Pickleball comes to the Tillsonburg Senior Centre

Fred Dupon, right, bends down to receive a serve, with his partner for the match Paul Van Herten, ready to lend assistance during a recent game at the Tillsonburg Senior Centre. Pickleball is offered at the senior centre Mondays and Thursdays. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The latest craze sweeping the nation, pickleball now has a new home in the Tillsonburg Senior Centre.

The indoor court has been attracting about a dozen people per session, both outdoor players getting some practice time in as well as attracting new players. In the senior centre, pickleball is offered Mondays and Thursdays. The cost is $4.50 for non-members and $2.50 for members.

Michelle Webb, senior centre program coordinator, explained Thursdays are usually for intermediate players and Mondays for beginners.

“Many of the advanced players come in Monday to play, but if the beginning players are here, they bring it down to teach them how to play,” she said.

This is the initial season for the program in the senior centre, and it seems to be popular.

For new player Walter Slingerland, pickleball seems fun.

“There’s a lot more laughter than actual play,” he said.

Indoor pickleball differs slightly in the ball has fewer, and larger, holes than the ball for outdoor.

“We have ceilings to deal with indoors, and sometimes serious wind outside,” said experienced player Paul Van Herten.

Deb Hodgkinson joined the senior centre because of pickleball. She wasn’t aware of any other indoor courts, and plans on playing outdoors as well.

Meghan Fardella is also a new player, and liked that the senior centre supplied the equipment, that the first time is free and there is instruction.

“It seemed like an easy way to try it,” she said.

With only four people able to play at once, players rotate during the session.