By: Cheryl Angelelli
Everywhere you turn it seems like pickleball is sweeping the nation. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), over 13 million Americans play, making it the fastest-growing sport in the country. So I decided to grab a paddle and see what all the hype was about.
As a C6 incomplete quad, I previously tried wheelchair tennis but found the sport too difficult with my limited hand function and mobility. Since the pickleball court is much smaller, I thought this might just be the game for me. When my local Paralyzed Veterans Association chapter in Michigan advertised a free “learn to play” wheelchair pickleball clinic, I eagerly signed up.
Introduction to Pickleball
Before attending the clinic, I wanted to do a little research on pickleball to see exactly what I was getting myself into. I was surprised to learn that the sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has been around for over 60 years.
I was also curious about the sport’s odd name and how it got started. It turns out it was conceived by three friends, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who intended to play badminton but couldn’t find the shuttlecock. Instead, they improvised by grabbing some wooden paddles and a Wiffle ball and lowering the badminton net. Pritchard’s wife commented that the game reminded her of a “pickle boat.” In competitive rowing, a pickle boat refers to a boat crew made up of leftover rowers from other boats. The name seemed fitting since pickleball was created using leftover equipment from various sports. Thus, the humble beginnings of pickleball evolved.
The name of the game isn’t the only odd term used in pickleball. There is an area of the court called the “kitchen.” The kitchen is a 7-foot area on each side of the net. Players can enter the kitchen but cannot volley the ball in this area.
Wheelchair pickleball follows the same basic rules of pickleball, with just a few modifications. The biggest difference is that players in wheelchairs are allowed up to two bounces instead of one to return the ball. The game is typically played to 11 points, and you must win by two points. Only the player (or team) serving can score a point.
Let’s Play Pickleball!
On the day of the clinic, I joined other wheelchair users who, like me, were all playing for the first time. Before getting started, I had a little extra prepping to do. First, I transferred into the sports chair I use for wheelchair ballroom dancing. It’s lighter and has cambered wheels so it moves and turns more quickly than my everyday manual wheelchair. The chair also has straps for my trunk and feet for added stability. They do make a sports wheelchair designed specifically for pickleball, but like most sports chairs, they are costly, and honestly, my dance chair worked just fine.
After transferring to my dance chair, my husband helped to secure my hand to the pickleball paddle. Since I am unable to grip the paddle with my hand, I used a gripping aid by Active Hands and wrapped tape around it to prevent it from slipping. I was surprised by how light the paddle was. Most paddles combine materials such as fiberglass or carbon fiber, with the lightest paddles typically weighing around 6 to 6.5 ounces. Compared to a tennis racquet, the pickleball paddle was a lot lighter and much more comfortable to have taped on.
The instructor started by tossing balls at us to get us used to hitting with the paddle. At first, I was swinging at the ball with all my might but quickly learned that the ball flew over the net with little effort and proper follow-through of my swing. In pickleball, it’s more like a short punch stroke instead of a big backswing. We also practiced serving. Unlike in wheelchair tennis, everyone serves underhand in pickleball. As a quadriplegic, this was great because I never had the hand function or strength to toss the ball in the air to serve overhand in wheelchair tennis.
Once we got comfortable hitting, the instructor had us try playing a doubles match with two wheelchairs users on each side of the court. When I had previously tried wheelchair tennis, I was never quite quick enough to get to the ball on such a large court. The pickleball court is much smaller but still challenging, especially with one free hand and the other taped to a paddle. However, with more practice I do believe I’ll be able to get to the ball quicker. The next time I play I am going to try using a tacky football receiver glove on my free hand so I have better wheel contact and propulsion with my free hand to move around the court.
I really enjoyed the experience and look forward to playing again. The great thing about pickleball is that, given its recent popularity, courts are popping up everyone from local parks to recreation centers and pickleball clubs. The clinic I attended was at an indoor pickleball club with 20 courts. Since I live in Michigan, I’ll probably stick to playing indoors because I would be able to play all year round. Also, I don’t sweat below the level of my injury, so playing a strenuous sport in warmer temperatures outside could be dangerous. Other advantages to indoor play are being close to an accessible bathroom in case I need to intermittent cath and not having to contend with wind. Wind makes the game much harder.
How to Get Started with Wheelchair Pickleball
Interested in learning to play wheelchair pickleball? Start by reaching out to your local adapted sports organizations to see if they offer “learn to play” clinics or may be interested in starting one.
The United States Wheelchair Pickleball Association (USWPA) is another great resource. They host clinics and tournaments across the country. They also have a database of players across the country they can connect you with, either to learn how to play or to find a partner in your area. For more information, visit USWPA at USWPA.org.
