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Kitchen Sink, Dill, Dead Paddle, Pancake, Poach, and the dreaded…. Pickled! Sounds more like a mishap in the kitchen or a recipe gone bad, than one of the crazy popular sports on the rise called Pickleball. Over 4.8 million people have played at least once. Drop in one night at Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Club in Encinitas to see 20 spectacular courts lit up, booked, and a queue forming for the next game. That popular!

Joan and Bob started playing pickleball during the Pandemic. They were looking for something that would be easy to learn, to do as a couple, and that would be good for their health. They took pickleball lessons, played with friends, and joined the Pickleball Club of Carlsbad. After trying to play in skilled level group sessions, they realized pickleball for them was more of a social sport, something to have fun with, and that they did not want to play competitively.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US. It is like tennis and ping pong on a small court. According to the “2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association” (SFIA) report on pickleball, active older adults are especially drawn to the fun sport: 1.4 million “core” participants defined as those who play at least eight times a year…60 percent are 55 or older and more than 33.7 percent are 65 or older. Playing helps people to be social, improve their blood pressure, lower cholesterol, provide cardiorespiratory fitness, and improve reflexes and balance.

“We love that the court is small, it is played with a paddle, it takes very little time to learn the rule’s, keeping score is easy, and it can be played outdoors,” says Bob and Joan. When two of the local independent and assisted living communities discovered their love for pickleball, they asked them if they were willing to teach it to their residents. They instantly said yes!

Bob and Joan are realtors (Pacific Sotheby’s International Chintz Team) who have been providing no cost pickleball lessons to their community for the last year. When they talk to seniors about listing their homes and helping them in the downsizing process, the subject of pickleball always seems to come up. Bob says, “personally, it has helped us stay physically active and our minds alert. We play with our adult children. They love that we stay healthy, active and have a positive outlook on life. What better way to show “your” children getting older can still be fun!” Oh…and Bob and Joan have never been pickled (When a team scores zero in a whole game.)!

If you are interested in learning how to play Pickleball, please contact Joan and Bob at (310)251-7158 or bob.heck@pacificsir.com “We would love to hear from you!”