Pickleball – a great way to stay fit as you get older
Have you heard of Pickleball? No, it’s not what we call it when a person gets into a pickle over their finances or estate. It’s actually a real game. A mash-up of tennis, badminton, racquetball, and ping pong, it’s got a net in the center of the court and is played with paddles and a ball. However, this is an easy-on-you. Now played internationally, it was invented on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It has been gaining popularity in recent years but was actually invented in 1965 (back when Joe and Walter were finishing university, not yet law school bound). We want you to know about Pickleball because it’s particularly great as we get older. Pickleball may just be the ticket to getting you, or an aging or limited loved one, out and moving. Exercise + new friends + fresh air = fun and health. (And perhaps the worse you are at it, the more you get to laugh.) It’s much easier to learn and easier on the body than other games of the genre. The USA Pickleball Association says of the game: “Fun, social and friendly. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.” Pickleball is good because: Regular exercise can keep your body healthier longer, or keep you independent and more able longer. Pickleball can help with balance, reflexes, and range of motion, all of which will mean a healthier body. The top of the net is 34″ high at the center which is 2″ lower than a tennis net. (So much lower than a 5′ high badminton net!) That should translate to less shoulder-raising stress, which is good as bodies age and lose some range of motion. Not that one can’t raise an arm and […]