National Pickleball Day … It's Kind Of A Big Dill
There's a good chance that you have someone in your life who has become quite smitten with the game of pickleball.
If you can't think of anyone, it might be you! According to USA Pickleball, the sport "is fun, social and friendly! The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game."
At The Club at Olde Cypress, we love anything that gets people moving, chatting, and meeting new friends. Since the pandemic, these things have only become more precious and that may be one of the reasons that pickleball has recently attracted so many enthusiastic new fans. Deirdre Morris, a pickleball instructor, dreamed up National Pickleball Day (August 8) in 2021 to "get the message out about pickleball, encourage new players, and celebrate [a] passion for this magnificent game." The more picklers, the merrier! (Pickleball fun fact: Players are called picklers.)
On 8/8/24, pickleball will be the star of the day. In case you missed National Pickleball Month in April, this is your chance to try out a match or level up your game. Of course, The Club at Olde Cypress has you covered. We've created a line of custom gear so you can show off your love for club and court. We have an app that allows members to communicate about all things pickleball so you can see how many people are going to drop in, ask if the courts are wet, etc. And be sure to check out our summer racquet schedule 👀
If you're staying close to home this summer, you might be pleased to know that among its many accolades, Naples has come to be known as the pickleball capital of the WORLD! It makes sense then, that several of the PPA Touring Pros have made this paradisiacal place their home. What's the PPA Tour, you might be wondering? That would be the ! While the sport is a lot of fun, it's also gaining some serious stature.
For all the tennis buffs out there, it's worth comparing pickleball vs tennis to see if you might like to add something new to your racquet rotation. The smaller pickleball court and slightly lower net can be great for days when you want to switch it up. Check out the pickleball court vs tennis court and pickleball net vs tennis net comparisons below.
Source: https://www.pickleheads.com/blog/can-you-play-pickleball-on-a-tennis-court
Source: https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/pickleball-net-height
Find Pickleball Courts
Even if you're traveling far from home this season, you can still squeeze in a match. The website and app called Pickleheads will let you search for courts and upcoming games wherever you are. The sport has been catching on in other countries too, if you happen to find yourself abroad. The International Pickleball Federation is on a mission to "introduce pickleball to all nations so that they may embrace the sport…and ultimately…establish pickleball as an Olympic sport." Wouldn't that be something?! In the meantime, we Neapolitans can mark our Naples calendar for the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships on April 26 - May 3, 2025.
With all the buzz around the sport recently, we checked in with our Director of Racquets, Christie Pollin, USPTA/PTR, to see what she thinks is the best part of the Olde Cypress pickleball scene. "The social part," she says. "The pickleball group not only plays on a regular basis together but also has a wonderful dinner and social life! They do so much together on and off the court. They truly are great friends despite many different PB levels!"
(Christie's tip for new picklers: Setup a 30-minute intro lesson or grab three friends and sign up for an hour-long clinic. Getting a group of similar-level players helps get everyone on the same page with proper strokes, scoring, etiquette, and positioning.)
Whether you're already an avid pickler or you're ready to finally pick up a paddle, we hope to see you on the Olde Cypress courts soon.