Top left : Pickleball enthusiasts at Aspen Meadows Resort ; right : a pickleball match at Half Moon in Jamaica
80 I SALAMANDER 2024
Often , pickleball ’ s small-sided arena inspires more camaraderie than cutthroat competition , so even the more timid or self-proclaimed “ unathletic ” players can find great enjoyment . Bryan Fox , director of racquet sports at Innisbrook Resort , adds , “ Pickleball is approachable and not as intimidating as other sports . Shorter games allow for fast rotations and a more social experience . The smaller court and simple-tolearn swing path allows players to start playing almost immediately .”
Many have also picked up on the social allure of the game . The wide net of pickleball seems to catch everybody and to not embrace it creates a sense of FOMO . “ It doesn ’ t matter if someone ’ s never played a racket sport or it ’ s Roger Federer , everybody from all walks of life , age groups , backgrounds and demographics want to play and try it ,” says Rebeiz , “ and everybody knows somebody who ’ s playing it and they don ’ t want to be left behind .”
The evidence shows that this isn ’ t merely a domestic fad . Notably , there are talks of broadcasting exhibition games at the upcoming Olympics to christen the sport on the world stage .
The numbers only indicate further growth , Rebeiz says . “ Of all the classes I run , our Learn to Play Pickleball clinics have been the most popular . I don ’ t know where it ’ ll end up at the end of this calendar year , but the trajectory is straight up and we ’ re seeing it . I mean , we ’ ve had to build and convert 10 courts in our resort to meet the demand of our clients .”
Whether you ’ re a seasoned veteran or a sparkly eyed newcomer , the experts who run pickleball at various Salamander properties have invaluable knowledge to share . And for those who don ’ t have a clinic planned in the very near future , here is a sample from their arsenal of tips .