WHEN Craig Taylor first picked up a pickleball paddle in September last year, he never imagined it would take over his life, or take him and his daughter Ash around Queensland chasing medals.
“I went along with a mate to a Friday night social session, and I just loved it straight away,” Craig said.
“The next week he couldn’t make it, but I went anyway, and before I knew it, I was playing nearly every night of the week.”
What began as a casual Friday night outing soon grew into a daily passion.
Craig discovered sessions at the Hervey Bay PCYC during the day, competitive fixtures mid-week, and tournaments across the state.
Some days he was playing up to five hours, a level of dedication that quickly paid off.
“It’s really easy to learn but hard to master. Once you get into the strategy and shot selection, that’s when the game really hooks you in.”
Craig’s devotion to pickleball is about more than sport.
Early in 2024, he suffered a stroke, a frightening experience that left him off balance and necessitated a stay in hospital with rehabilitation.
Though he made a full recovery, the episode changed the way he looked at life.
“I went back to work quite quickly, but I wasn’t myself. I was frustrated, getting angry at little things, and I knew that wasn’t good for me or the people around me.”
Taking time out gave him the space to recover both physically and mentally.
That’s when pickleball appeared as the perfect mix of social connection, light physical exertion, and mental challenge.
“Getting out of the house and finding a new community through pickleball gave me a fresh outlook. It has been a huge part of moving forward.”
One of the greatest rewards has been sharing the game with his daughter, Ash. A former junior tennis player, she was instantly hooked when Craig introduced her.
"She gave me a birthday card with a picture of us playing pickleball, and on the back she had put an old photo of me teaching her tennis 15 years ago. That really brought it full circle.”
The pair now compete together in mixed doubles, with some impressive results.
They have won silver medals at tournaments in Hervey Bay and Yeppoon, often going head-to-head with much younger opponents.
“In mixed doubles I drop down to the 19+ category with Ash, who is only 21. It has been amazing to win medals together; that’s something pretty special as a father and daughter.”
Pickleball has also taken Craig well beyond Hervey Bay. He has played tournaments in Redcliffe, Noosa, Bundaberg, and on the Gold Coast, and recently earned selection for the Queensland Masters team.
“Over twelve weeks we played a round robin at our local club. The top players went on to regionals, then to state trials at Redcliffe. From there they picked the top four men and top four women to represent Queensland at the nationals. I was lucky enough to make the team.”
He will now line up against the best players from Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia at the Australian Masters Championships, before backing up for the Australian Pickleball Championships, where more than 1,100 players are expected.
Craig’s experience mirrors a much larger trend.
Once seen as a quirky mash-up of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is now booming worldwide.
In Australia, Pickleball Australia Association membership has grown from just a few hundred players in 2018 to more than 25,000 registered participants in 2024.
Clubs are springing up across the country, with traditional tennis centres increasingly converting under-used courts into pickleball venues.
The appeal is simple with the sport being easy on the body, easy to pick up, and highly social. As Craig puts it, “Anyone can turn up to a social session, hire a paddle, and within a few minutes be in a game. That’s how you get addicted.”
For those curious about giving it a try, Craig’s recommendation is straightforward.
“Just come along to a social session on Friday nights at six or Sunday afternoons are a great start. You will be welcomed in, shown how to play, and you will meet people straight away. It’s fun, it’s accessible, and it can change your outlook.”
For Craig and Ash Taylor, pickleball is more than a pastime.
It’s a pathway back to health, a bridge between generations, and a chance to compete together on the state and national stage.
“Winning medals is great, but the real win is playing alongside my daughter and enjoying every moment of it.”
