Is Pickleball Good Exercise?

Is pickleball good exercise? Yes! Pickleball has huge fitness benefits including burning calories, building strength, improving cardiovascular health all while being fun and social. Learn why pickleball is ideal exercise for all ages.

Yes, pickleball is an excellent form of exercise! As an emerging sport, pickleball provides a fun way to get moving and improve your fitness.

Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It is played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, using paddles and a plastic ball with holes. Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles.

Burns Calories

A 150-pound person can burn approximately 223 calories playing pickleball for 30 minutes. The start-and-stop nature of the sport and lateral movements mean pickleball can raise your heart rate and help you work up a sweat.

• The frequent spurts of activity during volleys or groundstroke rallies, followed by brief recovery periods while switching sides, make pickleball an effective interval training workout.
• Games often last 30 minutes to 1 hour, allowing for sustained calorie burning.

Improves Agility and Coordination

The quick reactions needed to hit volleys at the net and groundstrokes on alternating sides helps improve hand-eye coordination. Lateral motions build agility.

• Volleying back and forth at the non-volley zone line works on reflexes and quick footwork.
• Striking the ball accurately while moving side-to-side improves body coordination.
• The smaller paddle and ball size require greater precision and quick adjustments compared to other racquet sports.

Develops Muscle Tone

Pickleball engages your core and lower body for stability during shots. It also works the upper body with serving, volleys, overheads and groundstrokes. Continued play can help develop toned muscles.

• The constant squat motions to hit low volleys or returns tone leg and gluteal muscles.
• Rotating the torso and maintaining balance during strokes works the abdominal muscles.
• The repetitive swing motions tone shoulders, arms, wrists and hands.

What Muscles Does Pickleball Work? A Comprehensive Guide

Easy on Joints

The smaller court and lower pickleball net reduce the amount of running required, making the sport gentler on knees and other joints compared to tennis. Paddles also absorb some shock on returns.

• The smaller surface area places less stress on joints than a full tennis court.
• Underhand serves limit overextending shoulder joints.
• Pickleball’s foam or composite paddles reduce vibration and impact on wrists and elbows.

Social and Fun

The social nature of pickleball motivates people to maintain an active lifestyle. Finding a regular pickleball group provides fun camaraderie and accountability.

• Pickleball’s doubles format promotes a sense of teamwork and companionship.
• Conversation between points fosters connections.
• Group play schedules provide motivation to continue being active.

Pickleball is great for any adult looking for a low-impact, high-engagement form of exercise. The minimal equipment needed also makes pickleball an affordable option. With its lighter learning curve compared to tennis, pickleball allows beginners to start playing actual games early on while continuing to improve their skills over time.

Give pickleball a try for an enjoyable way to exercise and stay fit! Look for local pickleball meetup groups or courts at community rec centers, YMCAs or schools to get started.

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