Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States, but was invented in the Pacific Northwest in 1965. Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a wiffle-style ball on a court about 20 ft. by 40 ft. Most of the terms used in Pickleball are similar to other racket or paddle sports like forehand, backhand, volley, serve, and overhead, but this sport has some different and quirky rules. One of the quirkiest is the “non-volley zone” which is more commonly called “the kitchen.” In this area, 4 ft. from the net, you cannot hit a volley, and must let the ball hit the ground. Because of that, the common name of “the kitchen” arrived with the notion of “don’t get caught in the kitchen!” Finally, where does the name come from? There is no verified source, but one story has the inventor dog being named “Pickles,” and whenever the ball would roll away, everyone would shout “Pickles, ball!” to instruct the dog to retrieve it. The other story is around the idea of getting “pickled” which means your opponent defeated you without allowing you to score.
Blackwood Tennis Academy is excited to offer Pickleball Services to the guests at South Seas Island Resort. Guests may reserve Pickleball courts 7 days a week 11am or later. Our Certified Pros will offer a variety of clinics for those looking to perfect their game or for those looking to learn this new exciting sport and private lessons are also available. Paddles and Balls will be available for rent to guests. If you’d like more information on Pickleball at South Seas Island resort, please contact the Blackwood Academy Pro shop at 239-472-5111 ext. 4151.
