This past week, I recently discovered my love for pickleball. Like many tennis players, I had no interest in learning more about the so-called sport, let alone playing it. However, this changed last Monday at the newly remodeled Papa’aloa courts, when an elderly couple invited me to give it a try. They kindly lent me a paddle and taught me the rules.
Initially, I struggled, frequently hitting the ball out or completely missing shots, as I adjusted to the paddle's size. But soon more people arrived, eager to play. Everyone was so friendly. I made 10+ friends that day and embraced a new experience!
Although I've just begun my pickleball journey, here are a few reasons why I’ve loved my experience so far.
Firstly, it’s a great way to socialize with others. The Papa’aloa pickleball community is so friendly and welcoming. It was easy to make conversation on and off the court since the court is much smaller than a tennis court.
Secondly, it is a joint-friendly sport! I am still rebuilding my ankle strength after injuring it so my body has been appreciative of the limited running involved.
And lastly it’s great exercise.
It may not seem like a lot of action happening but you can definitely get in a workout after an hour or two. Avoid making the same mistake I did by forming an opinion about pickleball without even trying it. If you’re curious about pickleball and want to try it out, hit me up I’d love to play!
Emily with her new elderly pickleball player friends on January 14th, 2024.