Everyone’s playing Pickleball. Here’s where you can perfect your paddle skills in Cork
Heard of pickleball yet?
A fun combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, pickleball’s growing popularity is down to its laid-back attitude.
An inclusive sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels, it can be played as doubles or singles both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
All you need is a paddle and a plastic whiffle ball with holes. The paddles are inexpensive, plus they look cool.
The rules are best explained by Pickleball Ireland: “A non-volley zone (or kitchen) prevents volleys close to the net, and the serving team cannot volley the return of serve. These unique rules favor players with less mobility and allow senior players to compete successfully with younger competitors.”
Basically, everyone’s welcome so it’s a brilliant way to get your family, mates or neighbours together for a bit of active fun once a week.
Cork Sports Partnership has launched two new Pickleball Beginners Programmes in Inniscarra and Kinsale this year. The four-week courses run on Saturday afternoons at Saile Sports Centre, Kinsale, and on Wednesday evenings at Inniscarra Community Centre (check the next available programmes here).
If you’re part of a community group that’s interested in setting up a new social pickleball group in 2023, Cork Sports Partnership can help you get it going.
Fill out this form to find out if you qualify for available supports.
