Pickleball catching on in Newport

Broadcast media calls it the sweet game with the sour name.

Pickleball is played on a short court and is part tennis, part ping-pong and part badminton. It has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with an estimated 150,000 players.

In Newport Beach, one of the tennis courts at San Joaquin Hills Park has been modified to serve both tennis and pickleball, and there are plans to build a separate, permanent court in the area between the lawn bowling and tennis courts.

But the shared court has brought concerns from some tennis players about distractions. Some objected to the dual lines on the shared court, as well as the noise of players, balls and paddles.

Pickleball instructor Lonnie Kojima agreed that the sport is noisy.

“We always laugh and make a lot of noise, and I think it bothers the tennis players,” Kojima said.

But pickleball player Lynnette Holloway of Huntington Beach believes the noise makes the sport fun.

“The beauty of pickleball is you don’t have to be real quiet,” she said. “You can have fun, talking and laughing. It’s more of a relaxed environment.”

Newport Beach resident Marty Flink, who was playing tennis recently on a nearby court, said, “There is a lot of noise, and when there’s 16 people playing at once, it’s too much noise.”

But Art Travers, also of Newport, pointed his finger toward busy San Joaquin Hills Road and said, “People tend to complain about noise so much, what about the road noise?”

Laura Detweiler, director of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation, said the city has been working with tennis and pickleball players to find a way for them to coexist. The groups have been getting along recently, she said, and the city has made changes, such as barriers and screening, to reduce problems.

Fast but gentle sport

According to the USA Pickleball Assn., the game has expanded since the mid-1970s from a backyard activity to a paddle-court sport with formal rules.

Pickleball (its name is derived from “pickle boat”) was invented almost 50 years ago by Joel Pritchard of Bainbridge Island, Wash.

One reason for its popularity is it can be played by just about anyone and it’s gentle on the body. Though the vast majority of players are baby boomers, people of all ages are playing.

With less real estate to play on, the game is faster than tennis and makes for great cardio exercise, players say. Ken Krum of Newport Beach says he lost 12 pounds after he picked it up.

Most of the pickleball players at the Newport court are current or former tennis players.

Brian Bell, who continues to play tennis, has been playing pickleball for three years.

“It’s less taxing on the elbow, shoulder and knees,” he said. “That’s why it’s designed for the older crowd, but it’s growing into a younger sport.”

Kathy Burns, an ex-tennis player, said the shorter court means less pivoting and stomping.

Holloway added that with pickleball, there is less planning.

“You don’t have to set up a match as in tennis,” she said. “You just take your paddle and self and pick up a game. I play to have fun with friends, get exercise, improve my game and get some Vitamin D by being outside.”