Pickleball is taking off in the Illawarra but it’s not new – the game has been played in the US since the 1960s.
The paddle and ball sport is played on a hard surface, either indoors or outdoors. According to Pickleball Australia, it’s an inclusive game, easy to learn, requiring tactics and patience.
Rob Mitchell, president of the Shellharbour Smash Pickleball Club, describes it as “a hybrid between tennis, table tennis and badminton”.
The club was formed in 2022 to promote the sport and help players reach competition level.
Rob says the club plays at Shellharbour City Stadium and runs four sessions a week. Participants play 8 to 10-minute sets – the first person to reach 11 points is deemed the winner. It’s a social sport and players range in age from university students to seniors.
Shellharbour Smash Pickleball Club recently partnered with Illawarra Sports High School to run even more pickleball sessions.
Daniel Jones, from Jones Co Tennis, runs two sessions of pickleball a week at Kiama High School. No commitment is required, and players can book their spot on the Jones Co website. At the start of each 90-minute session, the team runs through the basics for new players.
Outdoor pickleball courts are located at Shellharbour War Memorial Park, Benaud Crescent, Warilla and Dawes Park, Barrack Point. These are free but can’t be booked, and players must take their own net.
Where Can I Play?
- Shellharbour City Stadium – Monday 9:30-11:30am, Tuesday 6-8pm, Thursday 9:30-11.30am, Friday 6-8pm. Cost $10.50
- Illawarra Sports High School – Thursday 6-8pm, Intermediate to advanced, Saturday 8-10am, Beginner to intermediate; Saturday 10am-12pm, Intermediate
Book at www.revolutionise.com.au/shellharbourpc/events
Visit www.shellharboursmash.com.au or find them on Facebook
- Kiama High School – Tuesday 5:30-7pm and Thursday 6-7.30pm. Cost $15 for one session or $20 for both.
Book at www.jonescotennis.com/book