While various tennis clubs in the region are responding to the game of padel, LTC Zweeloo is aiming for a new trend that originated from America, the pickleball.
Pickleball is a combination of badminton, table tennis, and tennis and is played on a court of similar dimensions to a doubles badminton court. It is an accessible sport for all, in part because of the low speed of the ball.
More and more people are discovering this new racket sport. Benneveld’s Sia de Gray, LTC Zweeloo member, is completely sold out after a demonstration in Hollandshefeld. “There are now two boulevards out there and it’s been a huge success.”
Fast and varied
De Gray was particularly surprised by the pace of the match. “It’s fun, fast and varied.” The enthusiasm has now passed to the club’s board of directors. With Ruud de Kok from Zweeloo, De Gray forms a “pickleball team”, which will direct the new craze within LTC.
On Saturday, September 16, there is a clinic in the program and we are also trying to attract trainers. And we’re already thinking about where the pickleball courts should be located, close to the existing tennis courts,” says De Gedes.
De Gedes says offering alternatives to tennis, such as pickleball, is important to LTC Zweeloo. “I hope it will attract new members, so that it will give new impetus to the association.” LTC Zweeloo currently has 75 members and the club is not seeing any increase in membership.
The sport is suitable for young and old
Although padel is the fastest growing paddle sport, LTC Zweeloo consciously chooses pickleball. The sport is suitable for young and old. “It’s easy to learn and therefore very accessible,” says a Benefield resident.
Pickleball is more accessible than Padel, according to DeGray. “The field is much smaller, you are much closer to each other and you master the technique quickly,” de Gray, who has been a physical education teacher for more than forty years. “It is important to encourage sports and exercise.”
Enter the pickle
Everyone can learn about the pickle during the clinic on Saturday, September 16th. LTC Zweeloo wants to give lessons to primary and secondary school students in October and November. The clinic is part of National Sports Week, which aims to bring more attention to exercise.
