<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0J8bkE_0vk2exFg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0J8bkE_0vk2exFg00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>GOT IT: As a first-timer playing pickleball, covering the court for short shots into the kitchen took some getting used to, but overall it wasn’t difficult understanding the rules and applying them. (Photos by Ryan Morrill)</figcaption></figure>On a ball lobbed over my head to the back-left corner, I turned and high-tailed it to the spot I thought the ball would bounce, almost as if I were back in college at Indiana Tech in 1991, playing second base, going back for a popup in short right field.However, once the ball bounced, I was back in high school at Passaic Tech in 1987, where I played second singles in tennis for one freshman season. I knew I had time to get my paddle on it, but, running full steam, away from the net, I knew I had very few options. I managed to get my right shoulder behind the ball enough to rip a backhanded, top-spin shot toward the left side of the court.After I slammed into the fence behind the court, bounced off and turned to get back into the play, I quickly realized my shot didn’t land for a winner but instead was volleyed back toward Tom Neale, who hammered down a volley to the middle of the court to win the point.All this occurred midway through my first match playing pickleball on Aug. 23 at the Ship Bottom courts on Sixth Street.“Are you sure this is your first time playing?” asked the woman opposite me, her hands on her hips after I whacked a side-spin backhand winner down the line that zipped by her two points before that. “I’m having a hard time believing that right now.”Yes, it was in fact my first time, ever, playing the sport – the professional mini golfer taking a shot at the fastest-growing sport in America. I was even using a borrowed Gruvn paddle with Tom’s name on it.But despite it being my first time, I attempted to make it appear as if I knew what I was doing. I utilized a top-spin serve, a backhand drop shot and a combination of spins on my forehand. While not as quick and agile as I was 30 years ago, I still played at full tilt, even if it meant taking a spill a couple of times or running at full speed into the fence to get to a ball along a line.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0N5QaN_0vk2exFg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0N5QaN_0vk2exFg00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>OUT OF THE KITCHEN: While serving in an underhanded motion wasn’t especially challenging, the choice to try to add spin to the serve meant making sure not to hit it short.</figcaption></figure>The rules, which I had studied the night before, took a little getting used to, mainly because I wasn’t acclimated to playing the game and putting those rules into practical use at game speed. Not picking off a volley during the service return and keeping my feet out of the kitchen until the ball bounced in it were two mishaps I made along the way, but only sparingly – I cost my team only a few points through five games, so not a bad ratio – and I made my share of unforced errors, which seems normal for pickleball.I had difficulty keeping track of the scoring for a few games, just because it’s a far different system than, say, that of tennis. But, otherwise, I believe I handled it all rather well.“I’m not a pickleball general manager by any stretch of the imagination,” said Neale, who’s bringing a Picklr franchise to Stafford Township within the next year. “But I was duly impressed. A lot of people I talked to today, many of whom have been playing here for a lot longer than I have, also were duly impressed. Many of them were surprised it was the first time you had picked up a paddle.”Paul Teutul, whom I played alongside during my fourth game of the day – Neale and I played together for three matches before making partner switches – was one of those impressed individuals. Neale had invited me to give pickleball a try after our recent interview for a story about his bringing indoor pickleball to Southern Ocean County.“I’ve been playing for three years and I’m very passionate about the sport,” said Teutul, a frequent flyer at the Ship Bottom courts who has played in competitive tournaments the past couple of years. “I’m not a pro, but I play at a decent level, and my intention is to get to the pro level at some point. I was surprised by how well you played. I didn’t have any preconceived notions about your game, other than I knew it was your first time. Generally, first-timers are not good at it. But I saw that you did put some spin on the ball, and that’s one of those things a lot of first-timers don’t do, so it showed you had some advanced skill level for a first-timer.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0mp9Mo_0vk2exFg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0mp9Mo_0vk2exFg00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>FANCY FOOTWORK: Many years of playing baseball as a middle infielder helped in many situations on the pickleball court.</figcaption></figure>After Tom and I won our first game, 11-3 – I was super focused on just getting my bearings at that point, so my apologies for not remembering the names of our opponents – we teamed up against Jean and Bill, who clearly were of a higher skill level than either of us, and we lost, 11-4. In our third game, against Maureen and Jim, we took a 6-0 lead, but Maureen used a great serve and excellent volley game to bring them back, and we ended up losing, 12-10.With Paul as my teammate, we went down 4-0 against Tom and Lisa but battled our way back for an 11-9 victory. In my final game of the day, I played with Stacey, who had an incredible serve and carried much of our play with it, and we defeated Ben, a Picklr associate, and Maggie, the teenage daughter of another player on site, by a score of 11-5 – I managed to finish off that contest with a backhanded, back-spin drop shot, into the wind, that died just inside the kitchen, giving Maggie no shot at a return.