SINGAPORE – From celebrities to sportsmen, pickleball fever has hit many in the United States.
Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney, and personality Kim Kardashian are among the estimated 36.5 million playing the sport. Even elite athletes like basketballer LeBron James and former National Football League player Tom Brady have invested in professional pickleball teams.
The game’s rapid growth has also attracted retired tennis professionals like Jack Sock, a former world No. 8, who began playing full time on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour in August 2023.
Pickleball is a racket sport in which players hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball with paddles over a net. Played outdoors and indoors, it was invented in 1965 by two Americans who wanted to find an activity for their families.
Over in Singapore, it is finding its way onto courts around the island, with about 5,000 active players here.
National pickleball player Darren Ho is one of them, having switched from tennis’ fuzzy yellow ball to a wiffle ball.
The national team are made up of about 10 players aged 19 to 55 and Ho was picked during the selection trials after the 2023 Pesta Sukan tournament.
“One day I woke up and I realised my body can’t take this any more. I’m really quite tired and the tennis court is really big,” Ho said.
He had played tennis since he was four and also dabbled in triathlon – in 2016, he competed in the Ironman Western Australia triathlon race in Busselton.
For the 42-year-old, the decision to pivot to pickleball was easy.
“It’s really easy to pick up. Within one or two sessions, you’re already ready to play a match. Another three to four weeks and you can be playing a tournament. I don’t think any other sport gets you that kind of entry,” he said.
On the key differences with tennis, Ho said pickleball players have to rely more on strategy rather than pure power due to the existence of the “non-volley zone”.
He added: “There is also no overhead serve. It has to be underhand and below your waist. In tennis, if someone’s really tall and if they have a big serve, it gives them the advantage.
“Unlike tennis, you don’t usually get away with hitting the ball too hard simply because the court is too small. So it’s about how you use the different angles and finesse.”
Among the early adopters of pickleball here was national team coach Cheok Chin Yam. The 66-year-old retiree began playing the sport in the 1990s after he joined an interest group at a local community centre.
Cheok said: “The wonderful thing about pickleball is that you can play at a different pace. It is for all ages.
“The youngsters can play a fast game and the seniors can play at a slower pace. The rules are simple and all you need is a paddle and a ball.”
For national player Kok Yoke Kheng, who also picked up pickleball in the 1990s, competing at her age brings her fulfilment.
The 58-year-old added: “I think at this age if I go into some competition it’s a good challenge. Rather than stay at home and just watch TV and do nothing, this is living each day to the fullest.”
Three tips from a pro
- Be patient – Pickleball is all about control. Beginners tend to make the mistake of trying too hard to hit winners but instead end up hitting into the net. Play the point and give your opponent the chance to lose the point.
- Developing a consistent swing technique – Swing the paddle consistently in a lateral position, where the paddle tip is pointed to the side at the point of contact. A lateral motion is essential to create a variety of shots.
- Mastering the third shot drop – This shot involves hitting a soft, low shot that lands just over the non-volley zone and drops quickly, making it difficult for the opponent to reach and return. It allows you to quickly get close to the net before your opponent can return the ball.
Fun fact
The Guinness World Record for the longest pickleball rally is 16,046 and was achieved by Americans Angelo Rossetti and Ettore Rossetti in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, on Oct 10, 2021.
They attempted the record on World Mental Health Day to bring awareness to the children under the age of five who die every day of preventable or treatable causes.
