Pickleball Gains Popularity in the Hudson Valley

The sport is called pickleball, and many communities are creating leagues in response to it's popularity.

If you haven't heard of pickleball, you're not alone. Not many people are familiar with the sport that has begun to gain popularity with the over-50 crowd. Think of it as a combination of tennis and ping pong.

Teams play on a tennis court much like doubles tennis. Instead of a racket and tennis ball, pickle ball players use a smaller paddle usually made out of wood and a plastic ball much like a wiffle ball.

There is no overhead serve, instead the ball is served underhand, like a ping pong ball. Players volley back and forth until a point is scored.

Because the game is a little slower-paced than tennis, it has become very popular with older athletes. The Town of Wappingers has even started their own pickleball league which is now signing up players for the Spring. Games will be played on Mondays from 9am to 11am starting April 30. The fee is $50 for the season for residents and $65 for non-residents. If you're interested in playing pickleball you can find out more by calling the Town of Wappingers Recreation Department at 845 297-0720.