You’ve heard of pickle slushies, a favorite local crushed-ice treat using pickle juice as the syrup. But have you heard about pickleball?

The fastest-growing sport in the United States has made its way to the Community. O’odham Action News talked with Community pickleballers to find out what the big dill is.

But first, let’s start with the basics. According to USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body, pickleball is a paddle sport blending tennis, badminton and table tennis which can be played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly lower net.

A pickleball court typically measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for singles and doubles (two players per team). The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center. Each side has a 7-foot non-volley zone called “the kitchen,” which adds strategy and placement to play.

SRPMIC Council member Mikah Carlos and Assistant Community Manager Dawn Sinoqui have been known to frequent the pop-up pickleball court in the middle of the main basketball court at Ske:g Himdag Ki: at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The early birds have been playing together for a little over a year.

Other players have been invited, but so far there haven’t been many morning people available.

Employees and Community members can play pickleball at Ske:g Himdag Ki: Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. If you miss the early morning weekday kickball, courts are available to play on Saturdays.

Sinoqui said that she became hooked on the sport thanks to former Council member Tom Largo. The two used to play at Scottsdale Community College with his family. Largo and Sinoqui inquired with Ske:g Himdag Ki: staff about bringing the sport over to the courts, and official equipment was purchased shortly thereafter. Former Assistant Community Manager Kent Andrews and Community member Angela Willeford have also been known to join for a match.

What keeps Carlos and Sinoqui coming back to play?

“It’s easy and it’s moderately low impact,” said Carlos, who, along with Sinoqui, used to play basketball as well.

“You’re more prone to injuries playing basketball. [Pickeball] is a little bit less intense, but you still get some good movement in. I think for us, with our stressful jobs, we just want to move.”

Sinoqui always wanted to play tennis when she was younger, but she never had the chance to play.

“I’m too old to play tennis now, so I figured why not play pickleball,” joked Sinoqui. “It’s less intense than tennis, but still fun. And you can play inside!”

Both described what it’s like to hit a pickleball with a paddle. Sinoqui said a pickleball “has a different feel when you hit it.”

Carlos, who used to play tennis, said a tennis ball has more “give,” which means you can hit it harder and there will be more velocity on the ball.

Hitting a pickleball feels similar to making contact with a Whiffle ball using a bat.

“You hit these [pickleballs] and they don’t go through the air as quickly,” said Carlos.

“My favorite thing to do are the ‘spins’ and the ‘drops,’” she said.

When Carlos and Sinoqui play, there is plenty of playful trash talk to go around.

“Once in a while we’ll just do crazy shots to each other,” said Sinoqui.

“I think we’re both competitive and we will be volleying back and forth. Then, out of nowhere, one of us will just ‘slam’ it to the other. That sets the tone for a couple minutes,” Carlos laughed. “Then we just tone it back down.”

Neither of them keeps score or follows the official pickleball rules. It’s strictly a good time.

There are other places to play pickleball on tribal land if you’re out and about. PURE Pickleball & Padel is located near Loop 101 and Via de Ventura.

The Orchard at Jigsaw Health, located at 9035 E. Pima Center Pkwy., Suite 15, also has indoor pickleball courts. There is no membership needed at this location.

“The Orchard indoor pickleball club is a welcoming indoor pickleball and community space for all ages and skill levels,” said general manager Amy Ricciardi, who added that pickleball is for everyone.

“[Pickleball] is also one of the few sports where teens play alongside seniors, and men and women regularly compete together. People become addicted because of the new challenge, the fun and friendships that pickleball provides to their life!”