Capital Area Pickleball Association
Serving Dane County Wisconsin

We all know that exercise is important, and as we age, physical
activity becomes even more valuable for preserving physical and mental
health. However, the prospect of getting regular exercise can be
daunting when it isn’t fun (for example, running countless loops
around a track or climbing a stair stepper to nowhere).

This is where pickleball comes in! Pickleball is the fastest growing
sport in America. It is a combination of tennis, ping-pong and
badminton. Although pickleball was invented in 1965 just outside
Seattle, it has gained increasing popularity in recent years,
especially (but not exclusively) among Baby Boomers. According to the
Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the number of pickleball
players grew 14.8% between 2020 and 2021. In a 2022 report, the Sports
& Fitness Industry Association noted that as of 2022, 4.8 million
Americans played pickleball. And, of the 1.4 million “core”
participants (those who played 8+ times per year), over half were 55+
years of age, and approximately one-third were 65 or older.

Here are some reasons why pickleball is an ideal sport for seniors:

-It is a low-impact sport that is relatively easy on the joints. The
smaller court size (44 by 20 feet) and lower net (compared to tennis)
and plastic, whiffle-like ball make it easier on the hips, knees and
shoulders, compared to other sports like tennis or basketball. To give
you an idea of how small a pickleball court is, you could fit about
four standard pickleball courts on a single tennis court! Pickleball
entails less running and jumping than tennis, making it less likely to
result in injuries. In addition, serving is underhand (not overhand,
like in tennis), which makes the game easier to play and less taxing
on arm muscles.

-It can improve health. Despite being a low-impact sport, it involves
a lot of physical movement and can be fast-paced, making it an
excellent form of cardio exercise. In a 2016 study published in
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 12 middle-aged players burned
40% more calories playing pickleball for 30 minutes than by walking
for the same amount of time. In addition, a 2018 study in the
International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology found that
middle-aged and older adults who played one hour of pickleball three
days per week for six weeks improved their blood pressure,
cholesterol, and cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Maintaining a
healthy blood pressure, cholesterol level and cardiovascular system
can help prevent hypertension, stroke and heart attack.

-It provides opportunities to be social. Pickleball is often played
as doubles, and often with complete strangers who just happen to also
be at the same pickleball courts as you. This means that seniors can
make new friends and/or stay connected with family and friends who
also enjoy playing the game.

-It boosts mood and reduces the risk of depression by increasing
endorphins and providing opportunities to socialize. A 2018 study
published in Leisure Studies found that older adults who played in
pickleball tournaments had a lower risk of depression.

-It improves physical coordination and balance. Pickleball requires
the use of quick reflexes and eye-hand/eye-foot coordination. By
playing the sport and improving balance and coordination, seniors can
reduce their risk of falls and injuries.

-It provides mental stimulation. Playing pickleball requires focus,
strategic thinking and quick decision-making. Studies have shown that
mentally stimulating activities can help to improve cognitive function
and reduce the risk of dementia in older adults.

-Pickleball is relatively easy to learn. The rules are fairly simple
– points can only be earned by the side that is serving, and the
winner is the first side to get to 11 points, win by 2 - and the game
is played on a small court with a relatively slow-moving ball, making
it a fun and engaging sport that can be picked up rather quickly by
almost everyone, regardless of age, body type or athletic ability. It
is a sport that can be played competitively or recreationally, and it
provides players with skills to improve upon the more they play.

-It is a relatively inexpensive sport that can be played standing or
in wheelchairs, year-round, both indoors and outdoors. Paddles start
at about $10, balls are about $3 each, and most outdoor courts are
free. Many YMCAs and school gyms provide affordable indoor courts
during the winter. In addition, the Silver Sneakers program, offered
by many Medicare Advantage plans and some Medigap plans, covers gym
membership at many facilities that include pickleball. You can go to
the USA Pickleball Association’s website -
https://www.places2play.org/ - and enter your zip code to find places
to play near you. And, if all else fails, you can always buy a
do-it-yourself pickleball court kit from Amazon.com and convert a
tennis court near you into a pickleball court quite easily! The USA
Pickleball Association’s website even includes “Do it Yourself”
instructions for creating your own pickleball court almost anywhere.
See https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/court-diagram/do-it-yourself-guidelines/ .

