Because it is absolutely dominating here in Cayman. We've got a brand new pickleball centre with covered courts, bar and pro shop, and every tennis court is now adding 'pickleball' to its title.
The seppos love it, but rather than increase outdoor sports facilities it seems to always take away from existing proper tennis facilities. It's a no from me.
The tennis place in Chiswick Park converted two tennis courts to six pickleball courts earlier this year. I put that down to the demographics of the area - full of middle aged American expats.
I suspect that they charge as much or almost as much for a pickleball court as for a tennis court, so better for revenue.
I think it has become popular in the US because (1) American tennis pros have, with the exception of Serena, been getting their arses handed to them by the Europeans over the last 20 years and they generally lose interest in sports they can't dominate and (2) the average American is now too fat to play proper tennis anyway.
it is padel in Chiswisk, not pickleball. (Unless they are the same thing - I think not)
I did a lesson there with a couple of friends over the summer, good fun.
It was £90 for the three of use for an hour, but the hourly rate for the court is quite a lot I think, and they will charge as well if you have to borrow a racquet
It's a thing, and it's gathering momentum. I play near Wimbledon, and I'm competing in the nationals in Bolton end October. It's like tennis but easier and more fun!
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No
does it involve gherkins?
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Only if you're playing by Bangkok Rules, Wang.
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I hate that name.
There used to be a “Touch Tennis” thing, which I think is the same as pickleball, in the UK, but it never took off.
Padel is growing apparently.
They’re all shit though compared to the two established sports - lawn and table.
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my cousin plays it (in London). Apparently it's becoming a "thing".
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WTF are you lunatics talking about
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It's a form of casual, low-intensity tennis, for young kids and oldsters with poor reaction times. Like those beach cricket sets.
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Our local tennis club converted one of its courts to 2 padel courts.
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The seppos love it, but rather than increase outdoor sports facilities it seems to always take away from existing proper tennis facilities. It's a no from me.
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The tennis place in Chiswick Park converted two tennis courts to six pickleball courts earlier this year. I put that down to the demographics of the area - full of middle aged American expats.
I suspect that they charge as much or almost as much for a pickleball court as for a tennis court, so better for revenue.
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Price of everything, value of nothing.
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I assume being American it is a bastardised form of a better sport from elsewhere that they couldn’t cope with.
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Bingo and heh @ chuffy
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I think it has become popular in the US because (1) American tennis pros have, with the exception of Serena, been getting their arses handed to them by the Europeans over the last 20 years and they generally lose interest in sports they can't dominate and (2) the average American is now too fat to play proper tennis anyway.
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it's all Padel here
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Rob
it is padel in Chiswisk, not pickleball. (Unless they are the same thing - I think not)
I did a lesson there with a couple of friends over the summer, good fun.
It was £90 for the three of use for an hour, but the hourly rate for the court is quite a lot I think, and they will charge as well if you have to borrow a racquet
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Oops just re-rered
The padel in Chiswick is at Rocks Lane, close to Turnham Green tube
chiswick Park, where you said the pickleball is, is somewhere else
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Padel is like easy squash and pickleball is like easy tennis.
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It's a thing, and it's gathering momentum. I play near Wimbledon, and I'm competing in the nationals in Bolton end October. It's like tennis but easier and more fun!
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