courtesy of USAPA/Tom Gottfried
fi tbody
Fast-paced action is a hallmark of pickleball.
New Ways to Court Fitness
Racquets and Paddles
Get a Sporting Makeover by Randy Kambic
Two fun ways to use tennis courts for fi tness are showing big increases in popularity.
Meet the New “Pickleball” You may not have heard of it yet, but pickleball is a mixture of tennis, squash and table tennis, and it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) at
usapa.org estimates that 2.5 million players are active now, with the number expected to multiply to 8 million by next year. Regulation tennis courts especially marked for pickleball facilitate its smaller, 20-by-44-foot playing area. The need for less running about appeals to older players and others, as does the distinctive thud when the hard paddle hits the plastic ball. (Sample video at
Tinyurl.com/WinningPickleballShot.) Christine Barksdale, 48, of Vancouver, Washington, USAPA’s managing director of competition and athlete services, played league tennis from childhood into adulthood until she transferred her passion to pickleball. She assesses that half of participants are “totally focused on pickleball,” while the rest see it as a way to improve their volleying skills for tennis. “It defi nitely improves refl exes. It’s easy for beginners to pick it up and have fun.” It also introduces kids to racquet sports. Stretching the shoulders before playing is advised by licensed sports massage therapist Brian Horner, who works with athletes at pickleball, tennis, racquetball and beach volleyball tournaments in Arizona, California and elsewhere. The shoulder
26 Central Florida natural awakenings
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