If you’re ‘game’ for pickleball, this is just the right time to get involved…registration and sponsorships are open
now for the first-ever Georgetown pickleball championship.
Pickleball is one of America’s youngest sports but, thanks to its near-universal popularity, it is also the fastest growing. In 1965, two Washington businessmen and their families tried pairing ping-pong paddles with a wiffleball on an old basketball court. As they continued to play, they soon worked out a game format with rules and points. Fast-forward to 2021 and you can enjoy playing in a league for recreation or to support the community, or both.
WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?
Play is on a 20′ x 44′ hard surface—indoors or outdoors—lined similar to, but about one-quarter the size of, a regulation tennis court. Players use a larger and slightly modified ping-pong paddle to hit a plastic, perforated ball over a net. Game play is considered by many to be a hybrid of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton.
Most believe what puts pickleball into a class of its own is the social aspect. At most locations, there’s no need to bring a partner or a group to enjoy a day on the court. Anyone can join the game as long as there is an open spot. Players put their paddles in a courtside “stack” to wait their turn to enter a game. When one player leaves, it is understood that the next paddle in the stack will join and everyone makes a new friend.
Benefits of the game
Pickleball can be a fast-paced game but, without the need to cover a large area, as in tennis, the game is easier on the body. Other pluses include portable setup, as the nets can be rolled up and taken home, and there are also modifications for players who use wheelchairs.
WHERE TO PLAY
Residents of Sun City have several options for play and, in the greater Georgetown area, there are several locations to find courts, clinics, or organized play.
- Georgetown Tennis Center: 8 outdoor courts. Leagues, clinics, private lessons
- McMasters Athletic Complex: 6 new outdoor courts. Free public play
- Georgetown Recreation Center: 3 indoor courts
THE CLUB
Jo Trammell, the volunteer Central Texas Pickleball Ambassador, says the Georgetown Parks Department has been very supportive of the needs of pickleball players. She and other pickleball enthusiasts formed the Georgetown Pickleball Club. Their mission is to ensure all pickleball players are treated equally, regardless of skill level, but also to provide training, education, events, and competitions to a growing crowd of enthusiasts.
Scan the code for more on how to start playing pickleball, upcoming events, locations to play, and even game rules.