Play PicklePong innovation nets attention

Kamloops inventors

Kanda James and Ruth Brown have created a tabletop game called Play PicklePong, described as a hybrid between table tennis and pickleball.

The foldable, 47-inch by 47-inch table is intended for indoor use, but is equally at home in an outdoor setting.

The idea for the game began during the pandemic lockdown for James, seeing a need to design a fun game that was lightweight, portable and suitable for all ages of players.

James said the idea of PicklePong was created for winter fun, because when it’s cold and you can’t go out often players will use their counter island or a makeshift table.

“You can basically use it for practising your strategy, your ‘dinking,’” James said.

After testing out the tables at a recent pickleball tournament in Kamloops, James said players tried it out and found it to be “an advanced training tool to speed up reaction time when you’re playing at the net.”

“Because pickleball is a racquet sport and when you have close-range proximity, you improve your reaction speed and your paddle control,” James said.

He said it can be a training tool or a fun family game.

Or, if people want to get into pickleball but you don’t want to play on the courts, it makes it possible.

Even those with an injury or a disability can find it useful.

“It’s just bringing pickleball fever into a portable little table,” James said.

James said Play PicklePong will soon be available to buy online through leading pickleball retailers, Amazon and PickleBall Depot.

The price will retail between $425 and $500 depending on the type of paddles selected with it, James said.

James recently demonstrated the game to a group of North Kamloops business owners outside Bright Eye Brewing on July 7.

Among the comments while playing was that it was more challenging than ping pong, an easier game to accommodate in one’s house and a great workout.

For more information and to join their newsletter to receive updates on product release dates, go online to playpicklepong.net.