The Pickleball boom in Bass Coast

A GAME that was invented in Washington, USA, in 1965, with whatever gear from other sports players could find, is taking off in the Bass Coast. 

Pickleball is a mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton, it is played with large paddles and hard balls on a badminton court with a lowered net. 

Games are played in singles or doubles to eleven points with players alternate serving, there is a ‘kitchen’ area, and it can be played indoors and outdoors. 

The name came from one of the inventors’ wives who was reminded - after seeing the game formed out of random bits of equipment - of a custom in rowing, where leftovers from another boat form what is called a pickle-boat crew. 

The popularity of the low impact and sociable sport has increased dramatically in a short period of time from approximately 5 million players in 2021 to over 36 million active players in 2023, in the US alone. 

Louise Dickson, from Inverloch fell in love with the sport after just one game played in Melbourne. 

After wondering how she could bring Pickleball to Inverloch, Louises’ friend Anne Marie Dieperink suggested they approach the Inverloch Community House, who agreed to support the sport. 

Pickleball Victoria helped run the first tryout day in the town in February this year. 

It received an enormous response with over thirty people attending each of the four sessions.

Gene Parini from GippsSport who helped to get it started and structure the sessions, said, “Its huge in the Northern States of Australia and it’s getting bigger here.” 

It is wonderful for retirees who are looking for a sociable and fun team sport that is low impact, but still a work out, according to Gene and it has also proved to be very popular with families and teenagers who can have fun and get fit while playing together.

Anyone interested in playing Pickleball can try it out for free on Wednesday September 13 at the Phillip Island Y from 10 am–12pm or the Bass Coast Y from 1:30pm-3pm and 7:15–8:15pm.

Pickleball is held in Inverloch three times a week, for more information contact the Inverloch Community House on 5674 2444.