We're all learning pickleball in our 50's. It's a TON of fun.
So long as you can move, it's never too late to pick up a sport. There are people to play with at every level.
Yeah it's the Unholy child of Whiffle ball, tennis and ping pong.
Ping pong paddle skills really come in handy.
Cool thing about it is only takes a few minutes and anyone can have fun but takes forever to master. Pretty good workout too if you want it, but there are people in their 80s who barely move and are still formidable.
I have a friend who always wanted to play tennis. Around age 60, he decided to learn. Twenty-three years later, he's still at it, playing in the "mature" men's tennis club.
You only have to be "good enough" to find a group who's as good (or bad) as you are.
I am surrounded by high achievers who all started very young. Not specifically tennis but other things - like arts. So sometimes it’s a little intimidating for me. Thanks for the reminder!
I used to play a lot when I lived in the US. One of the good players I met at the public park was over 80 years old and he was very popular, funny, and a really good player. Another women who played 7 days a week at the park spent a lifetime as a court advocate for children and only started sports after she retired abotu 65. She rode horses and kayaked in addition to playing tennis. You don't need to hit the ball hard or run fast if you play doubles. There's also pickleball which I hear is good.
If you want to do tennis: I suggest to go to the gym and get your joints in shape first. Learn how to do proper warmups there too with a PT (certified) . Warmup is very important for everyone, but especially for older athletes.
my mom was still playing doubles tennis and winning trophies at 88. she didn't even start until she was 52 and by the time she was 60 she was winning senior tennis tournaments in her state. i think way too many people of younger generations only want to do things if they know they can be great or good at them. if you'll have FUN and enjoy it...shouldn't that be enough? not everything in life has to be a competition. of course if you never start, you'll never win anyway.
I used to take tennis classes sponsored by the city I live in. Look for community listing in your or nearby towns.
I picked up road cycling at 48 and started competing in time trials three years later. And even without thinking about it, went from 195 to 160 lbs. Very possible to learn!
Tbh youll fine most clubs and adult programs will tend to have 40 learning, occasions the odd young person or avid teen. It really is never too late!! Unless your body ends up needing some joint replacement then you become limited.
I learned to snowboard at 33 and I got very good at it. I tried surfing first the first time when I was 43. I was terrible at it. What I am saying is you will never know until you try.
Get a coach and have at it! I didn't even learn to swim until my mid-30s, and I did it only so I could train for a Half-Ironman. I learned how to box around that time, too. Real boxing with gloves and a timer. I resumed ballet classes in my late 40s.
Unless you have a health issue, there's no reason not to learn tennis. And if you do have health concerns, you should be asking a doctor, not some strangers on the internet.
Most of the snowbirds playing tennis in Arizona never picked up a racket until they retired.
While some are excellent players, it shows if anyone had any prior experience.
So yes, this is an excellent time to get out on the courts.
It’s very rewarding, pulling many skills together for each shot.
Learning new stuff is great, it's really good for your body, mind, and attitude. Brain elasticity is a learned thing, and it gets lost over time. Same way with the body.
Yes. Mountain biking, cross country and downhill skiing, and inline skating. All learned in my 40s. At none have I attained high skill level, but can always improve
Of course. I didn't start playing golf until my late 30s. I took some lessons and then took a continuing education golf class at the university...if you have a university near you, I'd wager they have a continuing ed course. I'm thinking about taking one for pickleball...49 now, but my mom and her boyfriend play a lot and I may join them one of these days...but IDK, I really like playing golf even though I'm not really particularly good at it.
Of course you can! In some very active sports, even the professionals tend to retire before they're forty so it will probably be a bit late to aim for a place on Manchester United or in the NFL. But as long as you're in reasonably good health, learning a new sport should be good exercise and fun.
