Pickleball 101: The craze, the rules, and where to play in NOOGA

Presented by a NOOGAtoday Partner

people playing pickleball on a pickleball court with two young men in the foreground

We’ve got everything you need to know about (safely) playing pickleball in Chattanooga. | Photo via Flickr

A net shorter than a tennis net, a paddle bigger than a ping pong paddle, and a court the size of a badminton court. That’s right, it’s pickleball — the fast paced game that’s sweeping the nation.

ICYMI, pickleball is tennis, ping pong, and badminton rolled into one. The easy-to-play game (read: anyone can learn in ~5 minutes) is as fun for newbies as it is for pros, and has a wildfire-knack for accumulating obsessive followers.

Why the pickleball craze?

Known as the fastest growing sport in the US, the game that got its start in 1965 has skyrocketed in popularity the last few years — growing to millions of players, 38,000 courts, and 47 major tournaments across the country.

The reason it’s so catchy: All ages can play, with kids, seniors, and everyone in between filling the courts. The highly social sport is so fun and easy to learn that many people find themselves playing weekly in a short time.

How to play (and tips to prevent injury)

Pickleball rules are simple. Open to two to four players, gameplay feels like life-size ping pong with tennis vibes and badminton fun. The game isn’t as intense as tennis, but — as with all physical activities — injuries can happen. (And it’s all fun and games until, well, it isn’t.)

When picking up a new sport, staying injury-free is top priority. To help, Erlanger’s Sports Med Providers are sharing these three tips:

Start slow: Gradually ramp up your mileage/play by 5-10% per week to prevent overuse injuries.
Hydrate: Be sure you are hydrating properly, especially in the extreme heat. If you have practice or a game in the afternoon or evening, you should start to hydrate the night before, if not before then.
Warm up: The best prevention for muscle pulls and strains is to warm up with a stretch — and if planning on doing a lot of movement, warm up with a light jog before moving to something more physical.

Where to play in NOOGA

For all you Noogans ready to pick up a paddle + join the fun, see our guide of where to play pickleball in Chattanooga.

And if an injury is holding you back from playing pickleball (or limiting your ability to participate in any activity), see how Erlanger’s sports medicine experts can help.

Talk to a sports medicine expert

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A. Healthy eating tips
B. Disease prevention + treatment
C. Fitness activity
D. Mental health + wellness
E. Weight loss + management
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Events

Sports

Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Tennessee Smokies | Wednesday, August 23 | 7:15 p.m. | AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley, Chattanooga | $8+ | The Lookouts will embrace Nooga’s local Hispanic communities by playing as the “Montañas de Chattanooga” against the Tennessee Smokies.

Active

Traditional Hatha Yoga Class | Saturday, August 26 | 12 p.m. | Yin Yang House, 7053 Lee Hwy., Suite 305 | $0-$15 | This all-levels traditional Hatha yoga class combines slower-paced movements with breathwork, hand gestures, and meditation.
Chattanooga Mud Run | Saturday, September 9 | 7 a.m. | Greenway Farm Conference Center, 4960 Gann Store Rd., Hixson | $29-$89 | This 5K mud run and obstacle course race is open to all ages, with proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area.

Family

Mommy Mondays | Starting Monday, September 4 | 11-11:45 a.m. | Dodson Avenue Community Health Center, 1200 Dodson Ave. | Free | Happening weekly on Mondays through Oct. 2, Mommy Mondays is a place for first-time or expecting moms to participate in fun sessions filled with helpful information, camaraderie + more.
Outdoor Storytime | Wednesday, August 23 | 10-10:30 a.m. | Southside Community Park, 3501 Central Ave. | Free | Bring your kids ages five and under to Southside Community Park for a morning of sunshine and storytime with the South Chattanooga Library.

Outdoors

Fall Gardening | Thursday, August 24 | 6-8 p.m. | Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. | $25 | Join certified garden coach Karen Creel to learn about preparing a fall garden and draw up a plan for a 4x6 garden.
Forest Bathing Experience | Thursday, September 7 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop Rd. | $35 | Join a Certified Forest Therapy Guide for a mindful nature walk (wear comfy shoes, and bring bug spray, water + a journal).

Wellness

Herbal Medicine Making Class | Saturday, September 2 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Crabtree Farms, 1000 E 30th St. | $30 | Join Crabtree Farms and Meagan Stone of Peach Stone Spa for a hands-on workshop to make your own tinctures + herbal infused oils.

Active

5 local ways to get your fitness fix

Embrace the final weeks of summer spending time outdoors with a local hike. | Photo by Andrew Kornylak/provided by Chattanooga Tourism Co.

Here’s a simple life hack: Make fitness fun. If you’re in need of some movement motivation, we’ve got you.

Here are five local (and fun) ways to break a sweat:

Get outside:

Go for a hike (our hiking guide includes mountain biking recommendations)
Swim laps at a local swimming spot
Paddle board to Maclellan Island

Try something new:

Try a yoga + strength-training fusion class at SPENGA
Join an adult sports league at the YMCA

Explore our hiking guide

News Notes

Opening

In case you missed it: Hamilton County Parks and Recreation announced that Walden’s Ridge Park will open Saturday, Sept. 30. The new 200-acre park features over 10 miles of trails suitable for mountain biking, hiking, and running + areas for bouldering. (WDEF)

Family

Welcome back to school, NOOGA families. Are you ready for a safe 2023-24 school year? See these back-to-school safety tips to keep kids safe on the road — plus check out these child injury prevention tips for bike, playground, trampoline fun + more.

Festival

Plan Ahead: The Chatt Town Cool Down end-of-summer riverside celebration, hosted by the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoor Department, is happening this weekend. View the adventure-packed event schedule featuring water activities, action sports, live music, food, and more.
The inaugural Rock the Ridge festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16 in nearby Walden’s Ridge. The festival will celebrate “the ecological wonders of Walden’s Ridge” and will feature musicians, food trucks, native plant vendors, environmental organizations, and more.

Eat

Looking for ways to shop summer produce before the turn of the season? We rounded up 12 farmers markets around the Scenic City for the next time you want to shop fresh produce and support local vendors + makers.

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