Watching Portland Parks and Rec Staff Try to Play Pickleball Is Hilarious

Portland Parks and Rec staff took to the newly renovated tennis and pickleball complex at Talbot Elementary to test out the new courts. The courts were fine, but the staff's skills weren't so great.

What's Pickleball?

Think of pickleball as one part tennis, one part ping pong, played on a court about the size of a badminton court. You have small rackets that you use to hit a ball with holes in it, kind of like a wiffleball.

The game was invented in 1965 in Washington State, but took off nationwide in the past 10 years or so.

New Pickleball Courts in Portland

The newly renovated tennis and pickleball complex at Talbot Elementary School at 1600 Forest Avenue is now open to the public with six dedicated pickleball courts, a tennis court, and lots of parking at the school. Some of the Portland Rec staff decided to give pickleball a shot.

Staff members Ethan and Tater grabbed their rackets and tried their best. Here's what Portland Parks and Rec had to say about these two's performance:

The facility is ready for the public, even if we weren’t. Despite an avalanche of excuses (wind, sun, mysterious pickleball gremlins…), the staff took their defeat with grace, humor, and a mental note to research "how to play pickleball" later. Swing by and test your skills-just don’t take any tips from Ethan and Tater if you want to win. Riverton Community Courts at Talbot School are now open!

Ethan and Tater

I don't know which is which, but they both have the classic Maine accent and lack a lot of skill. This video is appropriately titled, "How Not to Play Pickleball."  That lack of skill turned out to be hilarious!