Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get into this paddle tennis thing for a while now. I saw some stuff online about it being a cool way to stay active, especially since I’m in Rochester, NY, where it gets pretty cold outside. I figured, why not give it a shot? I mean, who doesn’t want to play a sport outdoors in the fresh air, even if it is a little cold out?
Checked out the options
First thing I did was check out what kind of facilities we have here. Turns out, there are some pretty premier facilities around here. That was good news! Then I looked into the activities and programs. They’ve got all sorts of stuff like tennis and paddle tennis, perfect for me.
Started with some intro stuff
I saw that they had intro classes, which sounded perfect for a beginner like me. I even found this place called Midtown that has a “Paddle in No Time” beginner class. It’s like three one-hour sessions, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, maybe like $40-$60 bucks. I thought about signing up for one of those to get a feel for the game.
Learning the basics
Before hitting the court, I did a little reading about the rules. There are a lot of guides online to get you up to speed. I wanted to make sure I at least knew the basics of scoring and how the court works before looking like a total newbie out there.
Finding a partner
The next hurdle was finding someone to play with. There was this one thing I read about where both players need a certain “PTI” of 45 or higher to be eligible for something. I’m nowhere near that, so maybe I will just stick to playing with friends for now. They also have a social league, which I thought would be fun, once I get my bearings. They even mentioned a pre-season training camp, which I feel I would need.
Giving it a go
So, I grabbed a friend who was also curious about paddle tennis, and we decided to just go for it. We found a court, borrowed some paddles, and started hitting the ball around. It was a bit awkward at first, but we got the hang of it after a while. We weren’t exactly playing like pros, but we had a blast. The fresh air definitely made it more enjoyable, even though it was a bit chilly. Also, it seems like a great way to get some exercise and have fun with friends.
What’s next
I’m definitely going to keep playing. I might even look into those intro classes to get some actual coaching. It would be cool to join the social league at some point, too. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get good enough to need that pre-season training camp!
- Check out more facilities around town.
- Sign up for an intro class, possibly at Midtown.
- Keep practicing with friends.
- Maybe join a social league eventually.
All in all, it was a good first experience with paddle tennis. It’s a fun sport, and it’s a great way to stay active outdoors, even when it’s cold. I’m looking forward to playing more and getting better at it.