Quirky new sport launches in Kerikeri
Pickleball - a sport combining elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton - has arrived in Kerikeri.
Around 12 members of the Kerikeri Tennis Club began playing the sport a year ago, and are putting the call out for interested players of all ages to join them.
‘‘It’s pretty unheard of here,’’ Dugal Purdie says.
‘‘It’s infectious - you can hear people laughing, shouting and having a good time.’’
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Seattle in the United States.
There are now more than 15,000 courts in the United States with upwards of 2.5million players - some playing professionally.
The unusual name is said to have come creator comes Joel Pritchard’s wife Joan, she started calling the game pickleball because ‘‘the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.’’
There are currently nine clubs in New Zealand from Nelson in the South Island through to Auckland.
Purdie says the rules of pickleball are easy to learn and the sport is for all ages.
Four pickleball courts fit on a tennis court, with a lowered net.
Paddles are used with hollow plastic balls with holes, usually called a wiffle ball.
The game is typically played as two players versus two with the first team to 11 points the winner of the game, and the best of three games sealing the match.
Tennis player Barbara Webb says pickleball improves your tennis skill-set.
‘‘It improves your volleying and is a good alternative to tennis,’’ Webb says.
‘‘You don’t move so far, there is less back and forward movement.
‘‘We invite people to come and play - it’s fast and the games are quick and fun to watch.’’
She says you get a good workout from the fast-paced game but it is low impact and puts less strain on the body than tennis.
Purdie invites people to join in learning the sport with them.
He says the club have also lodged a funding application to create permanent pickleball courts at the Kerikeri Tennis Club.
A free open day, with equipment provided will be held on March 4 at the Kerikeri Tennis Club, Waipapa, from 12-3pm for interested people to try Pickleball.