Great Game with Funny Name: Pickleball

When Peggy Murphy Kurza begins to talk about Pickleball, her eyes light up.

“I’ve just fallen in love with the game since I started playing it,” said a smiling Kurza, who is a Grosse Pointe Woods resident and the Bon Brae Center health education community outreach coordinator.

“And it’s the fastest grown sport in America, especially for people over 50 years old," Kurza said. "So I’m not the only one.”

Kurza, along with nearly 50 others from all over the area, play the game at the Beaumont Bon Brae Center in St. Clair Shores.

Several times during the week, groups of Pickleballers come together at the  center and enjoy a game that has been described as “addictive” by many who pick up a paddle and give the game a try.

“The game is really kind of addictive,” St. Clair Shores resident Tom Meier said. “It doesn’t matter what skill you are, or how athletic you might be–you can play Pickleball and have a great time. You really can. Whether it’s the first time you’ve played or whether you play three times a week. You’re going to love it.”

Both Kurza and Meier should know–both are official Pickleball ambassadors, designated by the USA Pickleball Association.

What Is This Game with the Crazy Name, Anyhow?

Pickleball is a sport that blends a series of racket sports together to create a game that is easy to pick up, fun to play, and offers participants a good workout in the process.

The game is played on a badminton court (which is roughly one-third the size of a regulation tennis court) and the net is 34 inches high.

The ball is plastic and very closely resembles a Wiffle ball in shape and size, complete with perforations and all.

Each player has a paddle made from wood or composite material that’s larger than a pingpong paddle but smaller than a tennis racket–closer to a racketball-sized racket.

The game is very often played with a partner in a doubles-style format, with players hitting the ball back-and-forth over the net until it gets by one team and a point is scored. Games are generally played to 11 points.

“It’s a game where you can play an entire game in as little and 10-12 minutes,” Meier said. “You get a good workout and have a lot of fun, too.”

Grosse Pointe Farms resident Barb Bierbusse says the game is really easy to pick up.

“The rules are very simple and easy to understand,” Bierbusse said. “And it’s a game that you can play and enjoy no matter what your skill level is or your age or anything. Anyone can play.”

The name actually comes from a cocker spaniel, Pickle, who used to chase the ball around and hide in the bushes of the family who actually invented the game. This humorous antic prompted the family to name the game after their beloved pooch, and now, years later, the name stuck.

Why Play and Where?

First and foremost, Kurza says, folks should play for the fun of the game.

However, there’s a lot more to Pickleball than some smiles and laughs with friends.

“It’s a great way to get people moving,” Kurza said. “For those people who maybe can’t play tennis or racketball anymore because of some physical issues or maybe their age doesn’t allow them to play anymore–this is a game you can play and really enjoy. And then there are those who just want to get moving–it’s great for them too. It’s great for everybody. It’s fun and it gets you moving. I mean, there are so many success stories here about people who didn’t get a lot of activity until they discovered this game, and now they play all the time and get active doing it. That's so good for your health.”

The competitive nature of the game is another reason to play Pickleball, Meier says, although that doesn’t mean it’s a game for elite athletes only.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are or where you’re at skill-wise,” Meier said. “Everybody can play and everybody is welcome. That doesn’t matter one bit–everyone is going to love this game. It’s a great low-impact game that really makes you feel like you’re getting a good workout too. It’s good to be active, especially when you get a little older, and this is a great way to get active and stay active. ”

The Beaumont Bon Brae Center has Pickleball courts, a pair of them, up and running several times during the week. For a complete schedule, click here and scroll down to the Pickleball heading on the page.

According to Kurza, the Bon Brae Center is the only Pickleball facility on this side of town, although some communities are considering the idea of adding the sport to its offerings.

Another appealing part of the sport is the relatively low cost of the game.

“It’s a very affordable game,” Meier said. “It’s not like some sports where you might pay $200-300 for a racket or a club, then have to pay to go out there and play too.”

Kurza agrees.

“Most places have equipment for players to use, like we have here,” Kurza said. “The only real costs is a good pair of shoes and a couple of dollars to play. That’s all.”

Pickleball passes can be purchased at the Beaumont Bon Brae Center for $10, which is good for five sessions of the game. Each session lasts from a little over one hour on Thursday nights (7:15-8:30 p.m.), to a two-hour session Wednesday mornings (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), to as many as three hours on Fridays (4:30-7:30 p.m.).

“When you think about it,” Meier said. “That’s very inexpensive for such a good workout and so much fun.”

Kurza also added that a free Pickleball class is available to anyone who wants to give the game a try at Bon Brae Center.

For more information on Pickleball log on to the USA Pickleball Association’s website.

To find out about playing this fun and exciting game at Beaumont’s Bon Brae Center call 586-779-7900 or check the schedule here and just show up and play.