Are you looking for a new thing to do? Why not try Pickleball?

Lynley Clements a local Tennis and Badminton enthusiast, highlighted Pickleball through the Dargaville local aspirations survey as something that she was keen to start in Dargaville and needed some funding to start the project.

The game is described as a cross between tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played on a badminton sized court, with a bat larger than a table tennis bat and a hollow plastic ball with 25 – 40 holes. It is played over a net a little lower than a tennis net.

Dargaville’s first Pickleball day was held recently with the support of a Whangarei player, Judy Hill. Judy gave the group an insight to the rules and scoring. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the morning with participants commenting that, “people that struggle with badminton can play pickleball easier”, “it is easier on the body”, “very good workout”.

Lynley goes on to say “during the summer I take day tennis but realised there were a lot of players who can no longer tolerate the heat. As Pickleball can be played indoors, I thought it could be ideal for those people. I initially envisioned the season for playing to be during the summer through to the recommencement of Badminton at the beginning of winter, but due to the holdup covid caused we have decided to alternate pickleball with badminton for this year then continue with pickleball only at the beginning of the tennis season. Also, a big thanks to Kaipara District Council for funding the Pickleball nets, which has meant it’s now “all on”.

Lynley first became aware of Pickleball after viewing a short excerpt on TV showing the game being played in America and Canada where it has gained extreme popularity as a game for all ages and particularly with older age groups as people in their 90’s play. At that time, it was said to be the fastest growing sport in those countries.  Pickleball was invented in 1965 as a children's backyard game, in Washington USA and in 2022 pickleball was adopted as the official state sport of Washington.

You can find Pickleball at the Dargaville Town Hall every second Thursday at 10am sharp. Contact Lynley Clements 0274992287 or just come along, all ages and abilities welcome.