Pickleball
WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?
Pickleball began in the USA in 1965 and is now the fastest growing sport in North America, spreading to the UK in 2011.
Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table-tennis. It is easy to learn, fast-paced and extremely fun to play due to the long rallies that occur throughout a game and the strategies used to make the game more competitive. The game is played with a hard “paddle” and a light, hollow, hard plastic ball with holes in, which travels at about a third of the average speed of a tennis ball. The game is played on a court with the same dimensions as badminton doubles, but with a net a little lower than a tennis net. Pickleball is almost always played in doubles format, although singles is also very popular and fun to play, especially for those looking for a greater challenge.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PICKLEBALL?
Pickleball is an ideal game for men and women of all ages: children and young people can develop their hand-eye co-ordination prior to taking up tennis; older adults can enjoy the social aspect of playing with others, while keeping active without putting excessive strains on their body.
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY?
Pickleball is easy to learn, so a new player can enjoy the sport and experience long rallies on the first day of playing. Players with racket-sport experience will find that their skills transfer immediately. More advanced players enjoy the fast-paced, competitive challenge that pickleball offers.
WHAT DOES DELLCOTT OFFER?
Dellcott Family Tennis Club has offered pickleball since 2021. The club runs three social sessions weekly throughout the year. These sessions are not coach-led and are open to adults over the age of 18. These social sessions are open to club members for free, as well as non-members who can play subject to a session fee. All players must be registered with the club and are required to book in advance on the Coaching page of our website.
Session times vary according to Summer or Winter
Wednesdays 10am-12 noon
Thursdays (summer) 2pm-4pm or (winter) 1pm-3pm
Sundays (summer) 5pm-7pm or (winter) 1pm-3pm
At Dellcott, we welcome players from a range of backgrounds, inviting them initially to take part in a short taster to learn the basic rules and skills. The club has an experienced group of volunteers who manage the sessions, some of whom are Pickleball England certified pickleball leaders. We run a number of taster sessions throughout the year, led by our leaders. We encourage new players to join in with other, more experienced players after their taster. At Dellcott, our social sessions include players of all abilities, who enjoy the banter of friendly competition and value being part of the Dellcott family.
At Dellcott, we play pickleball on the tennis courts. We use portable pickleball nets and throw-down markers to mark out pickleball courts on the tennis courts. All equipment is provided. All players need is comfortable clothing and trainers or tennis shoes and plenty of enthusiasm! We warn you that PICKLEBALL CAN BE ADDICTIVE!! Take a look this short video to show how addictive the game can be.
Do come along and give this exciting sport a try. See you on court!
For further information, please contact Etain on dellcottpickleball@outlook.com.