Pickleball is a sport that has taken the nation (and me) by storm. Once you pick up a paddle there’s no going back. The adrenaline rush that comes when you bolt to the kitchen or spike the ball has me coming back for more. I’ve made new friends and even seen people make new networks for their job on the pickleball court! It’s always a fun time no matter whether your skills are high or need some practice.
Over here at Rose and Lee the sport takes up a lot of our staff conversations. “Where did you end up playing yesterday?” and “I totally dominated the courts last night…wellll, sorta.”. My personal favorite, “Hey, can you babysit so we can go play pickleball tonight?”
When playing this sport you need the obvious things like a cute paddle, a pickleball, and a water bottle. I’ve learned the hard way that I need to bring a few extra things to make competing easier...
For starters, sunglasses are a must, even when the sun is setting. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve missed the ball because the sun completely consumes the sky behind my opponents. I prefer polarized sunglasses when playing, and the brand we carry, Blue Planet, is the best. The lenses are built to help see sharper and clearer, plus there isn’t any sun glare. That way there’s no surprises on the court!
A hat can also be helpful during the heart of summer when the sun is high and there’s sweat running down my brow. It also helps with any potential sunburn, as we all know summers (and sometimes early fall) in North Carolina can be hot! If you’re like me and don’t like wearing a hat when playing we also have sunscreen for the face.
Once you fall in love with the sport you will find yourself getting a kick out of pickleball themed things (just ask Christina). We have pickleball tea towels, a morse code bracelet that spells pickleball, and even a ‘wet-it!’ cloth. They’re great for gifts too!
If you're looking at places to play around Apex, here are a few of my favorite places:
Pleasant Park - Apex
Kelly Road Park
Apex Nature Park
See you on the courts!