Lisa Tragna never planned on switching from a racquet a paddle but after making some adjustments to her game she discovered pickleball was even more enjoyable than tennis.
"Pickleball is truly an obsession," said Lisa. Her love of the game took her to summer camp at Total Tennis for pickleball and not tennis this time in Saugerties, NY.
"It was an intense two days of playing pickleball for four hours each day," said Lisa.
Lisa's love of racquet sports began hitting a tennis ball during her childhood on Roosevelt Island's lone tennis court.
"There weren't a lot of kids interested in tennis at that time," said Lisa. "I would hit the ball with my brother or against a handball wall."
She played tennis for a stint at Ramapo College and joined adult team tennis groups in West Milford and Ringwood in her mid-twenties.
In 2009, when she moved to Wyckoff she promptly joined Wyckoff Team Tennis followed in 2010 with Oakland Team Tennis.
"I play team tennis in Wyckoff one night a week and Oakland two nights," said Lisa.
In 2021, she was urged by fellow tennis player Andy Winston to give pickleball a try.
"He loaned me a paddle and told me to try it," said Lisa. "I foolishly thought how hard can this be when the court is only half the size of a tennis court."
Lisa said it wasn't easy.
"Andy told me not to take such a long swing and to slow it down," said Lisa. "I was disappointed with my initial performance but determined not to give up."
Lisa said she watched YouTube videos, headed to the courts to watch games, slowed her game down and "just stuck with the sport."
In addition to playing at Downtown Sports and Bergen Pickle Zone, Lisa plays outdoors on the Wyckoff tennis courts as well as on designated pickle ball courts at Finch Park in Ramsey.
"I use an app called Team Reach which has about 1,000 members," said Lisa. "People travel from all over Bergen and Rockland counties to play pickleball on the Wyckoff court. I have found games when visiting Fort Lauderdale using the Team Reach app."
The Wyckoff tennis courts have designated pickle ball times from 8 to 10 a.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. but always available to smaller groups between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"This summer I have noticed lots of college aged kids playing and I think it's great they are picking up the sport," said Lisa.
One aspect of pickleball that Lisa enjoys is the opportunity to meet and play against many different people.
"A tennis game is the same four people for 90 minutes and a typical pickleball game is between 15-20 minutes so you are constantly rotating partners," said Lisa. "Fellow pickleballers are inviting, patient, and always willing to give you a tip."
Lisa explains that true pickleballers will check the wind speed and bring towels and/or a life blower to dry off wet courts.
Lisa is happy "to make a racket" and encourage others to give pickleball a chance.
"You don't need experience on a racquet sport or any sport to play pickleball," said Lisa. "You can drop by for two games or three hours. It doesn't take much to stay for one more game."
Lisa offers this advice.
"You need to bend your knees and get low for the ball otherwise it will take a toll on your back."
While Lisa has made many new friends playing both tennis and pickleball she still hasn't been able to entice her children Joe and Lucas to regularly play.
"They will play a game or two with me on Mother's Day and my birthday," laughs Lisa. "Games played with my children are by far the best!"
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