Las Vegas pickleball in play across the valley

With steely eyes, the two, two-person teams stare at each other across the parquet floor. In the moments before the serve, they size each other up and adjust the grip on their paddles. With a distinctive "pa-thwock," the ball is in play, and the modern-day gladiators move into the challenge, for this is pickleball.

The hybrid sport has become a staple at senior centers across the valley. It involves elements of badminton and tennis with a little bit of table tennis thrown in. The perforated plastic ball resembles a Wiffle Ball and results in a game that plays like tennis but is significantly slower and less high-impact.

The game is played at many of the recreation centers in the valley as part of the senior recreation programs. Sunrise Manor resident Steve Barton has been playing since his retirement 2 years ago.

"I like that it's good for old people," said Barton with a laugh. "I can't move that well anymore."

Despite his claims, Barton and his fellow players run around the court, hitting the ball and making incredible saves. There is only enough time between matches for the participants to meet at the net and ceremoniously bump paddles and congratulate each other before the losing team steps away and the next challengers take to the court.

"We've played two years now," said Daisy Mousso, indicating her husband. "We play here (at the Robert E. "Bob" Price Recreation Center) three days a week. This summer they cut us back so the kids could use the court more, so we went down to Henderson to play on Fridays and Dula (Gymnasium in downtown Las Vegas) on Wednesdays."

Most Internet sources -- including the USA Pickleball Association's official site, usapa.org -- say the game was created in 1965 by William Bell, Barney McCallum and Congressman Joel Pritchard at Pritchard's home on Bainbridge Island in Washington state.

The game was created to be played by the whole family. In this case, the whole family included the family's pet cocker spaniel, who took a great interest in the ball, catching it and running off with it whenever possible. Inspired by the fact that the dog clearly believed the ball belonged to him, the creators named the game after Pickles, the dog.

According to Wikipedia, the game was created by drunken congressmen batting an actual pickle around with frying pans. This far-fetched claim cannot be backed up by reliable sources.

The rules are similar to tennis, but the game is played on a badminton court with paddles and a net lowered to 34 inches in the center and 36 inches on the ends. The ball must be served underhanded, and it must bounce between the non-volley zone and the baseline. The return of the serve must bounce as well, which is called the double bounce rule. After that, the play is much like a scaled- up version of table tennis or a scaled- down game of tennis.

The minutiae of the rules are quick and easy to learn, and most players are ready to go in minutes.

Malou Fury has been playing the game for a year, and like many pickleball enthusiasts, she travels to different recreation centers and gyms across the valley to play.

"It's very social," Fury said. "We can play Monday through Friday if we want. We have one place we can play outdoors on the weekend."

Many players are former tennis enthusiasts who appreciate the similar play but slower pace of the game.

"I used to play tennis, but I like this because you don't have to chase the balls as far," said Ty Frazier. "The only thing better is bowling, because the balls come right back to you."

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.