{"id":37678,"date":"2024-07-10T15:38:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T19:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=37678"},"modified":"2024-07-11T12:00:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T16:00:46","slug":"carter-pickleball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/carter-pickleball\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Up with Pickleball?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the sport\u2019s popularity continuing to skyrocket, we asked a grad alum who\u2019s a pro teacher and court owner for some basics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Beth Saulnier<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many such facilities of its age and size, the Shops at Ithaca Mall has numerous vacancies, giving it a hollowed-out feel. One notable bright spot: <\/em>Pickleball Mania<\/em><\/a>, a multi-court operation (housed in a former Planet Fitness) that\u2019s owned and operated by Lesa Carter, MPS \u201994, PhD \u201901.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A devotee to the sport who goes by the nickname \u201cPetunia Pickle,\u201d Carter is certified as a level-two instructor by the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cornellians asked Carter\u2014who holds a master\u2019s in Africana studies and a doctorate in education, curriculum, and instruction\u2014to share her take on Pickleball 101. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sport, she notes, has seen huge gains in popularity in recent decades; it now has its own <\/em>governing body<\/em><\/a> and there\u2019s talk of future inclusion in the Olympics.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Lesa<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could you characterize pickleball in relation to other racquet sports?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has aspects of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton; in fact, the courts have the same dimensions as badminton. It\u2019s played with a paddle\u2014like a ping-pong paddle on steroids\u2014and a plastic ball that\u2019s similar to a wiffle ball, but a little harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since many people are familiar with tennis, could you name some contrasts between the two?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In pickleball, you serve underhand, and when you make contact with the ball, the head of your paddle has to be at or below your waist and going in an upward motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pickleball court is about a third the size of a tennis court. Technically, you could put four pickleball courts on a tennis court\u2014but that\u2019s not advisable, because it\u2019s too close for safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lesa
Carter takes a shot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why do you think the sport has gotten so popular in recent years?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s fun and accessible. It\u2019s not specific to age or gender; moms and sons play together, grandparents play with their grandkids. That\u2019s not something you can do in every sport. It\u2019s easy to learn\u2014but it\u2019s hard to master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pickleball has been notably popular in retirement communities. Is it still predominantly played by older adults?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definitely not. In fact, there are many players in the range of teenagers to mid-60s. There are now professional players, and it is highly competitive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many former tennis pros are playing, because the backhand and forehand strokes are the same. Venus and Serena Williams love pickleball. LeBron James owns a pro team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It has aspects of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. It\u2019s played with a paddle\u2014like a ping-pong paddle on steroids.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Is it also getting popular in other countries?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely\u2014in Africa, Brazil, and India, among other places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone wants to get started, should they just go buy a paddle and balls?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would not suggest that, because $50 or $60 for a very basic paddle is not necessarily the best thing to do. You should borrow a paddle, and get used to it before you start putting money into the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not that a cheap paddle is necessarily bad, but it may not get you what you want. You need to get a feel for a paddle and what it can do for you. Do you like power paddles? Control paddles? Do you like composite? Or wood? Much like gear in any other sport, there are pickleball paddles that cost over $300.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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