Dozens of Graysville residents are picking up pickleball. The game is part tennis, part badminton, and possibly part ping-pong. It uses paddles and a modified whiffle ball.
USA Pickleball Association Ambassadors Tim and Laura Statum saw it out of state and suggested that it might be a good fit for Graysville.
Graysville Mayor Doug Brewer agreed and the group got the pickleball rolling, so to speak.
Saturday, an exhibition game at the Maurice West Community Center attracted dozens of potential pickleball players.
"Obviously we're an older community in Graysville and we wanted to utilize our tennis courts and our friend Tim Statum came up with this idea about pickleball," said Graysville Mayor Doug Brewer.
"It's now a part of Graysville and If you are a member of the community center then you can come and play for free. The racquets are on hand," said Tim Statum.
A former racquetball champion turned pickleball fanatic named Bob Husky drove from Opelika for the exhibtion. Husky says he built a pickleball court in his backyard after reading an article about the sport- before he ever played the game!
"Racquetball caused too many injuries for me and I'm doing pickleball full time," said Bob Husky.
Husky says the sport is especially popular with aging athletes, because placement and proper technique are more important than speed and power.
"Older people like that. I played with people in Arizona that had double hip replacements," said Bob Husky.
Another experienced pickleball player named Cindy Moore traveled all the way from Tucson, Arizona for the Saturday match.
She once played a lot of tennis, but now mainly plays pickleball.
Moore says her favorite part is winning against overconfident, younger players.
"I love it! They think it's kind of a wussy game till they get out there and then the sweat starts pouring off of them and they go hmm, maybe this is not so wussy after all!” said Cindy Moore.
Pickleball beginner's lessons are being offered for free in Graysville to anyone ages 12 and older.
Send an email to gville_pickleball@bellsouth.net to set up a date and time.
The lessons last approximately one hour depending on the individual's skill level.
Learn more about the USA Pickleball Association at www.usapa.org.
