Pickleball popularity soars on the Beaches
What is the appeal of pickleball, and why is everyone suddenly talking about it? One of the fastest-growing sports in Australia, pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
It is played with a perforated plastic ball called a wiffle and paddles around twice the size of ping-pong paddles. The court is about the size used for a badminton match, with a net similar to a tennis net, but slightly lower. Because of the smaller court and lighter paddles, the game is easier to play than tennis.
It’s played indoors or outdoors, and though it is easy to learn, mastering its complexities allows players room to improve their game over time. It can be fast and competitive, but is also adaptable for all ages and abilities.
The Northern Beaches Pickleball Association was established in 2019. The club had 150 members in March last year; now, it has over 1000!
“We’re the biggest club in Australia,” says president Chris Taylor, who joined the club four years ago after being invited to try the sport by a friend.
Pickleball is a very social sport, which is one reason for its popularity. It’s also very inclusive.
“You play against everybody, and you play with everybody,” says Chris. “It’s not like tennis, where you play doubles against two people. It goes on for two hours, and everybody has a turn.
“It’s a good balance for everybody and improves your fitness,” adds Chris. “And it’s keeping people mentally alert, so it’s a perfect game for all ages.”
The club offers an introductory course at Dee Why and Warriewood for pickleball newbies, where players are taught the fundamentals of the game. The players are graded ‘standard’ to ‘advanced’ and play against similar abilities, so it can be pretty competitive. But the club also holds mixed-grade sessions.
The club organises pickleball courts across the Beaches, providing balls, paddles and nets in venues including Warriewood, Dee Why, Oxford Falls and Frenchs Forest.
Chris tries to play about three times a week and also runs one of the training courses. Players can move up in the grading system, and many enter competitions.
“We had 84 people compete in the Australian championships over the last year,” says Chris. “And we held our own club competition in 2024, where about 100 members participated.”
If you’re interested in giving pickleball a go, visit northernbeachespickleball.org.au
