My story may sound very similar to the millions of pickleball addicts that drop in often to their nearby courts. I never planned on teaching pickleball. Heck, I never planned on playing pickleball. But coming out of the pandemic, I was a little overweight, anxious to get out and craving for activity. My tennis partners had moved away, and I was looking for some sort of connection.

It just so happens that I lived very close to the home of pickleball in the Silicon Valley, a modest public park in the middle of Palo Alto called Mitchell Park. Mitchell is different from most public facilities for pickleball: it has grown to 15 courts. As a result, all the best players in the region go there to challenge themselves; it’s busy everyday from 6 am until 10 pm when the lights automatically shut off.

At the beginning as a former tennis player and collegiate volleyball player, I pushed myself to play on the courts where the top people gathered. I lost so many games, but kept coming back, got the itch, made progress everyday. You may have heard the game described as: “easy to start, hard to master”. It’s true.

Pickleball changed my life. I’ve made a ton of new friends, new ones everyday. I laugh alot whether I win or lose. I lost a ton of weight. I feel young again. I don’t think I’m alone in these reactions. I think it might have a similar effect on you. Join us!

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