Pickleball has seen an explosion in popularity in Spokane and across the country, with many new players picking up a paddle and hitting the courts. It allows players of all ages to get out, have fun, and be active.
The sport has many different levels. For beginner players, they play at level 2.5 and the levels increase all the way to 5.0.
Dianne Barnes is a competitive pickleball player who has climbed these ranks over years of playing.
“I started just a few years ago at a lower level and worked hard to move up two more levels and continued to grow in the sport,” said Barnes. “I was a 2.5 and now I play competitively at a 4.0.”
Barnes regularly enters pickleball tournaments in which she has seen plenty of success, winning medals in each level she has played at.
“There’s gold, silver, and bronze and some tournaments give prize money and others give you a discount to your next entry fee.”
Most tournaments are sorted by both skill level and age, meaning anyone can join and have the same opportunities no matter what.
Like any other sport, it is dedication to the game that has allowed Barnes to enjoy such success in the tournaments she enters. Not only is it from experiencing real in game competition, but putting in extra practice as well.
“I have taken several different lessons from instructors and I would recommend anyone who wants to be serious about the sport do the same,” said Barnes.
However, the beauty of pickleball is that it doesn’t need a ton of practice for it to be considered fun by less experienced players.
“If you just want to play recreationally, go out and have fun,” said Barnes.
Tammi Peterson is a more casual pickleball player who cherishes the social benefits the sport provides.
“The social aspect is important, I want to have fun and spend time with friends,” said Peterson, highlighting her favorite parts about involving herself in pickleball.“It’s nice to have a time and activity that is already planned to get together. A close second reason is that it is a fun way to be active and get some exercise.”
After being invited to play with a friend, Peterson’s interest in the sport was piqued. She plays the game with friends at her church.
“A friend invited me along with a group of friends to take lessons. . . I played tennis in high school and after college. The game is so similar I thought it was something I could do.”
For newcomers like SFCC student Tristan Pierce, his high school sport was vastly different from pickleball, but that is exactly what drew him in.
“I played baseball in high school and I wanted to find something else I could easily play in my free time,” said Pierce. “Baseball takes a lot of time and practice, and you need a lot of people to play. While I love baseball, I wanted something easier to just pick up and play.”
While he is new to the sport, having only played for a few months, Pierce has ambitions of getting better and possibly playing some competitive pickleball in the future.
“I’m pretty casual about pickleball, I actually only really began playing recently,” said Pierce. “My hope is to get better so I can enter a tournament at some point. Probably doubles with a friend, but I need to play more before I do that.”
Easy to pick up and play but difficult to master, pickleball is the perfect sport for anyone who is looking to get more active.