Rodney Stevens

The phenomenon that is one of the world’s fastest growing and most popular sports, Pickleball, is sweeping across the Clarence Valley, capturing the hearts and minds of players of all ages.

Yamba Pickleball group member Max Bell said the sport began in the region a couple of years ago when the Clarence U3A got wind of its popularity and purchased some equipment.

“Pickleball is the world’s fastest growing sport, it’s really popular locally and it gets addictive,” he said.

“Once people start playing, they can’t get enough of it.

“They keep coming back.

“It’s a sport that isn’t too physically demanding and can be enjoyed by people of all ages…we have people in their 70s and 80s still playing.”

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum who, with bored children at home, sought to play Badminton on an old Badminton court but they couldn’t find the right equipment.

They improvised using Table Tennis paddles and a whiffle ball hit over a Badminton net.

Since then, the sport described as a cross between Tennis, Table Tennis and Badminton, grew in popularity in the United States and spread out across the world, using specifically designed paddles and hollow plastic, perforated balls, playing on Badminton courts.

Pickleball can be played in either singles or doubles formats and the first team to 11 points, with a two-point lead, wins a game.

Points can only be won by the serving side, who continue to serve until they both lose their service (in doubles), and the opposing side begins to serve.

“Pickleball isn’t as physically demanding as tennis and the ball is hollow so it’s not as fast for people to chase around,” Mr Bell said.

“We’ve got people in their 80’s that play…you don’t have to be overly fit or active.

“There’s a few old fella’s that are not that fit but enjoy Pickleball, so they just stand in one spot and hit what comes to them,” Mr Bell joked.

Mr Bell said there are rumours among the fraternity worldwide that Pickleball will become an Olympic sport, with exhibition matches currently being played at the Australian Open Tennis tournament.

But, for the International Olympic Committee to include a sport in the Olympic Games, the sport needs to be played by men from at least 75 different countries spanning four continents, or women from at least 40 different countries across three continents.

Pickleball was included in the 2022 Pan Pacific Masters Games, Mr Bell said, where four members of the Yamba group, Brenda Salisbury, Kerry Hulm, Joy Williams and Rita Gaul all took home medals.

Pickleball is played at Yamba’s Raymond Laurie Sports Centre on Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm till 3pm and on Saturday morning from 8.30am till 10am.

At Maclean Sports Centre Pickleball is played on Thursday from 1pm till 3pm and Saturday from 8.30am till 10am.

Mr Bell said the with participant numbers regularly exceeding 25, the group expanded to Thursdays at Yamba, so all players could get more court time.

“U3A run the games on Tuesday and everyone else who isn’t a member of U3A is welcome to come along on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday for $5 and we supply the equipment,” Mr Bell said.

“Anyone is welcome to turn up and there will be member here who can help you out and explain what’s involved.”