PICKLEBALL is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia and a club in Redlands is open for members.
Ron Jackson first played the sport in April last year and loved it so much he started a local club.
"It sounds like a super weird game to play, but I can assure you that it has nothing to do with pickles," he said.
Pickleball is a combination between tennis, table tennis and badminton. It can be played with two to four people on a court similar to the size of a badminton court with the net low to the ground.
Players use paddles made out of either wood or composite materials and a wiffle ball (a plastic perforated baseball).
"In the Redlands we only play doubles matches which are very social and a lot of fun. We have found a lot of our members are former tennis, squash or badminton players that don't quite have what they use to," he said.
Mr Jackson said pickleball was popular because people of all ages could play the sport.
The game is very unique we have a family that play regularly that consists of both grand parents, the father and grandson ... not many sports where that happens.
- Ron Jackson
The game is played on a smaller court, so players don't have to move around as much which is why many older folk liked to play it.
Mr Jackson said many teens and young adults found pickleball fun because they were able to have an intense game on a small court which meant they could use their hand eye coordination, similar to playing table tennis.
"When my wife and I first played pickleball we played against a 75-year-old couple. My first reaction was to go easy on them but as the game progressed I realised the couple was going easy on us.
"By the end of the game we had lost 11-7. At that moment, I realised that a sport that can let people with a 50-60 year age difference play together is special," he said.
Pickleball is also a social game and Mr Jackson said the courts were small enough to carry out a casual conversation while playing.
"If you are looking for a fun, competitive, and social game that almost anyone can play than you should seriously consider what pickleball has to offer.
"The popularity of Pickleball is only rising so you might as well jump on the train and have a blast," he said.
Pickleball is played at Ormiston State School every Wednesday night and Sunday mornings. There will be a free come and try session on Sunday July 12 from 11am - noon. Contact Ron 0417152133.
