If phrases like ‘down the middle’, ‘dink it to win it’ and ‘stay out of the kitchen’ mean anything to you, then you might already be familiar with this fast-growing sport. Pickleball has become more than just a pastime for many, offering a fun way to stay active while striking a healthy balance between physical skill and mental strategy. Recently, Lifestyle caught up with the Dinkaholics team at the Smash Yard Pickleball Park on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew to learn more about their shared passion for the game.“What makes pickleball special is that anybody can play; age and gender don’t matter; anybody can play with anybody. The community is very inclusive. That’s probably the main driving factor, the social aspect. And it’s good exercise. You can run up and down; it’s not too hectic, but it’s hectic enough to give you a good sweat. It’s fun, really fun,” Jon-Alec Daley explained. Daley was introduced to pickleball two years ago by a co-worker. It was all new at first, and he wasn’t the best player, but he started going to the court three to four days a week, engaging in two-hour sessions and meeting new friends along the way. “Pickleball is an addictive sport. And there are interesting rules, like you can only serve underarm, the serve and the return have to bounce, and you can’t volley in the kitchen, which is an area close to the net. And you can only win points on your serve. It’s similar to any other racket sport, like badminton, tennis and table tennis, but it’s not hard to understand. Once you play it, you’ll understand the game,” he shared. Last year, Daley was able to join a team, and it was there that he ventured into competition by entering tournaments. “When I started, I wasn’t really thinking about playing any tournaments. But I’m kind of competitive. I thought about entering, never did it, then I saw what it was like and did so this year. I play singles and doubles, and the best I’ve played so far is plac[ing] third in the intermediate group. A couple of members of the team finished second a couple of times in the doubles,” he explained.Zachary Miller was Daley’s pickleball partner in last month’s tournament, and he enjoyed the experience: “Playing competitively for the first time was pretty good. We made it to the quarter-finals. And I played with my mom in the mixed doubles; we came second in the group stage, and we also fell out in the quarter-finals. So, not bad for eight months at all.”RECOVERYMiller revealed that he was introduced to the sport eight months ago to assist with recovery from a medical issue. “So, last year, I had pneumonia and pickleball helped with the recovery. It improved my breathing, and it really helped my mental health,” he said, adding, “I love the pace of the game, and I love that I am constantly improving. That’s what I live for in pickleball, constantly getting better.”Adrian Clarke, who has been an active member of the pickleball community for almost a year, highlighted that he is no stranger to sports, “I played tennis when I was younger, and I’m not new to a sport of this nature. Unlike tennis, a lot less movement is involved. The court is smaller, and the ball is heavier. You have to be careful with how you hit the ball and how you place the ball in this sport. Those are some of the main differences in my view.”And, as far as the biggest lessons go, Clarke said pickleball has taught him patience. “Sometimes you want to win a point. But really, it’s better to try and extend ... . The shot might be too risky, and you might just give it away. You just have to be patient and find the perfect shot. And I love that challenge,” he said.BENEFITSFor Hakeem Weir, there is a host of health benefits that come with playing pickleball: “Pickleball incorporates a lot of cardio. Many people see it and think it’s very easy. But they are pleasantly surprised by the workout. There are a lot of quick movements and sharp turns. It keeps your brain alert and sharpens your reflexes too.”What he loves the most about the game is the fact that the people you meet will be lifelong friends, “… once you don’t hit them with the ball,” he added with a laugh. “In the earlier days of pickleball in Jamaica, there was a lot of stigma behind it. Oh, it was just an uptown sport. It’s expensive to join. But if you come up with your friends, you can split the cost. There’s no barrier to entry. Once you come, it’s pay to play; you can learn the game together and have a good time.”Weir hopes to improve his skills and approach the sport from a professional standpoint: “We would actually love to travel and enter a tournament, just for the whole experience, like a vacation plus pickleball; get some ambassador deals and represent some brands in the process.”With a background in table tennis, Njoma Riley learned of the sport through a co-worker via Instagram and hasn’t looked back since: “I love the camaraderie and the entertainment that pickleball brings. And the game itself is pretty fun. You are able to develop a new skill and improve on it as you go along.”The good thing about this game, according to Riley, is that it requires no prior experience to play, “You don’t need to play tennis, table tennis or anything like that. Just come out here and get a racket. If you know somebody who plays, that would be good to learn the rules. But the moment you play, you will realise how fun it is and you will be back for more serves.”krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com