The Social Life of Pickleball
It’s no secret that pickleball is a fantastic form of both exercise and entertainment for players all across the country. The game requires lots of strength and dexterity from forehands to backhands, running across the court to scoop return a strong hit, and being quick on your feet to get the ball out of the kitchen and over the net. That said, many players have started to learn the value that the sport of pickleball has off the court as well. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, more players are learning the game, picking up their paddles, and finding like-minded people to share their love for the game - hence, the best friendships are made on the court.
For this week’s lifestyle feature, Pickleball in the Sun sits down with Emma Masur, our own Digital Marketing Manager, to learn more about how the social life of pickleball has shaped her friendships on and off the courts.
How did you get involved in the sport of pickleball? How long have you been playing?
My parents have been playing for some time, and introduced me to the sport! They would play with their neighborhood friends at local tennis courts with added pickleball lines, and always would say how much fun it was for them to connect with neighbors in a social yet active way. I would say I have been playing for about 3 years or so now - time sure does fly when you’re having fun!
Where are your home pickleball courts? How did you come across the courts you play on the most?
Well, I have lived in Fort Lauderdale for about 2 years now and my home courts are in a neighborhood called Sailboat Bend. The courts are a walking distance from my boyfriend Blake's house, and we would spend evenings biking over to the courts and enjoy a game or two together. Now, Blake and I have just moved home to Columbus, Ohio, and we are still in the process of finding new courts to call home.
What do you love about the sport of pickleball?
Personally I have always played the sport for fun as opposed to competitively. I think I almost have too much fun playing with my friends - it almost makes me not want to focus on playing competitively, ha! I love how Blake and I will bring a speaker with us to the courts, throw on some of our favorite songs, and hit the ball back and forth and just enjoy each other’s company, while getting a solid workout in, too!
Who is your pickleball doubles partner? How did you become partners?
My boyfriend, Blake, is my doubles partner! We’ve had a lot of fun learning more about the sport together since I joined Vossberg Gainor in the spring, and taking him on my pickleball journey with me has made me love the sport even more! We became partners mainly just because we both enjoy the sport and it has opened a lot of opportunities for us to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and be active together.
Who do you enjoy playing with the most? Why?
I would say I enjoy playing pickleball the most with Blake, for sure, and my family as well! My mom was gifted the Nettie Mother’s Day paddle set and we were able to all play as a family for the holiday with the new paddles. It was SO much fun getting together, playing for fun, enjoying each other’s company, and above all, celebrating my mom on Mother’s Day with some exercise!
How has the sport impacted your friendships on and off the court?
I would say that pickleball has given me lots of opportunities to meet new people that also enjoy the game. I have attended a few tournaments in Florida as a spectator, and it’s been really cool to see how the pros play, and also see how many people really truly love the sport. I’ve been able to convince a few family and friends to buy paddles as well! Since the game is one where anyone can pick up a paddle and play, I am always trying to get more friends interested in playing as well. The sport has given me more opportunities to hang out with friends and be active as well.
Where would you love to travel most to play pickleball?
I would love to travel to the EU someday to play pickleball! I would love to explore countries such as France or Portugal, and really dive into the European culture that surrounds the sport.
Tell us about your local pickleball community.
While my pickleball community is small, I really love the people that I get to spend time with on the courts. Since moving to Columbus, I am still learning about the pickleball community here - where the best courts are, what clubs are in the area, etc. But that’s the beauty of moving to a new city, right?! It has been such a joy getting to know the pickleball community within Columbus, and I am super excited to use the rest of the summer to get involved and get to playing on my new home courts.
