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54 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2019 | HISTORY OF PADDLE TENNIS: According to the Carolina Paddle Tennis Association, Reverend Frank Peter Beal created the sport of paddle tennis in 1898. He saw paddle tennis as an activity for children and as a means for them to learn to play tennis. His initial paddle tennis court was 18' x 39,' exactly one-half the size of a regulation tennis court. Players used a sponge-rubber ball and a wooden paddle. The much smaller court and the short-handled paddle allowed children to pick-up the game quickly; as a result, they enjoyed playing while attaining mastery of a racquet sport that prepared them to play tennis. Reverend Beal then moved to New York City in 1921, and the following year the first paddle tennis tournament was held. During this time, adults began playing the sport and enjoyed how easy and exhilarating it was to play. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, paddle tennis grew in popularity and spread to other cities, such as Los Angeles. By the late 1950s the game's popularity had grown, and in 1961 the official paddle tennis court was lengthened by three feet on each end in order to make it 20' x 50' thus creating the "Classic POP" tennis court size. At this time the sponge- rubber ball was replaced with a decompressed tennis ball, the net was lowered, the overhand serve was also eliminated and only one underhand serve was allowed. These changes were accepted by both the East and West Coast Paddle Tennis Associations and are still in effect today for "Classic POP." REBRANDING: While the popularity of the game progressed, confusion with the name arose. The term "paddle" tennis differed drastically per geographic region and has since been confused with sports other than the original game, such as ping pong, platform paddle tennis, paddle ball, beach tennis, pickleball, or more recently paddle. In 2015 an integral group of trailblazers coined the unique name POP Tennis. At last, the spirit, popularity and sound of our sport is portrayed through its namesake and re-brand. In 2016 POP Tennis was adapted by the United States Tennis Association. POP Tennis is sweeping the nation in both public and private facilities. The national tour has grown to multiple cities and is sponsored by leading sports manufacturers. Want to give it a try? Our scheduled days of play are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 am. We also play on Sunday mornings at 8. Demo paddles are available. Come out and see what it's all about, or call Jeanne at (951) 845- 8817 or Suzanne at (951) 205-9588 for more info.

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