Billy Levi’s Pickleball Transition: Billy Levi, a tennis pro with 36 years of experience, now teaches pickleball at the Fox Creek Family Tennis Center in Lorain. Levi, who began playing tennis at the University of Charleston, has smoothly transitioned from tennis to pickleball, a sport that has grown significantly in popularity.
From Tennis to Pickleball
Levi explains that teaching pickleball was an easy shift. While the two sports share similarities, like volleys, ground strikes, and spins, there are key differences. Pickleball is played on a smaller court, and the serve is underhanded. Scoring rules also differ from tennis.
“The kitchen,” a 7.5-foot non-volley zone, is one of the unique aspects of pickleball. According to Levi, pickleball games are faster and more action-packed, with less downtime compared to tennis. “Pickleball is a very good workout,” he said, noting the increase in players wearing Fitbits and eye protection for safety.
Teaching and the Growing Popularity of Pickleball
Levi enjoys teaching pickleball because of how quickly new players can pick it up. He says it takes around 1.5 hours for beginners to get comfortable with the game. “Pickleball is a very easy sport to get into and learn,” Levi added.
Initially, Levi had no interest in pickleball when it first gained popularity in Northeast Ohio. However, after a fire at the North Ridge Racquet and Paddle Club in 2020 displaced players, Levi and the Fox Creek Family Tennis Center stepped in to host pickleball games. This event led to a surge in interest across Lorain County.
The Future of Pickleball in Lorain and Beyond
Pickleball’s growth in Lorain is evident, with the Fox Creek Family Tennis Center drawing players from a 20- to 30-mile radius. Levi believes that pickleball is continuing to outpace tennis, with parks across the country transforming into pickleball courts. He predicts that pickleball could become a high school sport in the next few years, a prediction supported by the one-day-a-week pickleball club in Amherst.
News in Brief: Billy Levi’s Pickleball Transition
Billy Levi, a tennis pro at the Fox Creek Family Tennis Center, now teaches pickleball, a sport growing rapidly in Lorain County. Levi finds it easy to teach due to its quick learning curve. He believes pickleball will continue to rise in popularity and may become a high school sport soon.
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