I took up golf about eight years ago. I bought a girly pink golf bag, a set of clubs, golf shoes and cute polo shirts in many colors and designs. I even took some lessons with a local golf pro. Then I went to the driving range a few times with one of my gal pals, who had been playing for many years. It was fun, but not “haha” fun. People at the range seemed pretty serious about their aspirations to be the next Tiger Woods (he wasn’t in as much trouble back in the day).
Finally, I played some 9-hole, 3-par courses with my more experienced friend. We didn’t use a golf cart because we wanted to get some exercise, but honestly, if it wasn’t 85 and humid, I probably wouldn’t have broken a sweat. Figuring out which club to use in different situations was stressful. To wedge or not to wedge? Should I use my big mama driver off the tee or go with a less unwieldy iron? Do I look like I have a neurological disease when I tee off? What if I yell “fore” too late and kill someone? Not being a quitter, I dragged myself to a small local course a couple of times and played solo just to find out if I would play better without an audience. Nope. Two years later, I sold my barely used equipment to a nice young man, who bought them as a Christmas gift for his wife.
Fast forward to three years ago. A Facebook friend in Arizona was posting about a new sport he had taken up called pickleball. When he described it as a cross between tennis and ping pong, I couldn’t picture it. It sounded weird and not like a “real” sport. Then I watched some videos and decided it looked like a lot more fun than golf.
Being retired and not a fan of the gym, I decided there might be some health benefits. I took a few lessons and learned paddle techniques, rules and terminology. The court is smaller than a tennis court, with the area across the front by the net referred to as the “kitchen.” You must not go in the kitchen unless the ball (similar to a whiffle ball) bounces in the kitchen before you hit it. “Dink” is the term for hitting the ball gently so it lands in your opponents’ kitchen, making it harder for them to return it if they are unsuspecting “slammers.” Slammers, sometimes also referred to as “bangers,” like to hang back and hit hard, so a little finesse as a dinker can disrupt their game quite effectively. They rarely make it to the kitchen line in time, unless they happen to be substantially younger and faster.
Now in my third year of playing pickleball, I’ve seen it all. I’ve played in two tournaments, came in last both times, and am planning to sign up again. I’ve played indoors and outdoors. One year, a bunch of us shoveled snow off the courts and played in 35-degree temps. That was before I realized it wasn’t wise to play on slick surfaces, given the already dangerous aspects of the game! More and more articles have come out about it.
I’ve been lucky personally, but I have witnessed injuries that required hospitalization. Most people I play with are senior citizens. We’re just not as flexible, surefooted and quick to react as we once were. I’ve been hit in the face a few times because I didn’t block the shot in time. My glasses prevent eye injuries, but bruises are just part of the deal. Players who are on blood thinners tend to be quite colorful! One guy I play with regularly went backwards for a shot and fell, slamming the back of his head on the ground, out cold! He still has some problems with balance 18 months after a two-week hospital stay.
Rule number one in pickleball: Never run backward for an overhead shot! I’ve seen a couple broken wrists, one black eye, a knee replacement and lots of minor falls.
All of this being said, pickleball is a thousand times more fun than golf, even if it is also a thousand times more dangerous. Two hours on a pickleball court is a tremendous workout. It’s also mentally stimulating, because the score must be remembered and repeated by the person serving. Of course, we do spend a lot of time asking each other, “What’s the score again?” The social aspects are a huge mental health benefit as well. On any given day, I might see 10 or 20 people out on the courts, and we are all very chatty. At home, I mostly have one-way conversations with my dog. Golf was more sedate and less raucous for sure. It was even kind of stuffy, despite being played completely out in the open air. So, if you’re looking for a way to stay active that’s competitive and fun: Dink, don’t drive!
