The summer sport that’s a total Hit.
Ready for adventure? We are too. Follow along with the FP Movement team as we try new things, challenge ourselves, and get active.
Tennis skirts and active dresses are having a moment right now, so the FP Movement team decided to put them to good use. Taking our best skorts, skirts and onesies and hitting the courts — Pickleball courts, that is.
Where We Went:
Philadelphia Cricket Club was our destination. Thanks to some morning rain, we began our training on an indoor court. We got really lucky, however, when halfway through our lesson the sun broke free and we got the chance to show off our newly acquired skills outdoors.
What We Did:
Our lesson began with some demonstrations and an overview of just what Pickleball is — a racket sport, much like tennis, where a ball is volleyed back and forth over a net with a paddle. The (very patient) instructor shared tips on technique— unlike tennis, in Pickleball, you must serve underhand— as we familiarized ourselves with this newfound gear. As our comfort and confidence grew, we found partners with whom to practice, which then led to a few crosscourt singles and doubles matches.
What We Learned:
For starters, we learned about the lines on the court and the best places to stand (behind the baseline when serving, but on the baseline when receiving), then worked on "dinking,” which basically means hitting small shots right over the net and letting the ball bounce into the "kitchen," or non-volley zone. We then stepped back and worked on driving more power behind each volley. Next came the almighty serve — either a drop serve (letting the ball bounce before hitting it) or a non-drop serve (hitting the ball right from the palm of your hand)..
What We Thought:
Pickleball might seem like a strange (sour?) name for a sport, but it was way more fun than we expected – and required a LOT of action.
Tennis skirts and active dresses are having a moment right now, so the FP Movement team decided to put them to good use. Taking our best skorts, skirts and onesies and hitting the courts — Pickleball courts, that is.
Where We Went:
Philadelphia Cricket Club was our destination. Thanks to some morning rain, we began our training on an indoor court. We got really lucky, however, when halfway through our lesson the sun broke free and we got the chance to show off our newly acquired skills outdoors.
What We Did:
Our lesson began with some demonstrations and an overview of just what Pickleball is — a racket sport, much like tennis, where a ball is volleyed back and forth over a net with a paddle. The (very patient) instructor shared tips on technique— unlike tennis, in Pickleball, you must serve underhand— as we familiarized ourselves with this newfound gear. As our comfort and confidence grew, we found partners with whom to practice, which then led to a few crosscourt singles and doubles matches.
What We Learned:
For starters, we learned about the lines on the court and the best places to stand (behind the baseline when serving, but on the baseline when receiving), then worked on "dinking,” which basically means hitting small shots right over the net and letting the ball bounce into the "kitchen," or non-volley zone. We then stepped back and worked on driving more power behind each volley. Next came the almighty serve — either a drop serve (letting the ball bounce before hitting it) or a non-drop serve (hitting the ball right from the palm of your hand)..
What We Thought:
Pickleball might seem like a strange (sour?) name for a sport, but it was way more fun than we expected – and required a LOT of action.
"
Fun Fact: we also found out how Pickleball got its name! It was started by a family whose dog, named Pickles, always stole the ball during their racquetball-like game."
It’s sort of like a tennis/wiffle ball mash-up, with table tennis sprinkled in, and suitable for just about any age (apparently it’s super popular in retirement communities?). In just one day, we learned enough about the sport to teach our friends/family. So if you find yourself in a “pickle” about what to do on a sunny morning/afternoon, just grab a paddle and go. Guaranteed good time.
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