Pickleball: Fun AND Healthy? Who Knew?
When you combine tennis, ping-pong and badminton, you get a unique game called pickleball…which happens to be one of the fastest growing sports in the United States!
Pickleball offers aerobic exercise as well as a component of social connection, which has a positive domino effect of keeping your immune system in strong shape.
“When you consider how the pandemic has upturned so many aspects of our lives, this sport is a great way to improve both physical and mental well-being,” says Anish Manrai, CA Assistant Director of Sport and Fitness.
According to Manrai, some of the top benefits of playing pickleball are:
- Easy to learn
- Health benefits
- Social connection
Easy to learn
First things first: One of the best aspects of pickleball is that anyone can learn how to play. Whether you have zero athletic experience or you’re a multi-sport athlete, the rules of pickleball are fairly simple. All you need to get started is a paddle and a ball.
With a shorter paddle, lighter ball and less ground to cover on a smaller court, pickleball is especially beneficial for seniors looking to stay active.
Because it’s accessible for all ages and abilities, this sport offers the amazing experience of multiple generations being able to play on the same court at the same time. In fact, it was invented as a cross-generational game back in 1965 by three dads who were looking for a way to entertain their kids.
And while the rules are easy to grasp, make no mistake: This is a game of strategy. That means younger and more agile players don’t have an automatic advantage — tactical-minded players of any age are the real threat!
Health benefits
Studies show that an increased amount of pickleball activity can lead to improved blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness. It offers aerobic exercise, giving players the chance to move around on the court at any level of intensity they’d like.
Since pickleball moves at a slower pace than tennis, it’s easier on the joints while also improving balance, coordination and agility. This makes it a wonderful choice for those who have had injuries in the past, or former tennis players looking for a gentler alternative.
Membership Has Its Advantages!
Members can get access to our gyms, tennis courts, golf courses, pools, ice skating rink, pickleball courts, and much more! Use the form below to have a member advocate get in touch with you about becoming a member.
Pickleball game at CA’s Owen Brown Tennis Club
Social connection
Just the name “pickleball” has an undeniable friendliness factor. More than anything, pickleball is a social game, and it’s no secret that strong social connections improve the quality of our life, and can extend our life expectancy.
In a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, the pickleball participants most deeply engaged in the game were more likely to be highly satisfied with their lives and have a positive experience with aging.
Based on guidelines provided by USA Pickleball, there continues to be updates on how we should approach playing this game safely. Here at CA, we continue to follow CDC, state and local guidelines in order to offer both outdoor and indoor opportunities to learn and enjoy this game.
You never know who you will meet on the courts, but more importantly, each time you play, you will probably leave the courts with a new friend for your next game!
Get your pickleball on at CA
CA’s Owen Brown Tennis Club provides six pickleball courts…and we’d love to see you! We also offer private pickleball lessons for those who’d like one-on-one professional expertise. Learn more on our website!
