Will this American sport become a craze here too?
APELDOORN – In the Netherlands, an estimated 700,000 athletes play padel. The sport, derived from tennis, has taken off rapidly since its introduction around 2010. Now there’s pickleball, a racket sport that somewhat resembles padel and is hugely popular in the United States. This weekend, tennis club Tepci in Apeldoorn will inaugurate two courts: the national champion will give a demonstration.
A sport on the rise? Pickleball. Two courts were opened today in Apeldoorn.
In Gelderland, pickleball is still in its infancy, according to a survey. “It’s played only on a small scale here,” says board member Alex Steg of TPV Didam. “But in America it’s really booming. I go there sometimes, and you see basketball courts disappearing and being replaced by pickleball courts.” TPV Didam has a multi-court that can be used for pickleball, Steg adds.
Pickleball is a combination of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. It’s played on a court much smaller than a tennis court. The ball is made of plastic and filled with holes. The racket is called a paddle and has no strings.
Esther Naber is a board member at Tepci in Apeldoorn, where on Saturday afternoon Dutch champion Noah Washington will give a pickleball demonstration. “When I started tennis after turning forty, I underestimated it,” says Naber. “I thought after a few lessons I’d have it figured out. But that wasn’t the case. With pickleball, it goes much faster. If you pick up a paddle for the first time in the morning, you’ll have the basics down by lunchtime. That makes it so accessible and fun to play.”
