Pickleball starts at Bude Leisure Centre
A new activity will soon be starting at Bude Leisure Centre.
From Monday 12th January, communities of Bude can book a court at the Leisure Centre: Courts will be available:
- Monday to Friday - 1pm-2pm & 2pm-3pm
- Saturday and Sunday - 11am-12pm
Pickleball, is a fast growing sport being introduced in our Better Leisure Centres.
Why? It is easy to pick up and a great way to excerise, Pickleball is fast becoming one of the most popular racket sports in the world. It's a fun, low-impact, social sport that can be played as either singles or doubles. Find out everything you need to know about pickleball and how you can start playing today.
What is Pickleball?
The LTA describes on its website as a sport that is fast becoming one of the most popular racket sports in the world, Pickleball brings together some of the best elements of Tennis, Badminton and Table Tennis, into a fun and exciting game for people of all ages and abilities.
Played on a court the same size as a Badminton court – and using a shorter tennis-style net – players use paddles to hit a plastic ball between one another. You can play as both singles and doubles, and it’s a great way to exercise with friends and family or meet new people.
While there are many similarities with tennis, there are some key differences. For example, the ball has to bounce once on each side before you can volley and you can’t play volleys from inside the kitchen sink (a marked out area close to the net).
When was Pickleball invented and by who?
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, who were looking for a game that their kids could play together. Combining Badminton nets, Table Tennis bats and a wiffle ball, the three men created the first iteration of what would go on to become pickleball.
The first court was later built in 1967 in Pritchard’s backyard before the first tournament took place in 1976 at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington.
Why is it called Pickleball?
Pickleball got its name from two well-known stories. The most widely accepted explanation is that Joan Pritchard, wife of co-inventor Joel Pritchard, said the mix of sports reminded her of a ‘pickle boat’ in rowing, a crew made up of leftover oarsmen, just as pickleball was created from parts of other sports.
Another story is that the game was named after the family dog, Pickles, who loved chasing the ball. However, the Pritchards later clarified that the dog was named after the game, not the other way around.
Most historians and USA Pickleball consider the ‘pickle boat’ story to be the true origin.
When did pickleball turn professional?
Pickleball became a professional sport in 2019 with the formation of two tours – the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA).
Why is pickleball popular?
It’s simple - Pickleball is easy learn, fun to play and is a great way to exercise.
One of the fastest-growing sports in the world, Pickleball is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and is a very social activity that you can play with family and friends, while also giving you the opportunity to meet new people.
The game is exciting, challenging and offers a good workout. In fact, one 30-minute game of Pickleball can burn up to 300 calories.
When was Pickleball first played in the UK?
If you’re wondering how long has Pickleball been around, it’s been played for over 50 years and continues to rise in popularity. In the UK, Pickleball clubs started to form around 2011 and the sport has continued to grow ever-since.
It’s estimated that in 2023 there are around 270 Pickleball venues and 7000 players in the UK, with the game only expected to grow further in the coming years.
Bude is excited about being on of these venues introducing the sport to its community.