Pickleball, it’s not for seniors only

PLATTSBURGH — A decade ago, Patty Husband learned how to play pickleball at the former CVPH Wellness Center on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

Now, she is a Professional Pickleball Registry certified pickleball coach, Better Pickleball team member, Better Pickleball coach and The Pickleball System accredited coach.

As a volunteer USA Pickleball Ambassador for eight years, she helps promote and grow the sport, which occupies a space between tennis and badminton.

“Usually, people play doubles. The court is smaller than tennis. The whole overall game is played differently from anything else, so it’s unique in that way,” she said.

While similar to other sports, Husband says pickleball is unique.

“I don’t really want to compare it too much to tennis, but if there was something that was similar, it would be tennis,” she said. “Just think of it as a smaller scale version of court, but all the rules and strategies of the game are very different than tennis.”

She said it’s easy to learn, even if you don’t know anything about tennis or other racket sports.

“It’s a game that’s easy to learn, and a game that’s hard to master and become very good at,” Husband said. “A lot of people can get themselves up to a level of low intermediate and intermediate, but it’s super hard to go beyond that without working hard at it.”

The fastest growing demographic is those under 25, who are learning to play in school. Husband also coaches kids programs through the Town of Plattsburgh.

“There’s definitely a big range of people, but the majority of the folks who started playing pickleball are the seniors because it’s easier on the body, and there’s a social component to it,” she said. “So you can come and just pop in and play. You don’t have to bring a group. You don’t have to bring another person. You can just show up and play. It’s good for our minds and our bodies.”

There is a dearth of pickleball courts in the community for the number of active players.

“That’s a super big challenge for us,” she said. “The Keeseville Civic Center just put in a couple of new pickleball courts there, so I’m working with the Town of Ausable to provide some lessons to get people started there.”

Husband leads a Pickleball 101 clinic for new players today at 10:30 a.m. at the Keeseville Civic Center located at 1790 Main St.

“We’ll put together another program in December,” she said.

A learn-to-play program is about a 90 minutes and free or by donation.

“People don’t really need anything but a pair of sneakers and water bottle to show up because we have everything else,” Husband said. “By the time they leave, they should feel comfortable walking onto a court to play a game with someone. Although they’re not going to be completely comfortable, they’ll know enough to get through and learn more. You just have to dive right in.”

Husband previously owned the Kayak Shop and taught kayak and stand-up paddleboard board lessons. A former runner, she did half marathons, marathons and skiing.

Still fairly active recreationally, she finds pickleball a highly addictive game.

“I think it’s part of the people part of it, part of the challenge of trying to outplay your opponent. You play with different people, so if you jump on the court with three other people and do well, the next game you’re going to be on the court with three other people, so it’s going to be different,” she said.

“Every game is different. It’s challenging. It’s a good work out. I know people that are in their mid-70s that could hang with a 30 year old. Don’t underestimate them, I’ll say.”

Husband also does training and coaching for adaptive pickleball, which is wheelchair pickleball.

“We do have the chairs — a specific pickleball wheelchair that people can use,” she said. “We do have wheelchair players in the community, not many, and they don’t play so much, but the option is there and I’ve done some clinics.

“People can play in the wheelchair and that’s fun, too. It’s great for them. In the senior realm of things, if you aren’t capable or able-bodied, you can still do wheelchair pickleball.”

For more information, follow Plattsburgh Pickleball on Facebook.