By Dominique Tassell
If you’ve never heard of pickleball, now is the time to learn about the increasingly popular sport perfect for the whole family.
The sport was developed in 1976 in the United States.
Mark Jagger, a Pickleball Association Queensland general committee member, stated “it was basically a sport that a couple of families created in the backyard”.
“The schoolkids were on holidays and they wanted to keep them occupied.”
Mark says that the sport was called pickle ball because the family who invented the sport had a dog named Pickle who used to chase the ball, however other accounts state that it was because it was a mixture of various sports and reminded the creators of a pickle boat.
Pickle boats were boats made up of a crew thrown together from various groups.
Mark says that “over the last 20 years , pickleball was just predominately played in the US but now it’s becoming bigger and bigger”.
“It’s predominately taken up by ex-tennis, badminton and squash players.
“It’s more strategic, there’s less running and you’re close to the net like table tennis.
“It’s calmer on the body.”
Mark says lots of tennis players who have faced knee and hip problems as they got older have turned to pickleball, as it’s not as demanding on the body.
Mark learnt how to play pickleball when living in Thailand, and he says five years ago he could only find two other players.
With the goal of attracting other players, he helped form the Brisbane pickleball club.
“Since then we’ve grown to be Australia wide, with well over 5000 pickle ball players.”
Pickleball now has a national body, state body, as well as individual local clubs.
The sport is attracting players of all ages, with an under 17s age bracket.
Mark says that an 11 year old and 13 year old won bronze medals in the last competition.
Southern Downs Pickleball Association is set to welcome two national champions to Warwick for a skills session with existing players.
Helen O’Brien from the Warwick club says while the event is only to existing members, the club is always happy to take enquiries.
She says the club does schedule beginner sessions depending on demand and are happy to do that.
“Pickleball is a great sport particularly for older people and it’s less strenuous on the body than tennis.”
“It’s a good step down for people looking for something less taxing that’s still enjoyable.”
Anyone interesting in pickleball can enquire through Southern Downs Pickleball Association on Facebook or email Mail2sdpa@gmail.com.
