Find out what all the fuss is about + give this super popular game a whack.
Pickleball is here, and no, it’s not something you’d find on the menu of a hip inner-city burger joint.
It’s actually a sport AND a proper fun one at that!
Pickleball is taking the world by storm and it’s now officially landed at PCYC Southern Highlands.
Stephen Gately is the man responsible for bringing the game to us here.
He’s super passionate about the sport and wants you to be too!
Stephen actually began playing in Iowa in 2017 and has been hooked ever since.
When he returned to Australia, he wanted to keep the good times going, so started his own business sharing pickleball with the world and us in the Highlands!
“The best way to describe pickleball is as a hybrid of badminton, ping pong and tennis,” Stephen says.
And honestly, we’re keen as beans to try our hands / paddles at it.
In the meantime, here’s 8 excellent reasons why you’ve just got to give it a go, too.
1 :: It’s the fastest-growing sport in the world
Yep, that’s right, everybody’s doing it!
From Florida to France and everywhere in between, the world is going wild for the game, Southern Highlanders included.
“There has been a pent-up demand for pickleball and our first session attracted over 30 people of all ages,” Krischan Keller, Club Manager at Southern Highlands PCYC told us.
There’s got to be a reason everyone is falling hard for the game so you might as well show up and find out the answer for yourself.
2 :: Good for all ages
Although there are some tennis-y elements to the game, the court is smaller, making it easier to cover [see less running around and straining those joints].
Pickleball also doesn’t require the quick jolting movements you find in other racquet sports, meaning it’s the ideal game for young and old alike.
Seniors, kiddos, middle-agers and even moody teenagers are welcome and encouraged to play.
3 :: Every session is attended by an experienced pickleball player
Southern Highlands PCYC is making it even easier to get started for us newbies by making sure there is an experienced player at every session and all equipment is provided at no extra charge.
They’ll help with the ins and outs of the game and make sure you’re comfortable getting started.
No feeling like a deer in the headlights for you as they’ve got your back from the get-go. Sweet!
4 :: Even celebrities love it
If you don’t have the bank account of these guys, at least you can imagine beating them at pickleball.
Billionaire Bill Gates has apparently been playing since the game started and more recently Leonardo Dicaprio and the blindingly famous Kardashians have taken it up. Tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios is also such a huge fan of the sport he joined celebs Heidi Klum and Eva Longoria by investing in Major League Pickleball. Woah!
5 :: Easy to learn
Stephen and the folks at PCYC Southern Highlands assure us that although it’s a new sport, it actually only takes a couple of games to learn [that’s one of the reasons it’s become so popular.]
“Once you’ve had a couple of sessions with the experienced player, you’ll feel confident enough to get going and maybe even join in a competition or two,” Stephen says.
6 :: Chance to get social
The game is designed to be played in different ways – meaning you can get as little or as much social-ness as you would like.
Play one-on-one against an opponent or paired up in doubles which is the most popular format so bring a friend along too.
If you’re in a team you can then play against other teams in the area, create some of that good old-fashioned friendly rivalry and even make some new pals in the process.
7 :: Your first session is free
Stephen and PCYC Southern Highlands are so sure you’ll love pickleball they’re giving you your first session gratis [at no cost].
No risk for you but all the reward [for how much of a blast you’re gonna have].
You’d be one silly sausage not to take them up on this offer.
8 :: Get fit whilst having fun
When you play pickleball you’ll not only be reaping all those benefits of being active but also using strategy, tactics and even a little patience.
Think of the challenge of a good game of chess but with more movement and probably a ton more laughs!
So now you know all the reasons to get started, all you need to know next is how to begin.
Well first things first, book a sesh at Southern Highlands PCYC – they use the Meetup booking platform which is super easy.
Just go to meetup.com, log on and search for Southern Highlands Pickleball.
There are currently two Wednesday-day classes running at the club however club manager Krischan Keller let us know they are hoping to run more daytime sessions and even an evening session soon…..nice!
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