BY MONICA MCENERNY
BRANDON—When was the last time you experienced a “dink in the kitchen” or made a serve from the “even court?” This is the language of Pickleball enthusiasts, and we’ve got a few right here in Brandon.
On Sunday afternoons, while some may be napping or settling into a lazy day, about a dozen fun-loving citizens send their energy across the net in lively games that conclude when one team’s score reaches eleven.
Though it’s been around since the 1960s, Pickleball has caught on over the past decade. Teams of singles and doubles bounce around in a space the size of a badminton court, yielding rac-ets that look like oversized ping-pong paddles. The ball is reminiscent of a wiffle ball, and the play resembles tennis but is more contained, with simpler rules. It’s easy to learn, and you are invited to try.
Pickleball players in Brandon say they gather for a number of reasons:
- It’s a great way to meet new friends in a safe and welcoming environment
- It’s fast and exciting.
- It’s better than cleaning house or doing a jigsaw puzzle in the winter months.
- It builds hand/eye coordination.
- It’s cardio.
But most of all, it’s just plain fun.
Want to learn more? Stop by the Otter Valley North Campus Gym (114 Mulcahy Drive) from 3 to 5 on Sundays, ask one of Brandon’s Pickleball ambassadors (Beth Rand, Bernie Carr, and Arlen Bloodworth), or visit brandonvt.myrec.com.
