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I'll admit I am biased about whether or not to take beginner lessons. As a USPTA certified pickleball beginner instructor, I see the value after teaching 200+ people to play.
One student noted she had been learning from her friend who was 'really good.' I expected more from her than I got. Her serve was illegal, she never moved to the NVZ (non-volley zone aka the Kitchen), she didn't know what a dink was or why it was important to the game, and had no idea about scoring. She quickly realized the game she knew wasn't pickleball at all. After just one lesson she was well on her way to success. It happens all the time and while I never want to discourage folks from trying to learn to play, I do encourage people to watch videos, learn the rules, and most importantly, learn to play safely. Our StartUp beginner classes will have you playing games by the end of the first class ... the other five classes will fine tune physicality, positioning, scoring, and more! Many of our beginner graduates stay together to improve their playing before stepping into the pickleball world. That special bonding time encourages stepping out of your comfort zone with your new friends and is a great way to become a better player. Not sure if you're ready? Text or call me and we'll have a chat. If you're still unsure, go ahead and register then come to your first class - no pressure ... if you don't feel it's right for you there is no pressure from anyone to continue. We will teach you to play YOUR game safely and correctly. We have taught students as old as 90 (91 on June 1). C'mon, give it a try!
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What she didn't have were the tendons. "I did get hooked and started playing quite a bit before Achilles tendonitis and tendinosis took over," Theim explained. "I already had existing problems with my knees." She picked up pickleball during the pandemic, quickly going from a somewhat sedentary lifestyle to hitting the court several times a week. Then her body boycotted. Dr. Alex Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, explains that one factor in pickleball injuries is that the game pitches itself as being so accessible that some players don't give their bodies time to ramp up. Johnson said he sees a lot of pickleball-related overuse injuries. "It's kind of been labeled as the sport for everyone," Johnson said. "And I think it is, but it's definitely a sport. It can be pretty strenuous." Over the past two years, the number of pickleball-related injuries has nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020, to just over 17,000 in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Since 2018, the popular paddles have been responsible for more than 60,000 emergency room visits, per CPSC data, and approximately 75% of those injured during that time were between the ages of 55 and 75. "When you start to have sustained soreness, you just got to give your body time to heal," Johnson said. As for Theim, she's rallying with help from a new knee and a gentler approach. "Invest in some lessons," Theim advises. "Definitely getting your form correct will get important if you really get addicted." Dr. Johnson also recommends stretching beforehand and wearing sturdy shoes, not running shoes.
My instructors and I focus on court safety; we teach our beginners of all ages and skill levels to play "their" game and with people with whom they are comfortable playing. The fact that someone with a knee or hip replacement is interested in becoming more active is wonderful and we encourage them to check out our StartUp (beginner classes). We offer a six week program - an hour a week - to ease them into a more active lifestyle. We stretch with them and give them the tools they need to play safely. Sadly, the instructor classes I have attended or read about do not focus on safety and I think that is a mistake.
We offer several classes each and every one focuses on playing safely and correctly utliizing drills, a ball machine, and certified instructors. USA Pickleball: Things to Consider to Stay Healthy |
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Elizabeth Wyse dba Ozark Community Pickleball Categories
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