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The Pickleball Guest
I'm taking a trip down memory lane this week; I’m sure you can all understand why I want to do so. In 2017 and 2019 I took a week-long vacation in New Brunswick and stayed at a family cottage on the Northumberland Strait, overlooking PEI. Both vacations consisted of eating yummy seafood, ocean kayaking and plenty of beachcombing. But did I bring my pickleball gear with me? Absolutely! Day trips to surrounding towns and cities always meant there was a possibility I might sneak in a game or two, or more. And I did. I played with a group at Mount Allison University in Sackville; at some beautiful outdoor courts in Shediac (I was in Shediac to pick...
What is Pickleball & Where Did it Come From?
Pickleball, a sport that is growing rapidly across North America is a hybrid of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The game is played on a court which is the same size as a badminton court (20’x44’) and the list of equipment is simple: a plastic wiffle ball, 34-inch net, and paddles. Games can be played in either singles or doubles format and games are typically played up to 11 points.
The game was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island by three men who spent their summers on the island with their families. On a rainy day, Barney McCallum, Bill Bell, and Joel Pritchard found some old sports equipment and invented a variation of badminton to entertain...
Basic Rules and Tracking the Score
Pickleball is a fun sport played in singles or doubles format. One unique aspect is that the court size does not change between the two formats, unlike similar sports such as badminton and tennis. For those of you interested in pickleball but are not yet familiarized with the game, below is a list of the more important general rules and a breakdown of how to keep track of the score.
General Rules
- The Serve: A legal serve is performed with an underhand motion so the paddle movement is up-to-down. The ball must be hit below the server's waist and the top of the paddle must be below the wrist. The ball needs to land on the other side of...
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Considering the External Factors in Pickleball
Oftentimes pickleball is compared to tennis, table tennis and/or badminton, however, in pickleball, external distractions are much more of a consideration than any of the other respective sports. During COVID-19 and the practice of social distancing and self-isolation, identifying external factors and learning how you can best block them out is one way you can stay in touch with your game.
So, what exactly do I mean when I speak of “external factors”? I’m referring to any sound or motion that you - personally - have no control over. This includes before, during and between your pickleball games or matches. As a player who’s participated in over 25 tournaments across Ontario and throughout the USA, including the US...
Tips on Building a Court in Your Backyard
The very first pickleball court was a modified backyard badminton court on Bainbridge Island, WA in 1965. These days, there is a lack of facilities and a growing demand for players, so people are choosing to build a pickleball court on their own property. Which, is the greatest thing ever and probably makes them the envy of all of their friends. If you have space in your backyard (or driveway!) to build a court and have considered the idea, we have a few tips for you to think through:
- Standard court dimensions are 20ft x 44ft but according to USAPA the minimum recommended dimensions are 30ft x 60ft, and the most recommended size is 34ft x 64ft.
- Lines should be...
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Where to Play Pickleball in Toronto?
Pickleball is growing very quickly across North America because not only is it a game that’s fun, social and easy to learn it’s also a sport that can be played by people of all ages. For those who are just discovering pickleball and live within the Greater Toronto Area, you may notice that the sport has not yet caught on in Toronto, which leads to the question: where can one go to play or learn to play pickleball?
For anyone just getting into the sport, I recommend you reach out to your local Pickleball Ontario Ambassador for their suggestions on where to play. The Ambassador program was developed to help grow the game of pickleball in respective regions...
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