Parkinson ’ s + Pickleball = PROGRESS
Pickleball not only helped Dianne Peccianti deal with Parkinson ’ s , but it put her back on the court .
By Gary Voet
The shaking in her right hand was not only embarrassing but affecting her tennis game . The forehand shots were going all over the place . Dianne Peccianti didn ’ t know why it was happening ; all she knew was that a game that had given her a lot of life ’ s pleasure , a game that had given her a lot of friends and enjoyable teammates , was about to end .
Dianne was angry and frustrated . She tried to play through the shaking but she knew it wasn ’ t fair to her doubles partners . And her competitive drive would and could not allow her to accept the type of game she was now being forced to play . She knew then , in her early 60s , it was probably time to quit .
Dianne ’ s doctor referred her to a neurologist who specializes in motion disorders . Eventually she was told she had the beginning of Parkinson ’ s disease .
Enter another “ P ” word : Pickleball . It not only helped Dianne deal with Parkinson ’ s , but put her back on the court .
During a vacation in Hawaii , while she was waiting in line for a rental car , Dianne overheard a couple talking about pickleball . Maybe she could give it a try . The paddle is smaller and might help her with better control . It would definitely help her with the exercise she was missing from having to give up her tennis game .
When Dianne returned home , she found out the nearest pickleball courts were 20 miles from her home , just a little too far . So pickleball was put on the back burner .
After a few years , some pickleball courts were constructed in a park less than three miles away . Dianne and her husband , Doug , gave it a try . They took a lesson from the pro and they both enjoyed the game . Dianne still could not control forehand serves . And she could not hit forehand dink shots , a key part of pickleball . The shaking would not allow it . Frustrated again , she worried she couldn ’ t play .
But with encouragement from the pro , Dianne kept at it . She hit serves with a backhand , giving her stability and accuracy . Rather than dinks , she hit forehand smashes .
Dianne discovered she needed more paddle speed in order to control the ball . “ It really gives me an unexpected edge when playing with players I haven ’ t played against ,” she says . “ They are expecting a dink ( which I should do but can ’ t ) and instead they get a fast-hit ball at them or down the line . I get a look like , ‘ Where did that come from ?’
“ A lot of people think it is rude that I hit it hard , and some players tell me I don ’ t have to hit it that hard all the time , and you have to dink it now and then . I tell them I wish I could .”
Dianne and Doug now play pickleball several times a week . For vacations , the paddles are always packed .
“ The social parts of pickleball have been wonderful ,” Dianne says . “ We have met a lot of warm , gracious people on the trips who also play pickleball . Finding a game is rarely a problem . Pickleball has become a large part of our lives . With my Parkinson ’ s , the physical , mental and social benefits involved with pickleball have been fantastic .” •