When I retired three years ago, someone told me that there’s a law that says that you have to take up pickleball after you retire. I had no idea what pickleball was at the time, but about two years ago a friend introduced me to the sport. Now I think that it might not be such a a bad idea to make playing pickleball a requirement for seniors, like Social Security or Medicare. It’s a great way to stay active, make social connections and mostly just have fun. These benefits make pickleball a perfect activity for seniors who want to keep their minds and bodies healthy and happy.

So What is Pickleball?

is 38 years, down from 41 the year before, as more and more young players take up the sport. But pickleball has a reputation for being an old-person’s game, and for good reason. While young players play on a more casual level, pickleball for seniors often becomes a part of their daily routine.

I know of several friends who admit to having a pickleball “addiction” and can’t go for more than a day or two without needing their pickleball “fix.” If you drive by almost any pickleball court on a weekday morning, you are likely to see a core group of seniors who are playing, laughing and generally having a good time. Afternoons and evenings are reserved for the poor souls who still have to work…

So How Do You Get Started?

can get 7 to 11 email addresses of other beginners and get together . You just need to go out and hit-hit-hit,” he says. “Just get the ball over the net. Then, if you want lessons (to get better), we can talk.” But, according to Ted, most people “can have a great old time after one class.”

So Why Is Pickleball Perfect for Seniors?

Ted is one of those players. After building a business as a developer of apartments in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, Ted retired seven years ago. He took up pickleball five years ago and quickly rose to the highest level (5.0) of tournament players in his age group. This Fall he will be competing in the USA Pickleball National Championship Tournament in Palm Springs. As Ted started to win tournaments and rise in the rankings, other players began to come to him for lessons on how they could get to the next level as well. That’s how he got into teaching (and how I met Ted). Later, the city of Santa Clarita approached him to teach classes for their Parks and Rec program. When he couldn’t find a pickleball paddle that he liked, he started selling several brands before settling on a Selkirk paddle. Now Selkirk sponsors him and Ted sells their equipment exclusively (if you are interested in buying a paddle or other pickleball accessories, or if you would like to take lessons from Ted, he can be reached at tednorris58@yahoo.com).

To me, Ted is a perfect example of someone who has found his “ikigai,” or life purpose through pickleball (for more on ikigai, see “How to Find Your Ikigai in Retirement“). The four pillars of ikigai, which has been claimed to be one of the secrets of a long and happy life, are:

1. Doing what you love – Ted certainly has a passion for the game since he plays or trains at least five days a week.

2. Doing what you are good at – He is one of the top-ranked senior players in the country.

3. Doing what you can get paid for – He is able to make money doing and teaching what he loves.

4. Doing what the world needs – Ted has introduced many people to a game which, as the next section will cover, offers benefits that improve health and well-being, especially for seniors. I would say that the world needs this!

So whether you want to be a “hit and giggle” player who just wants to get some fresh air and bat the ball around once in a while, or someone who wants to challenge yourself to be the best player that you can, pickleball can offer both. It can even help you lead to a longer and happier life!

So What are the Health Benefits of Pickleball for Seniors?

exercise intervention for adults of all ages, due to its balance between physical challenge, comparably low injury risk, and ease of play…its social and enjoyable features suggest that pickleball may offer an effective and low-cost way to improve physical activity levels benefiting the health of mid-life and older adults.”

Here are some of the positive benefits that six weeks of pickleball provided:

Muscle Function – Muscle function, as measured by vertical jump height and grip strength, increased by approximately 7% in six weeks. Muscle strength and power are important predictors of overall health, mortality risk and functional living capacity.

Cardiovascular Output – While diastolic blood pressure remained steady, systolic blood pressure dropped from 134.9 to 129.8, on average. Resting heart rate dropped from 77.0 to 75.7 bpm, on average.

Perceived Pain – There was a slight but statistically significant reduction in self-reported pain, from 3 to 2. The authors speculated that exercise interventions such as pickleball could offer an alternative, and perhaps healthier, way to manage or reduce pain.

Cognitive Function – Cognitive function, which includes such parameters as memory, executive function and motor skills, was measured both before and after the six weeks of pickleball play, and a small but significant increase in overall scores was recorded.

In addition, almost all of the participants described an improved sense of overall well-being. This included improved mood, increased energy, higher self-confidence and fewer symptoms of depression. They attributed their improved mood to both the physical and social aspects of the game. Most found the game to be fun and looked forward to playing in the future, and several felt that being introduced to pickleball gave them the foundation and confidence to try other sports or forms of exercise.

Conclusion

amazing new friends. I’ve played with a disabled war veteran who can run circles around you in his wheelchair. I met a woman who lost 60 pounds during the pandemic by playing every day. And I play with someone who is so dedicated that he will play with his left hand when his right arm is bothering him. Sometimes he beats me left-handed.

So maybe it wouldn’t be a such a bad idea to pass a law that says that you have to play pickleball after you retire. I’m sure that there would be a lot more happy and healthy seniors out there! Good luck and I’ll see you on the courts!