The Art of the Dink

Pickleball arrives as a new amenity for Watersound Club Members, offering a laid-back tennis alternative

Written By PAIGE AIGRET

Group chats quickly form. New friendships bloom. Full days are spent on the courts. And the fun often carries over to evenings spent at the Beach Club with new friends. The name of the game is pickleball — pingpong’s big sister and tennis’ easy-going aunt. It’s become the Club’s hottest hobby and a way for Members to connect over goodspirited smack talk.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America, and there’s a reason for it — because anybody can learn how to play,” said Todd Ponder, who arrived as the Club’s new pickleball pro in league with the sport this past spring. “That’s what’s so great about the game.”

Eight pickleball-dedicated courts opened at Camp Creek amenities in April. Within less than two months, Ponder had instructed nearly 500 Members on the game. Among Members jumping on the pickleball train are many going on to learn levels 2, 3 and intermediate; six who are ranked skill levels of 5.0-plus; and 8-year-old pickleball phenom Marshall Clark, who Ponder enlisted to help instruct the Camp Creek juniors group over the summer.

“It’s great to see that level of talent in a club of this size,” Ponder said. “It’s definitely something that we’re seeing the momentum catch us at an early stage.”

Where pickleball is the attraction, Ponder is its conductor. Watersound Club director of membership Vicki Burris said Ponder’s skillset and contagious enthusiasm fit the bill.

“We have received numerous compliments about his passion and skills,” Burris said. “With that type of drive, word spreads quickly among our Members. I had the opportunity to take a lesson from Todd during his audition process at the Club. I could see myself becoming addicted to the game.”

Combining elements from tennis, badminton and pingpong, the game is played on a badminton-size court with a modified tennis net. It’s primarily played in doubles recreationally but in singles competitively. A perforated ball, similar to a Wiffle ball, is served underhand and cross-court with two players on either side using paddles larger than those used in pingpong but smaller than a tennis racket. The game is typically played to a score of 11 or 15. The goal is to reach the non-volley zone without crossing it, playing the game at the kitchen but not in it.

“That’s what you call a firefight,” Ponder said. “That’s when you’re battling at the kitchen line, and you’re learning how to dink. That’s what the name of the game is, learning the art of the dink.”

The dink, according to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), is a soft-shot hit on a bounce from the non-volley zone intended to arc over the net and land within the opposing non-volley zone, either straight across or diagonally cross-court.

Pickleball lingo, like the dink, erne and scorpion, may leave some scratching their heads. But Ponder ensures newcomers to the game catch on quickly, and its massive popularity among all ages proves there is truth in the statement.

“It’s not as competitive or intense as tennis,” Burris noted. “The playing area is smaller, and it seems to be more conducive to socializing and just having fun!”

These sentiments resonate across generations and abilities. And Ponder said that the game translates seamlessly for many players with disabilities, himself included.

“When I lost my leg 10 years ago, the tennis court became way too big,” Ponder said. “In 2017, one of my friends said, ‘Come out and play this crazy game of pickleball.’ I said, ‘I can’t run on the court that much.’”

Despite hesitancy, Ponder found confidence on the court again. There was less running involved, and the game was more casual compared to tennis. Soon after, he became a certified pickleball instructor.

“A lot of people are looking at it and seeing they can save their knees, save their joints and learn to play a much faster-paced game on a very small surface,” Ponder said. “I have 80-yearold grandmothers that come up with knee braces on, and those are the ones that scare me the most. Because those are the ones that I’m going to get annihilated by.”

As the fun of the game cannot be denied, neither can the health benefits. Ponder often instructs players with fitness watches to track their play. By the end, most have burned 500 calories or more.

“Everybody out here is just looking to have a good time and burn some calories.”

And no better time is had than at Friday Night Lights Dinks and Drinks night. Every other Friday night, the pickleball courts come alive with gameplay, music and mingling, and a beverage cart serves up cold ones to keep the good vibes going. The event caters to the 21-plus crowd, and the sign-up sheet fills near instantly.

Outside of Dinks and Drinks, open play is available across four courts daily from 8–11 a.m. and from 6–8 p.m. Courts can be reserved after 11 a.m. for one to two hours at a time. Clinic and class schedules can be viewed and reservations easily processed through the Membership app.

The fall will bring leagues and tournament play for those with a competitive bone to pick. But Ponder insists, “This is not a serious sport.

“If you’re not happy and having fun playing pickleball, you’re not a pickleballer.”