“I’d say you were an A or A- as a first-timer,” said Neale, when asked to grade my performance before he left for the day. “You surprised people and overachieved for a first-timer. There are people who come out here for the first time and really struggle, but you more than held your own. You were an advanced beginner out of the gate.”Fortunately, many years of playing baseball as a middle infielder, along with a little bit of tennis experience, years as a goaltender in hockey and even some ping pong prowess – I played intramural ping pong during my one year at Indiana Tech, before I transferred to a new school to begin my path toward an eventual journalism career – obviously have benefited me, never mind the fact I’ve covered sports at all levels for nearly 30 years and have an intricate, analytical sports mindset.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=41sPW6_0vk2exFg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=41sPW6_0vk2exFg00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>ENCOURAGING: Always offering a congratulatory paddle tap after a point, Tom Neale (right) was the perfect partner for a first attempt at pickleball on Aug. 23.</figcaption></figure>The truth is I had an advantage as a first-time pickleballer. Many of the skill sets I’ve utilized throughout my athletic career were prevalent, even though I hadn’t competed in any sport that involved any amount of running or quick maneuvering in at least 12 years. It’s true, we don’t have to run or move fast to play mini golf. Clearly, those who have racket sport experience, or have played a sport that requires quick lateral movements and upper body flexibility are going to be ahead of the curve.But if you’re somebody who doesn’t have that kind of experience and is thinking about taking on pickleball as a recreational hobby, to get in better shape, or just enjoy some mild competition with friends, don’t be concerned. This is a sport anybody can dive into.“You’re a testament to first-timers playing pickleball because you had some background in athletics, and it was easy to see those abilities come out, which is not much of a surprise,” Teutul said. “But the beauty of pickleball is anybody can play it. You don’t need a vast athletic background to pick it up and get better at it, somewhat quickly, within a short period of time.”The other part that struck me about playing in Ship Bottom that August morning was the camaraderie and general congeniality among the crowd. It didn’t matter that I was a first-timer. I was welcomed and invited to play alongside more-experienced individuals.“Yeah, it’s not ‘I’m not going to play with this person because they’re at a different playing level.’ It’s very social and welcoming, and that’s the reason I love coming to these courts, because it’s such an inviting environment,” Neale said. “People here are extremely friendly and communal and want new people to come out and get better. It’s a good mixture of people, with a diversity of ages, skills and abilities. But the consistent thing is everybody wants to help each other out. There’s a lot of positive communication and constructive feedback that comes your way if you’re open to it.”And I was open to it. Paul reminded me several times not to crash the net too soon during his serve because I had to wait for the return to bounce before I could hit it, and sometimes I’d get caught in the middle of the court scrambling to take that next shot. Stacey was an excellent communicator who offered a few tips as well. Tom encouraged me throughout our three matches. Each individual didn’t seem bothered that I was a first-timer trying to acclimate.In short, it was a fun time and, of course, a learning experience. I’m glad I took the plunge.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=15hm0E_0vk2exFg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=15hm0E_0vk2exFg00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>GETTING ACCLIMATED: It didn’t take long to figure out how to play pickleball, and decades of athletic experience eventually poured out.</figcaption></figure>Now, I was asked this multiple times, and it’s about time I answer this question in a more legitimate, fleshed-out sort of way — am I hooked?The short answer is no. To me, it’s just another sport. Remember, I’ve been around all levels of athletics for most of my life. And as a sportswriter for much of my career, I’m not super enthralled by any sport – each has its nuances and is worth competing in at any level. To that end, I can take it or leave it. I have no desire to make this sport something big in my life.However, I can see the value in playing it a little bit more on occasion. It’s fun. It’s cool to get out there on the court, play around with varying types of individuals, get a decent sweat on – I was drenched, actually – and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with an athletic activity alongside like-minded people. I’ll probably be back, maybe when the weather is cooler, perhaps even before I decide to have bunion surgery on my left foot.But while I’m certain pickleball will have its place somewhere, it’s not going to get in the way of my mini golfing endeavors.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

After Playing Pickleball for the First Time, There’s a Future for It Somewhere

On a ball lobbed over my head to the back-left corner, I turned and high-tailed it to the spot I thought the ball would bounce, almost as if I were back in college at Indiana Tech in 1991, playing second base, going back for a popup in short right field.

After Playing Pickleball for the First Time, There’s a Future for It Somewhere

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