C-O-L-D! A 30-30-80 kind of day that makes one give pause to opening the door and bracing for it. Yet here we are in Laramie, Wyoming for a Pickleball tournament. Thankfully their recreation center is top drawer and fun to compete in or sit around as a spectator, my position (my wife the former).
The tournaments draw people from all over. The adage: “if you call it - they will come” comes to mind. In Wyoming these have been held in Pinedale and Cheyenne as well and staged by the Wyoming Senior Olympic committee. Summer as well as winter. Pickleball is only one of the many events - there is fat tire bike snow racing, speed skating, downhill and cross country racing. We’re very impressed at the opportunities for the senior community to stay active with and the camaraderie is as diverse as the games.
The game of Pickleball is such that no matter where a tournament is held it draws people like a bear to honey. People tall, people short, those in between, in shape, outta shape - the game is magnetic. Think 60% social and 40% competitive. Retirees, those still working, students and more all face off across each other and listen to the call “zero-zero-start!” - from the first server.
The game comprises a wiffle ball and a composite paddle somewhat bigger than a ping-pong paddle. It is usually a four person court game with the net about two inches shorter than found in tennis. Four Pickleball courts will fit in one tennis court - which means one doesn’t have to run as hard over distance.
The serve is underhand and a two bounce rule is in effect - meaning the served ball must bounce in the proper quadrant on the opposite side and the return ball must bounce (any where) on the court that had just served. Then volleys or bounces from then on until that play is over. Seven feet from the net on either side is a non volley zone which keeps a player from standing at the net and smashing. One may step into the no-volley zone (often referred as the “kitchen” - i.e. stay out of the kitchen) but only if the opponent drops one in to that area. Then you may step in, hit the ball over and then step back out.
The soft game of Pickleball is called “dinking” and is the strategic attempt to keep the game low and slow until an opponent pops one up too high giving you a “kill” shot. It’s similar in dancing to the two - step - “slow, slow - quick, quick!!”
Whatta name! That comes from the inventors of the game back in the 1960’s - when a ball would fly off their driveway “court” their dog, Pickles would run after it - “that’s Pickles ball”.
Alas, the tournament over, pushing the door into those 30ยบ by 30 knot winds with 80% humidity - snowing hard - sure makes one wish for the courts in Tucson.
