Where to play America’s fastest growing new sport in Greater Manchester
21.05.2022 - 21:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A new sport has swept through America and is now making a name for itself in the UK. Now with more than 30 sessions and clubs in the north west, pickleball is here to stay.
The game is traditionally played on a badminton court with hard rackets and a plastic ball. It's popularity is mainly down to the fact it is accessible for all ages and doesn't require lots of equipment.
In the north west, there is a monthly doubles league with nine divisions. This is a fairly new initiative for the sport and has more than doubled in less than 12 months.
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The sport continues to grow, with Pickleball England having more than 2,000 players, although it is widely assumed that the actual number of casual players is over 4,000. Last year, the BBC reported more than 4 million players world wide, citing the pandemic as a contributing factor to the increased interest in the sport.
In Greater Manchester, there are seven pickleball clubs currently registered with pickleball England, one in Salford, Stockport, Rochdale, Leigh, Urmston and two in Bolton.
Robert Rosenfield discovered Pickleball while on a cruise and despite no instruction on how to play, picked up the game very quickly and couldn’t wait to play again once he returned home.
Upon returning, Robert started playing immediately in his nearest club, which happened to be in Wigan. However, since then, he has now started his own club in Bolton.
Currently, his club plays on Saturdays at Smithills school between 11am and 1pm. They only have two courts, but are always happy to welcome new members.
He explained how and why he fell in love with the sport, saying: “I went on a cruise