Anyone who’s spent time in the US recently is likely to have noticed a new sound coming from sports clubs, parks and hotel grounds: a cheerful high-pitched ‘tock’– often accompanied by yelps of joy or frustration.
I’m talking about pickleball, of course.
Declared the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year running, the sporting craze has a slew of high-profile devotees – Taylor Swift, Emma Watson, George Clooney among them. It’s so popular with the ‘in’ crowd, that Richard Branson just installed a court on Necker Island.
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Not to be confused with padel, pickleball is played with a lightweight paddle and a whiffle ball (hollow, plastic with holes). It’s great for all ages and skill levels – I’m living testament. Having plateaued as an ‘advanced beginner’ at tennis, I stumbled across pickleball at my local sports club last May and am now one of thousands of Brits hooked.
On a good week, I might play twice. On a better week, four or five times. My fitness has improved and I’ve lost weight. But more than that, I feel like I’ve found my people. Almost everyone I’ve met on the pickleball court is laid-back, inclusive and prefers human interaction to a smartphone.
This is how I found myself sweating heavily on Court 4 at the PGA National Resort & Spa on the outskirts of Palm Beach. Best known for its championship golf courses and extensive tennis facilities, it recently added 12 pickleball courts due to popular demand.
In terms of holiday destinations, Florida is a hotbed for pickleball. With year-round temperatures averaging 25 degrees, it lends itself perfectly to outdoor play, and the Palm Beaches, a swathe of coastline that starts 100km north of Miami, has become a mecca for the sport. Home to 39 towns including glamorous Palm Beach and Boca Raton, it’s long been a playground for the sporty and rich.
“I can’t name too many places better for pickleball,” says coach to the stars Matt ‘McNasty’ Manasse, who hosts clinics and camps at PGA National Resort & Spa and counts Emma Watson, Matthew McConaughey and Will Ferrell among his clients.
“The Palm Beaches have great weather, great courts, great food and you can head to the beach or the golf course at any time,” says…
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