If you’re like most older people I know, the temptation to play Pickleball is intoxicating. Many seniors have taken up this sport, some in their 60s and 70s.
But Pickleball can be a dangerous sport. Almost every player I know has sustained an injury. A broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, head injuries … you name it, and it has probably happened on a Pickleball court.
Yet the popularity of this sport persists. Why? Who doesn’t want to feel popular and included by partaking in this kinetic activity? Especially if you’re older, you undoubtedly want to feel like you’re still agile and able to remain athletic.
I don’t play because of two severe knee fractures.
However, I played tennis for many years, and from what I’ve observed, Pickleball seems much more hazardous than tennis. Here’s why.
Unfortunately, most Pickleball courts are outside, so you have to deal with the elements. If the wind is blowing, that lightweight Wiffle ball will never land where you think it’s going to land. The next thing you know, you are trying to hit the ball and you are off balance. And that can result in injuries.
A tennis ball is much heavier, and its path is easier to predict. When you are preparing to return a tennis ball, you can often see where the ball will go based on how your opponent holds his or her racket. Therefore, you know what to expect.
The wind doesn’t affect a tennis ball as much as it does a pickleball because it weighs so much more. Plus, the tennis court is much larger, so you have more time to assess the path of the ball.
We aren’t as flexible as we think we are as we get into our later years. Many people are guilty of trying to move too quickly to return the ball. Many have crashed into the net, tripped, or sustained some other type of injury. Yet, older people continue to play.
Often, a broken bone is a badge of honour among Pickleball players, and many laugh these injuries away and get right back on the court after they have recuperated. However, it becomes harder to heal as we age.
One of my athletic friends dislocated her shoulder and broke her arm in three places from charging the net. There goes her summer. And she’s got several grandchildren to entertain.
Even if I were able to play, I doubt I would. There are numerous quick movements, most of which are executed right at the net. I never liked playing doubles in tennis, because I always felt paranoid that somebody was gonna smash the ball at my face. That happens frequently with Pickleball. Even people who wear protective eyewear can still get hit in the face.
Although my partner plays pickleball, she hasn’t hurt herself too badly. She had some knee problems for a while, and fell once, but she now knows what to do when it comes to playing the sport. Don’t charge the net, and don’t move backward.
Both of these movements can often result in injury because you are usually off balance while trying to hit a moving ball that is unpredictable.
Thankfully, she has invested in several pairs of court shoes. Tennis shoes don’t work and often contribute to injury because they catch on the court surface, and you fall.
In California, we often played paddle tennis, a slower form of tennis because the tennis ball is deflated. It’s played on a smaller court, like Pickleball, and from a safety point of view, it is far less dangerous than playing Pickleball. Why did the popularity of this sport not continue? Who knows. Pickleball became the new kid on the block and took over.
Pickleball is here to stay, and if you insist on playing the game, good luck. You’ll be a part of the “in” crowd as you flex your waning athletic prowess, and you’ll make lots of friends.
After all, we all have to keep trying to do the things that we want to do. The adrenaline rush is addictive for those who play, creating camaraderie and a sense of purpose. But keep in mind that an injury is only a moment away if you’re not careful. If you’re willing to risk those odds, have fun.
Proudly Australian owned and operated