Pickleball fun

I played my very first game of pickleball today -- it was a blast! The sharp cuts and constant movement around the court made for a decent workout. A few of my neglected muscle groups (quads and forearms) woke up from their lack of cross-training slumber. I'll likely be sore tomorrow.

Pickleball was originally invented in 1965 as a family game, but it's gotten very popular in senior retirement communities. Played on the size of a badminton court with a tennis net, you may even see pickleball stripings on your local public tennis courts. Like volleyball, you earn points only on serve. Equipment includes a wooden or graphite paddle and a rigid, plastic pickleball, which resembles a round-holed whiffleball.

If you like badminton, ping-pong or tennis, you might like the strategy, shot selection and tempo of pickleball. Do not peg it as a sport for old folks, it's an awful lot of fun for all ages. Check out The USA Pickleball Association for official rules, videos and places to play.