-It is a game that can be played together by people of all ages.
Currently, the average pickleball player’s age is 38, so it is a sport
that can be enjoyed together by individuals of different generations.
Even kids can play the sport!

So, the next time you are thinking you should exercise more but
wishing you could find a fun activity to make the exercise not feel so
grueling, consider trying pickleball.   

Most players would agree that one of the most critical pieces of equipment for excelling at the sport of pickleball is the paddle. Have you ever wondered whether a smooth or textured surface is better for adding spin? In this blog post, we'll explore which type of paddle is better for adding spin to your pickleball game.

Smooth Paddles

Smooth paddles are generally less expensive than textured paddles, making them a good option for beginners or players on a budget. However, smooth paddles may not be the best choice for players looking to add spin to their shots. The smooth surface does not generate as much friction on the ball as a textured surface, making it harder to apply spin.

Textured Paddles

Textured paddles have a surface with grit, tiny grooves, or patterns that creates friction on the ball. This increased friction makes it easier for players to add sidespin, topspin, underspin, or any other kind of spin you’d care to name to their shots! Applying spin generally makes it harder for opponents to return the ball. Textured paddles are generally more expensive than smooth paddles, but the increased winning advantage it could give you on the court may be worth it.

Different Types of Surface Textures

If you are looking for a paddle with a textured surface that will allow you to add more spin to your shots, you will notice that some paddles seem to have what looks like grit painted onto them and others that seem to have the texture built into their very fiber (usually carbon fiber, no pun intended!).

Although paddles with “paint grit” feel very rough when first taken out of their original packaging and can add a lot of great spin initially, the grit wears down very quickly after just a few sessions of heavy play. And while these paddles may be less expensive, you will soon be left with a smooth and un-spinful paddle.

The most durable and spin-iest paddles tend to be the ones that are made of carbon fiber or graphite and which have a rough texture that almost feels like it is built into the paddle face. Although these paddles are more expensive and the texture will still wear out over time, they are by far some of the best quality paddles on the market today and will likely help take your game to the next level!

USA Pickleball has finalized and released the 2024 Official Rulebook. Twenty-seven rule changes and/or new rules were approved for 2024, and here are a handful that you should know about.

• Faults for incorrect server, incorrect receiver, and player position errors have been eliminated. In officiated tournament play, the referee will now correct any such player errors before calling the score. See Rule 4.B.9.
• The words “deliberately” and “unintentional” were removed in Rules 7.L (the carry rule) and 11.A (the double hit rule), respectively. As a result, a referee in officiated play no longer has to determine intent. Any carry is now a fault, whether it was deliberate or not. Note that a double hit is still permitted, as long as it happens in one, continuous motion.
• Rule 10.B.2.c (medical time-outs) allows an injured player to tack on any available remaining standard time-outs after the 15-minute medical time-out has expired. This is intended to allow the player more time before potentially having to retire from a match. The 2023 rule seemingly implied that an injured player would have to retire if they were not able to resume play after the 15-minute medical time out was over.
• Rule 13.L allows players in non-officiated play situations to request that a referee or Tournament Director make an official determination regarding whether an opponent’s paddle is legal for play.
• Rule 11.E has been amended to allow a replay of a completed rally in tournament play if a ball is cracked or broken and all players agree that the cracked or broken ball affected the outcome of the rally. No replay is provided merely because the ball is found to be damaged or “soft.” The ball can, however, be replaced.
• Although the rule has not changed yet, the USA Pickleball Board of Directors is considering potentially changing scoring from its current form to rally scoring. However, this new rule change is still in pending status, as the Board wants to collect more data before issuing a final decision.