Pickleball is a sport that some people may not know; however, it has gained popularity in America and on the Harding campus over the years, becoming an ideal activity for fun competition and socialization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sport invented in 1965, pickleball is a mixture of Ping-Pong, badminton and tennis, involving two or four players. A net, solid paddles and a wiffle-like ball are used to play the game with the goal of having two or more points than the opponent by the time one acquires 11 points. If this goal is not met, then the game continues until someone gets ahead by two points. This rule eliminates any possibility of a draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Harding, this game is usually played in the Ganus Activities Complex. David Redding, head coach of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tennis teams, instructs a kinesiology activity class called \u201cPickleball and Badminton,\u201d though Redding said the class is largely dedicated to pickleball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI call pickleball \u2018Ping-Pong on steroids,\u2019\u201d Redding said. \u201cIt\u2019s as if you are playing Ping-Pong on top of a big table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting his pickleball career in 2013 after learning of its existence from a friend, Redding said he has played in pickleball tournaments across the country, winning national championships several times. The win he said he is most proud of occurred in the summer of 2015 in Minnesota, where he won the National Senior Games championship tournament with his wife. Since coming to Harding, Redding said he does not play pickleball competitively nearly as much; however, he won his most recent tournament in Dallas earlier this month in the Texas Senior Open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOther than my faith and my family, pickleball, probably right now, has grown into one of the most important things in my life,\u201d Redding said. \u201cAnd not pickleball per se, but what it has led me to: I\u2019ve developed deeper relationships with people. I\u2019ve met so many new friends. It [has] actually grown [my] family closer together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although pickleball can be competitive, the game creates a social atmosphere as competitors must be close to the net. After discovering pickleball toward the start of October, sophomore Maryclaire Franklin said she played everyday for two weeks with her friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like that [pickleball] is such an active game,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cI like being active, so it\u2019s a really fun outlet for that while still being social with my friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sophomore Seth Hammitt, who attends the pickleball class at Harding, said he also sees pickleball as an activity that can bring people together, as anyone can play, regardless of age and athleticism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlay pickleball,\u201d Hammitt said. \u201cI highly recommend it. It sounds like a silly sport, but it\u2019s super easy to learn, super easy to play and a lot of fun. And, anybody can play it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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