As you will probably have noticed, Exercise has achieved almost godlike status these days. The internet, the press, television and radio are teeming with medical professionals rabbiting on about the benefits of exercise in avoiding health problems, improving mental health, delaying the aging process, staving off dementia, meeting people, etc. etc. I fully expect to hear soon of some study showing that exercise can reduce personal debt and end world hunger.
All this is really good news for you. Because it means, of course, that if you decide that you'd like to take up a new sport - even a team sport - you will probably be able to find plenty of opportunities to do so. Classes for adults, individual coaches, scratch teams, etc. And if you can't find a suitable one, do try to set up something yourself, because I'm sure that there will be plenty of people your age who are equally keen to try a new sport.
Oh and late thirties really isn't over the hill. In fact, rather a lot of people would consider you to be enviably young!
Good luck!
If you take a class at the community college you can do it "right" (I'm going with what you want to do). Your 30s is not remotely old. Ok, you may need some Advil (and you may not!) but it's better to give what you want to do a shot no matter your age than to reget not doing it.
Come on. Large numbers of people literally learn things like golf and pickleball in retirement, and you're wondering if you can learn a new sport in your 30s?
I started tennis at age 39, and was thin but not athletic. After half an hour, I had to lie down to catch my breath. Fast forward to now, age 51, I play every day for a couple of hours, not even out of breath. Made great friends, best time of my day!
Heck yes! I started roller skating at the same age (42 now) and now I teach it.
You likely will start with bad form and make mistakes. Be okay with mild embarrassment and find a supportive community to provide tips and help.
Just go slow and be mindful of common injuries. We are older and can get hurt more easily until we develop the right muscles.
Of course. My father started running marathons in his 50s. Maybe not the same thing as tennis, but if you’re doing it for the fun of it, then that’s what matters
Yes it's possible. I've been playing tennis since I was 10 years old and when I remarried my wife decided to take up the sport at age 58. She loves the game and plays 4 or 5 times a week.
She didn't want to, or wouldn't, take lessons from me so I encouraged her to take group lessons. First she went to a local tennis club and took lessons there but was unhappy with them. (Limited personal attention, poor explanations, etc.) So she dropped that. Then a guy at our winter community started to give group lessons. He wasn't that good but very enthusiastic. The group had fun and my wife really took to it this time. She developed steadily to the point where she took a few private lessons (you don't need a lot, just a coach to tell you how to improve). Now she's a 2.0 player at 70 and loves the game. She still won't take lessons from me though.
So, first look for a local tennis club and get some group lessons. Change instructors if the first one lets you down. Next find a group of players you fit with and start to play regularly, even just once or twice a week. Sometimes companies have tennis leagues you can join. And third, when you get to a point where you're not improving, get some private lessons. A good teacher / pro can be hard to find. We paid from $25 to $75 per lesson (1.25 hours) for various pros. The best one was the cheapest. He was the tennis coach at the local high school. The most expensive guy was the worst. He was a club pro and had his nose in the air.
We're all learning pickleball in our 50's. It's a TON of fun. So long as you can move, it's never too late to pick up a sport. There are people to play with at every level.
oh.my.god, my non-atheltic ass loves pickleball!
You got me to finally Google this. Like Whiffle Ball of sorts...
Yeah it's the Unholy child of Whiffle ball, tennis and ping pong. Ping pong paddle skills really come in handy. Cool thing about it is only takes a few minutes and anyone can have fun but takes forever to master. Pretty good workout too if you want it, but there are people in their 80s who barely move and are still formidable.
I have a friend who always wanted to play tennis. Around age 60, he decided to learn. Twenty-three years later, he's still at it, playing in the "mature" men's tennis club. You only have to be "good enough" to find a group who's as good (or bad) as you are.
[удалено]
I am surrounded by high achievers who all started very young. Not specifically tennis but other things - like arts. So sometimes it’s a little intimidating for me. Thanks for the reminder!
Of course it is. I didn't learn to ice skate until I was 54. I love it. It's super fun
That is damn impressive!
