Pickleball in the Rain
We’ve all gotten the dreaded text or looked out the window to see our plans canceled at the last minute. From rain, to high winds, to snow, for those of us whose don’t have access to indoor courts, these are the most disappointing words we can hear. Not to say we all haven’t tried playing in a little rain, or shoveled a light dusting off our courts, or gotten the leaf blower out to try to dry the courts as quickly as the rain falls, but sometimes it just isn’t meant to be, and we are left to stare longingly out the window at a day that could have been.
For pickleball player Rob Morgan, the idea of giving up too many days to weather hit its breaking point this past winter. He spent the colder months in western Virginia creating a new alternative to the outdoor game, when the snow, wind, or cold determined to ruin his pickleball plans. “We knew we wanted a game that captured some of the fun of the sport but could also be played by someone who was unfamiliar with it. We spent a few months testing out different ideas until finally landing in the early spring on what is now Pickleball Smash.”
Pickleball Smash is a combination of two things that Rob, loves. “I have always been a fan of card games and board games, and in the past few years I have become a huge fan of Pickleball. This was a great opportunity to combine the two.” Pickleball Smash is a fun and addicting game that both seasoned veterans and people who have never played the sport will enjoy!
“One unexpected benefit of the game that we discovered during play testing,” explains Rob, “was the ability of the game to introduce or reinforce vocabulary and ideas of the game to new players.” The game centers around creating tricks (sets of 3 cards) and playing enough tricks to equal 11 points to win the game. Each type of shot - dinks, blocks, smashes, or the all-coveted ATP (around the pole) - has a different point value. Players collect these cards to create tricks, and the first to score 11 points wins! In addition to the point cards, there are also some penalty cards and some “lucky shot” cards. Drawing a “kitchen violation” or an “illegal serve” card will set you back, but an “Ernie,” “off the net,” or “poach” will assist players on their way towards 11 points.
The game, like the sport it is created from, is played with 2-4 players, and a round takes about 10-15 minutes. Rob says, “In the past few years, we’ve seen excitement and growth surrounding the sport explode, and we are excited to offer the first ever card game to help bring the excitement of pickleball to the table when you can’t make it to the courts.”
Pickleball Smash has taken off in the pickleball community since its release in May. Pickleball influencers like The Crazy Pickleball Lady, Pickleball Librarian, and Pickleball University have all recently discussed it on their platforms. The Dink Newsletter recently sent out information about the game, and tournaments across the country have been raffling it off and sharing it as part of swag bags and winner packs. You’ll even see pros like Zane Navratil talking about it on Instagram.
“We’ve been pleased with the response thus far,” explains Morgan. “We’ve heard from a number of customers who are enjoying it in the evenings or when the weather prevents them from getting to the courts, and we’ve also heard from others who play with their grandkids or friends who are unfamiliar with sport as a way to introduce them to things.”
As the sport of pickleball continues to explode across the country and world, it is exciting to see it expand into new markets with the first ever pickleball card game. Pick up a copy and let us know how you and your friends enjoy the kitchen table version of the sport we’ve all grown to love.
Pickleball Smash is available online at www.pickleballsmash.net