Jack Brown '23
Sports Editor
Sarah Walsh '23
Staff Editor
Pickleball Fever has officially overtaken Charlottesville. The sport entered its inaugural season at the Law School at the beginning of this semester and, as of the time of this article’s writing, has already amassed ninety-eight members in its dedicated GroupMe. To learn more about this push in pickleball popularity, we spoke with Lauralei Singsank ’24 over the phone as she drove down to Myrtle Beach for—fittingly enough—a pickleball tournament.
When we asked Singsank what she believes is driving the insane growth of pickleball—both at UVA and nationally—her answers all centered around one central theme: the sport’s accessibility. Pickleball is similar to tennis, a sport that many of us are already familiar with, but its learning curve is significantly less steep. It’s also a relatively cheap sport to pick up (players only need paddles, a ball,[1] and somewhere with a net), and pickup games are incredibly easy to arrange, thanks to the minimal equipment needed and the low number of players required to get a game started.
The authors’ helpful and incredibly patient pickleball instructors/playing partners, Jackson Grubbe ’23, Jon Peterson ’23, Landon Garfinkel ’24, and Parker Kelly ’23. Photo Credit: Laura Lowry ’23
Inspired by our interview with the Law School’s most dedicated pickleball advocate, we decided to finally show up to one of the weekly sessions that our friends would not shut up about. Getting to the court bright and early (if 10 a.m. counts as “early”), the group soon sorted itself, with the more advanced players starting their own game on one court while we were schooled on the rules of pickleball on another. All in all, it didn’t take long for us to get the hang of the rules (partially thanks to our past experiences playing tennis) and the basic strategy of the game.
Once we were able to get into a real game, the appeal of the sport became obvious. As promised by Singsank, the learning curve was very forgiving, and, by the end of the first hour, both of us felt like we could play the game. And it's a really fun game. Even the most routine play fills you with satisfaction, and the game is paced perfectly, with every frantic point followed by a moment of peace as you get yourself ready for the next rally.
On top of how much fun the game is to play, there is an additional dimension of enjoyment that comes from playing doubles, where you get to experience the epic highs and lows of Law School pickleball with one of your friends. Having a partner gives you someone who will cheer you on after each play and who is there for you to give some encouragement when the point doesn’t go your way. And really, nothing beats a paddle tap with your partner as you switch sides after a particularly hard-won point. As our generation grapples with an unprecedented loneliness epidemic, sometimes it's nice to know that someone is there for you, even if it’s just for a few minutes early in the morning.
So, what should a prospective player do if they’re looking to enter the Law School pickleball scene? Step number one is getting yourself added to the School’s pickleball GroupMe, either by asking someone who is already in the GroupMe—chances are solid that you know someone who is—or by contacting Singsank herself. You can also simply show up to play on Sundays at 9 a.m.[2] While the Law School pickleball crew usually plays at the Snyder courts (the tennis courts near Main Grounds, right next to the sand courts and Memorial Gym) at that time, when those courts are occupied, the pickleballers will play at Darden-Towe instead, which is why it’s good to get into the GroupMe—you’ll probably want a heads up if the pickleball location has changed before you head out bright and early on Sunday morning.
Players don’t need to worry about having any experience, and more often than not, there will be extra equipment (paddles, balls) available to use. Whatever you do, DO NOT get a wooden pickleball paddle. Singsank stressed how much it is not worth it for a beginner player to splurge on a non-plastic paddle, and we both believe her and want to pass that wisdom on to you all, the readers. If new players are worried about not knowing what they’re doing once they show up to play, fear not: Singsank is more than happy to show beginners the ropes, either at the Sunday games or individually. Additionally, as in our own 10 a.m. pickup game, Sunday players are sorted by skill level, so new players won’t have to worry about being required to face off against pro-level competitors.
While nothing can ever truly replace softball in the Law School’s heart, we do hope that readers will give pickleball a shot (if they haven’t already), and maybe we’ll see you out on the courts.
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jwb4bb@virginia.edu
saw8rc@virginia.edu