On this particularly gorgeous Sunday (26 May), more than 60 people chose pickleball over sunshine as they gathered at the Kiama Leisure Centre for an open trial day.

“It’s been good,” says ten-year-old Keyur Kathard, who was one of the first players to hit the court shortly after 11:00am. He started playing pickleball last year, and plays regularly on Friday evenings in Shellharbour. 

“The smashing, when you get a smash in,” is the best part about pickleball, he says.

His partner during the first game, Debra Neden-Masters from Albion Park, hasn’t played a lot, which is why she picked the beginner/intermediate session. 

“Great! For a person my age, it’s an easy exercise. It’s not a tennis court,” she says while taking a breather off the court. “Still get the sweat as you can see,” Neden-Masters continues, sporting a healthy glow.

Wayne Lee, managing director of Pickleball Promotions, got into the game while living in the United States (where pickleball originates from). He ran a pickleball club in Las Vegas, and when returning to Australia during the pandemic, Lee opened a club in Sydney.

The Pickleball New South Wales now sends him all over the state to set up new pickleball venues, which is why he finds himself in Kiama after Paul Summerside contacted the association.

Wayne Lee shows the two essentials needed when playing pickleball.

“There are three things about pickleball that makes it very attractive: it’s a very easy game to learn, you can play the game either indoors or outdoors, you can set up a court and be playing within five minutes,” he says.

“It’s very socially interactive, and it’s very good for reflexes, health and fitness.”

When more and more people trickle in, eager to have a hit, the coaches rotate them between the six pickleball courts (normally used for badminton), with four players on each. 

The courts are actually the same size as badminton courts, the only difference being that the “kitchen,” the non-volley zone, is five centimeters shorter. 

“Equipment-wise, you need a pair of sandshoes, water and a $54-paddle,” says Lee.

Plus a ball, of course. They come in different colours: white, yellow, green and lime green. For the trial day, white balls are used as they’re easy to see against the dark floorboards.

When trying pickleball for the first time, players are encouraged to get a feel for the ball, which is light, as is the paddle, i.e. the racket. 

“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in Australia,” Lee underscores. “Traditionally, it was a sport for a certain age and demographic but now the sport is being introduced to schools.” 

“Anybody over the age of ten to the age of 80 can play pickleball. There are tournaments being held all over Australia on a regular basis.”

As for Debra Neden-Masters, will she begin playing regularly? She’s only got one answer: “Most definitely.”