Pickleball!

Cross court winners. Backhand lobs. Unforced errors (UE's). Smashmouth at the net. Wimbledon? No........Pickleball! For those us you (us) who have dreamed of playing high intensity tennis like the pros of Wimbledon, dream no more. You don't have time to take your game to that level or even close. Go for reality and adjust the dream. You can have it all minus the crowds and morning tea. Why? Because you do have time for.....pickleball. Pickleball is poor man's tennis played with a wiffleball (holey throughout) and oversized wooden ping pong style paddles. The court is set up just like a tennis court with the dimensions reduced 30-40%. Like tennis, only the server scores, but like ping pong, games go up to 15. Like tennis, the serve must bounce and land in the opponents service court. Unlike tennis, the return of serve must also bounce, but after that it is wide open--whale away--smash mouth action. Like tennis, it is great fun to rush the net, but unlike tennis, there is a line limiting how close to the net you can get. Like most net games, you must win by two. The webmaster of this site, Barry Holmen, is the recognized king of pickleball in our locale, and I am his training and doubles partner. He recently took on the sportscaster at a local TV station and cleaned his clock, 15-2. This drubbing was televised as a special feature on the nightly news, and now pickleball is before the public in our town. We may see a rise in pickle popularity and Wimbledon beware, pickleballers in Minot, North Dakota may forget all about the English classic and be out playing their own net game, filled with grunts and "Uffda's", lobs and cross court winners. Spectators no more, we will be off the couch, out the door, and on the court...of...pickleball, Ol Chap!

About the Author:

Steve Graner is a Christian educator and familyman employed by the Minot, ND Public School District. A licensed laypastor, he is passionate about Christian writing and Christian drama. Along with family and friends, Steve has performed numerous self-written dramas and musicals for area church audiences.