Playing pickleball

A new game with a unique name is growing in popularity in the Birmingham area. It’s called pickleball. 

It’s played on a 44-by-20-foot court and is similar to both tennis and badminton, with a few differences. Neill Beavers plays on the outdoor basketball courts in Mt Laurel today, but he first learned how in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

From the windows of the YMCA, Beavers would watch people whack a whiffle ball back and forth with oversized ping-pong paddles. He continued to watch them until one day he walked down to the multipurpose basketball courts, picked up a paddle and gave pickleball a try. He’s been playing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday ever since.  

In fact, when he moved to Mt Laurel, he was able to start using those basketball courts for the game as well. He furnished the nets and all the equipment, and he used masking tape to mark the court.

“In metro Birmingham at present, there are no indoor pickleball facilities,” Beavers said. “This describes a real opportunity for churches and YMCAs with indoor basketball facilities that are often underutilized during the workday.” 

As a pickleball ambassador, Beavers said he enjoys showing organizations how they can get a program started at little to no cost. He even gets calls from people in Baltimore, California and Huntsville who find him on the pickleball website and want to play. 

That’s how he met Pelham resident Bubba Bullington and Liberty Park resident Chris MacDonald. Now the three get together to play a few rounds, even in 37-degree weather. 

The best part about the game? Anyone can play. The best person Beavers said he’s ever played against is an 84-year-old woman, Lulu. 

“She’s really good, and she could get around the court,” Beavers said. “The good thing about pickleball is there is no sex or age discrimination. I’ve played with 20 year olds, I’ve played with 80 year olds and I’ve played with women and men. It’s a very social sport.”

Both Bullington and MacDonald agreed. Bullington’s 76-year-old neighbor first talked him into giving pickleball a try, and just like Beavers, Bullington has been playing three days a week since then. 

MacDonald’s experience was similar. She learned to play the game in Illinois at her gym when a few people convinced her to try it. 

“When I heard the names of the women who are playing, I’m thinking, ‘My goodness, these ladies are old,’” MacDonald said. “I look at myself as someone who is athletic, but I’ll tell you it doesn’t matter. These gals can hit the ball. Most of them are previous tennis players, and it really doesn’t matter how young or old you are. You can play the game and have a good time.” 

Once she started, she was hooked. 

All three are also former tennis players, which Beavers said is common. Not to say that people need to be former tennis players for pickleball, but Beavers said pickleball is easier on the joints. Tennis players often have hip or knee problems, and the movements of pickleball allow anyone to play. 

 Bullington said he plays with a 50-year-old woman in Mobile who has braces on both knees. 

“Balls she can get to, she hits them, and if it’s hit away from her she just says, ‘Good shot,’” Bullington said. “That’s what you do. Then you have some people who just jump for everything.”

Although there aren’t many places to play on the 280 corridor yet, pickleball is played at the Senior World Games. 

For more information about pickleball, visit pickleball.com. If you are interested in setting up a pickleball court or would like to play, contact Neill Beavers at neillbeavers@gmail.com.