David Douglas
In a recent article by the Dink Media Team, the explosive growth of pickleball was the topic of the month. More than 36 million Americans now play pickleball. The surprising data revealed that the fastest growing age group discovering pickleball was 60 years old and above.
Seniors are showing up to learn how to play and within weeks find themselves playing three to five times a week. This is certainly true in Sun Lakes’ Pickleball Club-Cottonwood/Palo Verde (SLPCC). Early morning risers that pass by the Cottonwood CC regularly find all the pickleball courts filled with players beginning at 6 a.m. during the hot summer months. Only the most avid athlete is willing to wake up early every weekday but our courts support their use by almost 50-players during the early session (6 to 7:30 a.m.).
Pickleball is popular for seniors over 70-years old because the game’s physics cooperate with our aging bodies. The court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, which makes it a little smaller than 1/3 of a tennis court. We cover less ground. The ball moves slower. Rallies are determined by touch and position and not by those that are fastest and most powerful.
These features of pickleball, the smaller court, the slower ball, placement rather than power are just a few of things that make pickleball so much fun for seniors. More importantly, pickleball is a game that can continue to be fun for seniors into their 80’s.
Research published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity discovered that recreational pickleball play produced significant improvement in agility, cardiovascular improvement, and mental well-being in adults 65+. The metabolic demands are real, this isn’t shuffleboard.
However, injury risk in pickleball is much lower than with other racquet sports. Even AARP has recognized the benefits of pickleball and is using pickleball in their nationwide clinics targeting active aging. When the country’s premier senior advocacy organization builds their national program around pickleball, it’s obvious the sport is still in its ascendancy.
For senior athletes that have spent years watching how hard sports have been on their bodies, pickleball is the rare activity that actually improves as your experience grows. More than 200 of SLPCC’s membership are age 70+. Forty of them are 80+ years old.
Here’s the good news, the shorter court, the underhand serve, the softer game emphasis is much easier on your shoulders, knees, and ankles than other racquet sports and even running. A typical 60 to 90 minute recreational session can burn 350 to 500 calories depending on one’s pace and intensity. Heart rate during play typically hits 60 to 85% of maximum, which puts it squarely in the aerobic training zone recommended by The American College of Sports Medicine for older adults. This means while socializing and competing one is getting a legitimate cardio workout.
The less good news is that pickleball is not zero impact. Injuries such as ankle rolls, knee strain from lateral movement, and pickleball elbow (a form of lateral epicondylitis) are real. Generally, a good pre-game warm-up and a gradual introduction to the sport (don’t immediately play 5 to 7 days a week) will mitigate those injuries.
SLPCC, a social and competitive club, invites you to come explore the pickleball phenomenon, funny name but loads of fun. SLPCC sponsors a free monthly “Intro to Pickleball” class for HOA2 residents and guests. Contact slpccweb@gmail.com.