Thinking that you’re getting older but still want to keep your body healthy and active?
Are tennis and even badminton starting to stress your body?
You’ve probably heard of Pickleball and have wondered, “Is pickleball for seniors?” “Is it a more stressful sport?”
No worries; the short answer is that it is senior-friendly and easy to learn.
Keep on reading to find out why and Pickleball’s health benefits.
The Sport Called Pickleball
Pickleball is a game similar to badminton, tennis, and ping pong.
It is played on a badminton court with a tennis net, a plastic ball, and big paddles that look like ping-pong paddles.
One or two people can play.
The style of play is like tennis, but don’t worry if you can’t serve like Roger Federer.
A simple underhand service starts each point in a Pickleball game.
The name “Pickleball” is strange.
It comes from the sport of rowing, where the “pickle boat” is the boat that moves the slowest.
They first played the sport outside of Seattle in 1965.
Since then, there has been steady growth with thousands of regular players worldwide.
When compared to, say, tennis, this is a slow sport.
Related Reading: How Did Pickleball Get Its Name – Read About It Here.
Pickleball for Seniors
There are many benefits to playing pickleball.
It is a less strenuous and easy aerobic exercise.
Seniors who play pickleball for one hour three times a week have lower blood pressure and higher cardiorespiratory fitness.
Pickleball injuries are rare and usually only happen to players who play very hard.
Pickleball is also a social sport.
You need two people for a singles match and four people for a doubles match.
So seniors can help their physical and mental health by giving them something to do with others.
Seniors need to keep in touch with other people because it keeps them from being lonely and depressed.
Pickleball’s popularity will expand as more people choose easy-to-learn social sports that don’t require much athleticism.
Pickleball courts are indoor or outdoor, countrywide so that you can play no matter the weather.
Find a friend, find a new court, and start playing Pickleball.
Low-Impact but High-Activity
The length of a pickleball court is 44 feet, and the width is 20 feet.
Almost half of a tennis court could fit on this.
A smaller court means less surface area to cover, giving the body and joints a little more wear and tear.
But short bursts of action and an aerobic workout still help your heart and lungs.
High intensity, low impact is one of the best ways to work out your body over time and improve your health, whether you are young or trying to stay young at heart.
Even the equipment isn’t as hard on your body as it is in tennis and other sports:
- The paddle is light and doesn’t have strings, so your arms, wrists, and shoulders don’t have to work as hard.
- With no strings on the paddle and a softball, this low-intensity instrument puts little stress on the tendons and muscles of the arms.
- On top of that, serving is done sneakily (not the overhand throwing motion of the tennis serve). This makes it easier to play the game and easier on the arm.
- Average prices for rackets are between $75 and $100, and balls cost about $2, so this is not a very expensive sport.
- The smaller court also means we have to run less, which is better for our knees, hips, and ankles. Pickleball is great for people with joint problems who still want to be active and play a racket sport.
- The ball is soft and light, which keeps the game from being too fast for those whose reflexes are getting slower. The ball looks like a plastic whiffle ball and can’t be hit hard enough to hurt you or another player if it hits you or them by accident.
The bounce is simple enough to master and gets easier with practice.
Easy to Learn
The set of rules in Pickleball was adapted from badminton, tennis, and ping-pong.
The rules have changed over time, and new ones are added yearly; the few rules still make it easy to learn the game.
The games evolve with new rules; to ensure fair play for all who play.
There are several available programs and information online to give you confidence if you’re afraid to try because of the many rules.
Also, it would be hard to find a pickleball player who doesn’t like talking about the sport, so don’t be afraid to ask people on the court.
Also, if you don’t know where to play, you can go to the USA Pickleball Association website to find a place near you.
Pickleball is a good and convenient sport.
Anyone can play, even older folks, and it has a lot of health and social benefits.
Related Reading: How To Play Pickleball – Learn More Here.
Final Thoughts
Pickleball is one of the best sports for seniors, it isn’t risky, and the game is “chill” enough that they can play it.
Give Pickleball a try, whether you’re young or old. It’s easy to learn and easy to play.