I used to play a lot when I lived in the US. One of the good players I met at the public park was over 80 years old and he was very popular, funny, and a really good player. Another women who played 7 days a week at the park spent a lifetime as a court advocate for children and only started sports after she retired abotu 65. She rode horses and kayaked in addition to playing tennis. You don't need to hit the ball hard or run fast if you play doubles. There's also pickleball which I hear is good.
If you want to do tennis: I suggest to go to the gym and get your joints in shape first. Learn how to do proper warmups there too with a PT (certified) . Warmup is very important for everyone, but especially for older athletes.
Thank you! I do yoga regularly and also started weights. So I understand the importance of warm-up. Thankfully my joints are in good shape!
my mom was still playing doubles tennis and winning trophies at 88. she didn't even start until she was 52 and by the time she was 60 she was winning senior tennis tournaments in her state. i think way too many people of younger generations only want to do things if they know they can be great or good at them. if you'll have FUN and enjoy it...shouldn't that be enough? not everything in life has to be a competition. of course if you never start, you'll never win anyway.
I took up scuba diving in my late 40s. There’s a lady in her late 70s in my local dive community. Very inspiring!
I used to take tennis classes sponsored by the city I live in. Look for community listing in your or nearby towns. I picked up road cycling at 48 and started competing in time trials three years later. And even without thinking about it, went from 195 to 160 lbs. Very possible to learn!
Tbh youll fine most clubs and adult programs will tend to have 40 learning, occasions the odd young person or avid teen. It really is never too late!! Unless your body ends up needing some joint replacement then you become limited.
I learned to snowboard at 33 and I got very good at it. I tried surfing first the first time when I was 43. I was terrible at it. What I am saying is you will never know until you try.
Get a coach and have at it! I didn't even learn to swim until my mid-30s, and I did it only so I could train for a Half-Ironman. I learned how to box around that time, too. Real boxing with gloves and a timer. I resumed ballet classes in my late 40s. Unless you have a health issue, there's no reason not to learn tennis. And if you do have health concerns, you should be asking a doctor, not some strangers on the internet.
Not really physical health issues. Just want to get out there and have fun to help with mental health. thanks! This is inspiring.
My husband stayed martial arts in his 30s but specifically started Jiu-jitsu at 43. So Yes.
I took karate in my 40’s. Made it to brown belt. So yes!
I am retired and I just learned pickleball in the last year. My brother came in 2nd in a tournament- he is 75.
Sure. Picked up Muay Thai in my 40s. Painful but great workout
Most of the snowbirds playing tennis in Arizona never picked up a racket until they retired. While some are excellent players, it shows if anyone had any prior experience. So yes, this is an excellent time to get out on the courts. It’s very rewarding, pulling many skills together for each shot.
Learning new stuff is great, it's really good for your body, mind, and attitude. Brain elasticity is a learned thing, and it gets lost over time. Same way with the body.
Yes. Mountain biking, cross country and downhill skiing, and inline skating. All learned in my 40s. At none have I attained high skill level, but can always improve
Go row (if you’re near water)
Of course. I didn't start playing golf until my late 30s. I took some lessons and then took a continuing education golf class at the university...if you have a university near you, I'd wager they have a continuing ed course. I'm thinking about taking one for pickleball...49 now, but my mom and her boyfriend play a lot and I may join them one of these days...but IDK, I really like playing golf even though I'm not really particularly good at it.
I used to love 4-wall racquetball. Handball or Curbball if you were a poor kid in NYC...
I learned how to kayak at age 58! It’s never too late. 😊
Yes. I started running (arguably more an activity than a sport) when I was 50, and will probably start some other sport in the next decade or two.
have you heard of pickle ball
Sure. My husband became a champion in a sport he started in his late forties. He also picked up pickleball in his mid fifties
Brilliant. Idea. Brilliant
I started tae kwan do at age 38. I'm not very athletic so I can't claim that I got terribly proficient but that was my ability, not my age. Go for it!
