pickleball Archives - East Surrey Community Connections

Free Pickleball for Mental Wellbeing run by Sport in Mind

WHEN

Every Monday, subject to seasonal holidays

TIME

2.00pm to 3.00pm

FACILITATOR

This drop in session is facilitated by Sport in Mind, your facilitator is David.

WHERE

This session takes place at

Donyngs Leisure Centre
Linkfield Lane
Redhill RH1 1DP

You can find the venue using what3words ///transmitted.gained.moon

ABOUT THIS SESSION

A fun, casual drop-in Pickleball session for people experiencing mental health problems facilitated by Sport in Mind, with all abilities welcome!

Pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping-pong—can be played as either a singles or doubles game, and is very popular as it helps achieve physical activity and for getting the psychological and social benefits that are so important to us as individuals at any age. See more fun facts about pickleball below.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a ping pong/badminton/tennis hybrid that is less rule-heavy and more accessible than tennis or badminton and more energetic than ping-pong. Everyone from Tom Brady and LeBron James to Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates and the Kardashians are said to be fans. A recent UK estimate put British pickleball players at 7,000 players, and counting.

For Mari Humberg, a Major League Pickleball athlete with several medals to her name, pickleball is the ultimate game to play with friends. “It’s a social sport that encourages interaction, teamwork, and friendly competition,” says Humberg.

“Even if you’re facing off against your sporting ‘enemies’, pickleball shines by offering a structured and respectful competitive environment encouraging healthy competition and even respectful trash talking, which can make it even more fun,” she adds.

What are the scientific benefits of playing pickleball?

As well as providing a social way to exercise, pickleball offers numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, enhanced balance and coordination, and muscle toning.

In the first serious study into the sport, research from Apple called pickleball and tennis “a win for overall health”.

Using data collected from Apple Watches worn by pickleball players, the authors of the Apple Heart and Movement Study found that while not as high intensity as tennis, pickleball players were still moving for an average of 90 minutes at 70 percent of their estimated max heart rate – which comfortably meets current weekly movement guidelines in the UK and US and leads to improved cardiovascular health.

The study also offered a mental health questionnaire, and found that signs of depression were 60.1 percent lower among frequent pickleball players than those of non-pickleball or tennis players. This backs up findings from a February 2023 study published in Frontiers in Psychology.

The study review looked at 13 papers, finding that 90.74 percent of participants were over 50 years of age and showed “significant improvements” in: personal wellbeing, life satisfaction, depression, stress, and happiness.

And while further pickleball-specific studies are needed, being active is also proven to improve balance, boost brain health, improve lifespan, and decrease your chances of osteoporosis.

Finally, while players are at risk of injury – as per any sport – it has been proven to be a low-impact way to exercise, meaning your knees and hitting elbow will thank you.

HOW TO JOIN

There is no need to book on to the session as this is a casual drop-in session open to all. A short registration form is required and can be completed online before the session here – https://www.sportinmind.org/pages/category/join-a-session.

Please feel free to contact your Sport-in-Mind rep, Amy, by email on amy.wright@sportinmind.org or call the Sport-in-Mind office on 011894 79762 if you would like any additional information.