Tried Pickleball? It's Huge In Oneonta Right Now

On Saturday, the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce held its 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament at Oneonta's Neahwa Park courts. The courts were filled with competitors and it was action-packed with tough competition. Coming out on top in the mixed doubles competition were Lorey Biesheuvel and Garret Cole (seen below).

via Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, Facebook

Pickleball has always fascinated me ever since I learned of it a few years back. I would notice couples playing in the park and think, how fun it looked. It looks like a mini version of tennis since the court is smaller. I used to enjoy playing tennis years ago before I had arthritis in my knees and grew up playing badminton so it's been a while since I have played any racket sports. I thought I needed to be done with that. Then I very recently played pickleball for the first time with a friend and loved it! Pickleball seems to me like a fusion of tennis, badminton, and a little bit of table tennis thrown in and I didn't have any trouble physically with my knees after playing for an hour which I was very excited about.

The attraction to pickleball is mostly held by the older set (yes, that's me since I'm over 50) because there's less movement involved than in other racket sports like tennis. With that said, agility is still a must, along with good hand-eye coordination. The other thing that's great about pickleball is that the ball is kind of like a very brightly colored whiffle ball with holes in it, making it a lot slower than a tennis ball. The paddle reminds me of a table tennis paddle, only it has a hard plastic surface and it's a bit larger.

Will I be joining the Chamber's Pickleball tournament next year? That's highly doubtful since I am not the competitive sort, but I do enjoy physical activity that is fun and this sport is something I can easily get into. If you love racket sports but don't want to be running around all over the place, Pickleball might just be a great fit for you.

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You can find out more about this popular sport at Totalpickleball.com.

LOOK: A Fun Night at The Drive-In Theatre is Still Possible at These 21 Nostalgic Outdoor Movie Venues

In the 1950s there were more than 4,000 drive-in theatres popping up all over the United States. The decline of their popularity came in the late 1960s and early 1970s when their numbers dropped to about 350 nationwide. Later, with the advent of the "everything retro" movement, outdoor movie theaters made a comeback and today there are more than 500 in the United States.

We all have fond memories of jamming our cars full of kids on "one price per car" night, the buggy yellow fluorescent neon lights at the concession stand, the greasy and oh-so-satisfying drive-in food, and those awkward in-window car speakers.

Today, everything is modernized. But still a lot of fun. There are more than 50 drive-ins in New York State. Here is a list of 21 favorites.

Let us know if your own favorite didn't make the list!

For a complete list visit http://cinematreasures.org/

How To Help Abandoned Baby Wildlife Found On Your Property

When you find a baby animal on your property that appears to have been abandoned, it can be so tempting to rescue them, but sometimes that causes more harm than good. Here are a few examples of ways you can help wildlife that has been left alone where you live.

Five Exotic Pets That You Can Own in Upstate New York

If the thought of owning a dog or a cat or a parakeet sounds nice and all but you’re looking for an animal that’s a little more exotic, there are five super cute exotic animals that appear to be completely legal to own in Upstate New York, although you might want to check your local ordinance laws to be absolutely sure.

Source: Otsego Chamber Pickleball Tournament Proves This Sport Is All The Rage

Filed Under: Oneonta NY, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, pickleball

Categories: Articles, Local News, Oneonta