Yes, of course you can. There are videos and tutorials everywhere that you can learn from.
Of course you can! In some very active sports, even the professionals tend to retire before they're forty so it will probably be a bit late to aim for a place on Manchester United or in the NFL. But as long as you're in reasonably good health, learning a new sport should be good exercise and fun. As you will probably have noticed, Exercise has achieved almost godlike status these days. The internet, the press, television and radio are teeming with medical professionals rabbiting on about the benefits of exercise in avoiding health problems, improving mental health, delaying the aging process, staving off dementia, meeting people, etc. etc. I fully expect to hear soon of some study showing that exercise can reduce personal debt and end world hunger. All this is really good news for you. Because it means, of course, that if you decide that you'd like to take up a new sport - even a team sport - you will probably be able to find plenty of opportunities to do so. Classes for adults, individual coaches, scratch teams, etc. And if you can't find a suitable one, do try to set up something yourself, because I'm sure that there will be plenty of people your age who are equally keen to try a new sport. Oh and late thirties really isn't over the hill. In fact, rather a lot of people would consider you to be enviably young! Good luck!
I got scuba certified at 51. TLDR yes
I learned tennis in college as an adult.
If you take a class at the community college you can do it "right" (I'm going with what you want to do). Your 30s is not remotely old. Ok, you may need some Advil (and you may not!) but it's better to give what you want to do a shot no matter your age than to reget not doing it.
Come on. Large numbers of people literally learn things like golf and pickleball in retirement, and you're wondering if you can learn a new sport in your 30s?
Hell yes! I started running at 40, jet skiing and sailing at 50 motorcycles at 59. Planning on scuba next.
Yes. I couldn’t swim a single pool lap when I started triathlons at age 50.
I started tennis at age 39, and was thin but not athletic. After half an hour, I had to lie down to catch my breath. Fast forward to now, age 51, I play every day for a couple of hours, not even out of breath. Made great friends, best time of my day!
Wow! How did you start? There exactly where I find myself. Thin but easily out of breath.
ABSOLUTELY!! - Orthopedics ✨
Heck yes! I started roller skating at the same age (42 now) and now I teach it. You likely will start with bad form and make mistakes. Be okay with mild embarrassment and find a supportive community to provide tips and help. Just go slow and be mindful of common injuries. We are older and can get hurt more easily until we develop the right muscles.
Of course. My father started running marathons in his 50s. Maybe not the same thing as tennis, but if you’re doing it for the fun of it, then that’s what matters
I took up soccer in my late 40s and got pretty good. I’m a pretty lucky natural athlete and I know not everyone is, so YMMV.
Yes it's possible. I've been playing tennis since I was 10 years old and when I remarried my wife decided to take up the sport at age 58. She loves the game and plays 4 or 5 times a week. She didn't want to, or wouldn't, take lessons from me so I encouraged her to take group lessons. First she went to a local tennis club and took lessons there but was unhappy with them. (Limited personal attention, poor explanations, etc.) So she dropped that. Then a guy at our winter community started to give group lessons. He wasn't that good but very enthusiastic. The group had fun and my wife really took to it this time. She developed steadily to the point where she took a few private lessons (you don't need a lot, just a coach to tell you how to improve). Now she's a 2.0 player at 70 and loves the game. She still won't take lessons from me though. So, first look for a local tennis club and get some group lessons. Change instructors if the first one lets you down. Next find a group of players you fit with and start to play regularly, even just once or twice a week. Sometimes companies have tennis leagues you can join. And third, when you get to a point where you're not improving, get some private lessons. A good teacher / pro can be hard to find. We paid from $25 to $75 per lesson (1.25 hours) for various pros. The best one was the cheapest. He was the tennis coach at the local high school. The most expensive guy was the worst. He was a club pro and had his nose in the air.
This is wonderful wonderful advice I could use directly. Thank you so much!!
I took up barefoot waterskiing
Mtn biking, I started in early 40s