Around 60 people in Worcestershire now play one of the world's fastest growing sports after a small group was set up one year ago.

Worcester u3a’s first Pickleball group was started by member, Ian Raven, with 12 people in 2022.

By early 2023, they had a further three groups. Currently, 36 members play, and we anticipate more interest in this fun, sociable and addictive game.

Pickleball is one of the world’s fastest growing sports, invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. Three dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, whose kids were bored with their usual summer activities, are credited with creating a game that appeals to players of all ages and which can be learned in a few minutes.

It is a cross between tennis, badminton and ping pong.

Michael de Groot of Wyre Forest Pickleball, Worcestershire County Representative at Pickleball England, was instrumental in getting Pickleball in Worcestershire off the ground with a small group of Wyre Forest u3a members.

Having qualified as a level 1 coach, he offered to visit Worcester recently to pass on his expertise, spending three hours at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

Learn more about Pickleball and the English governing body via PickleballEngland.org

u3a is a UK-wide network of local area groups, offering social, learning and activity opportunities for people no longer in full-time work.

If you would like to find out more about Worcester u3a, visit: www.worcesteru3a.org or leave a message on our answerphone, 01905 887579.