racquetball players have the easiest transition. Similar swings, movement and reaction time.
My buddy who lives in NYC has kept me up on the pb drama there. Taking over basketball courts and similar. I think it’s a problem of supply not meeting demand and a trendy sport attracting people who aren’t used to sports etiquette, as mentioned. Also lots of older retired people who LIVE for pickleball and don’t think rules apply to them.
One persons noise is another one’s music. I prefer pb noise to constant grunts of tennis players. One buddy has been dinking against the wall since his daughter was a newborn so the next generation might not mind the sound.
Dan, I’d say give it a try before you judge it. It requires a wider skillset and strategy, at least imo. It also allows different level players to have competitive games. One reason I’ve switched is that all the higher level tennis players I know don’t want to play tennis anymore and I can’t find a decent match.
But enough pb talk. Time for Carlitos v Rune.
I have a hard enough time repeating my tennis stroke, let alone going back and forth.
I’m sure I’d enjoy it. I’ve played a little paddle tennis.
. should I lose the ability to play tennis but able to play p-ball I’ll like it.
But for now I’m enjoying being a hateful spiteful tennis player.
Eubanks vs Medvedev serve botting is kind of refreshing to watch.
I get players that have played USTA for years be etiquette clowns
I had a match last year on the first of a four court setup. Guys coming on to start warming up on courts 2-3-4 just wandered through the door. If they waited and then we waved them in, half of them leisurely strolled. Jfc.
C’mon Eubanks. Get this tiebreak.
Ugh. Was doing serve and volley drills this morning. He must have watched me.
One of my tennis friends is attending the women’s semis, this is the view from his seat. Lucky bastard!
That stadium looks like it’s a quarter of the size of Arthur Ashe.
Size isn’t everything.
