As the years wear on, my ageing and aching muscles continue to wear out. Gradually, from the age of twenty-four to the present (sixty-five) injuries have put paid to my competitive participation in football (soccer), athletics and cross-country / road racing, baseball and sky-diving.

(Nah – I just made that last one up.)

At the age of forty-odd, I sort of fell into the sport of tennis. Never having played before, I did OK, competing in the lower to middle divisions of the West of Scotland League.

Then along came (Sir) Andy Murray. No, of course I didn’t play him – I’d used up all my ‘guest passes’ for the year so was unable to sign him in to my club (joking! 😉 ) He made the sport so fashionable and popular though, that youngsters all over the UK had tennis racquets and toweling wrist-bands on their Santa List for the next fifteen years or so.

The sport’s popularity has continued to rise, and old codgers like me struggle to hold down a team place due to the sheer number of amazing youngsters who have been coached in the ‘right’ way to play – and at a much higher level. It totally amazes me how these slightly built children can absolutely thrash the ball with such control and accuracy.

Damn! I could have been a contender, too. 😀

Not really. In fact, not at all. Never in a million years.

The thing is, I enjoy sporting competition. So where do I get my fix now, as I acknowledge my League Tennis matches may be restricted to the odd appearance as a last minute substitute when the kids are tied up with exams or are grounded by their parents for some misdemeanor. 

I think I’ve found the answer: Pickleball.

I know, I know. How can such a ridiculously-named sport be taken seriously? I don’t know, either. But once my curiosity was piqued and I tried the game, it very quickly became addictive.

The sport’s been around since 1965, and in America alone, I believe there are some four million players. Here in UK, we are a bit more set in our ways and perhaps initially viewed Pickleball with a great degree of scepticism, it only started to gain traction in 2011.

Can you blame us?

To date, according to the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) website, which does a wonderful job of promoting the game, there about seven thousand players in the UK. That figure is growing, and growing fast. I’m sure I’m not the only one to take to the sport in recent months.

The playing court is about half that of a tennis court – badminton court size, but with a much lower net than the latter. The hollow, plastic ball, which has 26 holes for indoor play and and 40 for outdoor, is hard and bounces, though not to the extent of a tennis ball. (The outdoor ball is also heavier than the indoor one.)

Instead of a racquet, players use a rectangular-headed ‘paddle’ to hit the ball. What struck me the first time I played, was that unlike in tennis when I could never get the ball to ‘zing’ off the racquet string, in Pickleball there is a very satisfying sound of the ball ‘popping’ off the paddle – every time.

If nothing else, and I can’t look like a professional player, I can sound like one!

With a smaller court, less ground to cover, and I’d say, less stress on the racquet-carrying hand / arm, the sport is ideal for older players. There is also a bit more of a social aspect too, with opposing players being closer together and conversation easier. (Not that I’m ever up for a chat with my game head on. No, no, no. That’s just a big ‘no.’) 😉

However, don’t go thinking Pickleball is purely for us old folk. The game is fast paced and reactions are sharpened when the volleying starts, I can tell you.

I’m still playing tennis, and have held on to my team position for the coming season … by the very outer edge of my fingernails.

However, as when I started playing football, athletics and baseball (not tennis – I knew my limitations from the outset) I’ve now found a new sport I can work towards becoming the best in the world.

Realistically, I guess I’d settle for best in the country. Ok – county. Club? All right, street. House, then.

Acht, who cares? Pickleball will preserve my interest in active competitive sport for a few more years at least.

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