MEETS Twice a week
WHEN Monday from 1pm to 2pm and/or 2pm to 3pm (you can book 2 hours if you wish)
Wednesday from 8.30am to 9.30am and/or 9.30am to 10.30am (you can book 2 hours if you wish)
WHERE Wyre Forest Leisure Centre, Silverwoods Way, Stourport Road, Kidderminster DY11 7DT. See Map
COST £2 per hour for u3a members
LEADERS John Cooper and Steve Abbott
CONTACT This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
DESCRIPTION

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a fun sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, over a net. All players are welcome, from those who have only recently started playing to those with a bit of experience. 
New players wishing to join should initially take part in an introductory pickleball session with Bob Kilmister prior to playing. Bob will go through the basics of the game, which is important to help you integrate in to the games and for health and safety. To attend please email Bob on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a session. In addition, Bob will also offer advice to any u3a member who wish to improve their basic game during the Monday 2pm session. If you are interest please email Bob to book with a note of which parts of your game you wish to improve.

Our games are played much more for enjoyment than competition. While there is sometimes some friendly rivalry, everyone agrees that win or lose, it's great fun and good gentle exercise too.

We have two groups running each week. If you wish to come along to see for yourself before deciding, please contact the Leader, via email above, with your name and contact details. It’s such good fun and really keeps you active! You can borrow wooden paddles free of charge by the leisure centre, however if you wish to play regularly, please plan to purchase your own equipment. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Be conscious of your own injuries and ability.
A few suggested warm-ups on court:

  • Hip pendulums, forward and back leg swings, as well as side to side swings across the body (hold steady against a wall)
  • Shoulder shrugs and rotations back and forward
  • Arm swings of at least your dominant playing arm

In addition, use normal static muscle stretches before and after playing.
Avoid running backwards on court, reaching low to locate the ball or jumping in the air, remember the mantra, "if it's low let it go" and "if it's high let it fly". When the ball rolls onto another court shout "ball on court". Take breaks and drink water.
Pickleball Warm Up Routine

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We book 3 doubles courts (16 players max) at 1pm and up to 6 doubles courts (32 players max) at 2pm on Mondays and 5 doubles courts (26 players max) at 8.30 & 9.30am on Wednesdays. Because of the demand for Pickleball, there is a booking system in place via an app, PicklePlay. All instructions can be found via: worcestershirepickleball.com/pickleplay.
If it is your first time, please familiarise yourself with the rules and how to play by watching the videos on this page. You can download the rules as a PDF.

If you are a non-u3a member, you are very welcome to come and play for up to 2 times, after which we invite you to become a member. You can find out more about u3a membership here



Pickleball Rules | The Definitive Beginner's Resource to How to Play Pickleball

 

Pickleball Scoring | What you need to know to get started