Pickleball: The fastest growing, most ‘democratic’ sport in Cayman

The racquets look like ‘beach bats’ and the ball resembles something a dog would chase at the park, but the sport of pickleball is becoming serious business in Cayman.

On a recent Saturday, the Compass joined a group of initiates at a beginners clinic for the fastest-growing pastime in the world.

The sound of laughter rang out amid the occasional grunts of exertion and the rat-a-tat-tat of the plastic ball ricocheting across the net.

The slight wackiness of the sport, its social aspect and the egalitarian nature of the game all help explain its appeal, says Jerry Beck, one of the founding fathers of the sport in Cayman and owner of Pickleball Cayman.

Beck has adapted the tennis court at his South Sound home as a temporary headquarters of the burgeoning pickleball movement.

There are games or clinics virtually every day. Beck himself plays six times a week.

A few years ago, few people in Cayman had heard of the game. Now the sport’s aficionados estimate as many as 200 players participate every week; more than 1,000 play regularly.

It won’t be long, says Beck, before it is one of the most popular activities on the island.

“It’s just so simple,” he says, adding, “We have people who play who say they were the last person picked for the team at school.

“It has been amazing to see how many people it has brought into sports that were never involved before.”

A democratic sport

The sport is ‘ageless’ and ‘genderless’, says Steve Thompson, a tennis fanatic who has partnered with Beck and others on a venture to bring a purpose-built pickleball centre to Cayman. Husbands and wives, grandparents and grandkids, work colleagues and neighbours can play together, regardless of the usual skill and fitness divisions.

“It is a great equaliser,” says Thompson.

“Someone in their 70s can play against an 18-year-old and they can all get something out of it.”

The sport is being marketed in the US as the most democratic game there is. Similar to tennis in some aspects, it is played on a much-smaller court and the training time required to become proficient enough to play is far shorter.

Warren Urquhart, of Cayman Sports, was the first tennis coach in Cayman to convert, qualifying as a coach and global ambassador for the sport. He’s taught more than 1,000 people in Cayman to play.

“It takes you five years to be a good tennis player but at pickleball even people who have never played a racquet sport can rally and play points in a short space of time,” he said.

“This really is a game for anyone.”

Pandemic ball

Another reason for the surging popularity of the sport is the pandemic.

Five million people took up pickleball in the US during lockdown.

Confined to their homes all day, people sought new ways to make the most of their allotted outdoor activity time.

And pickleball – a sport you can play almost anywhere with anyone – filled a necessary niche at the right time.

Across the US, and now in Cayman, tennis courts are beginning to be converted for the smaller game.

New complex planned

The next stage in the evolution of the sport in Cayman is a new covered pickleball centre opposite the cricket pitch on Smith Road. Featuring 12 courts and a healthy-eating restaurant, it is expected to open in phases starting early next year.

Even the centre – though it is a commercial enterprise – reflects the democratic nature of the sport.

Thompson, whose family own the land where it will be built; Beck, who is the primary financier; and around 30 regular players are involved in the project at some level.

Courts will be available for around $25-$40 an hour and corporate leagues, team-building exercises and school programmes are all likely to be part of the mix.

Much of that is already happening, but the centre will give the sport a visible headquarters in the heart of George Town.

“We think that within a few years it will be second only to soccer in terms of participation,” says Beck.

Mass appeal

The broad appeal of pickleball is apparent in the clinic at Beck’s home.

Urquhart, an amiable New Zealander nicknamed ‘Waffles’, gathers the group of around 20 players, spanning a range of ages, degrees of athleticism and hand-eye coordination mastery, in a horseshoe around him and explains the basics.

There’s some confusion around the slightly convoluted scoring system, how much bouncing is allowed and whether and where you can hit the ball on the volley, but once that’s all cleared up, we’re pinging the ball around like pros.

It’s enough of a workout to make you sweat, but casual enough that an hour passes easily.

As a tennis pro, Urquhart acknowledges he was initially suspicious. But seeing the way the sport brings people together and the opportunities it offers for older people to stay in the game, he was a fast convert.

“The game is very social, it is far more forgiving on the body for those with any injuries, the underarm serve makes starting the point easier than tennis, and the smaller court space is a lot less intimidating for people,” he says.

He believes the new centre will be a launching point for future growth. There’s been talk of a tour event in Cayman and even an Olympic slot for the sport down the line. But Urquhart emphasises that this is a game where winning is truly not the most important aspect.

“For the majority of us who just want to have fun while keeping active and socialising with others, pickleball gives us the best of all worlds,” he adds.