After a few months of play and paying closer attention to heart rate and recovery, I dig into whether pickleball is a legitimate workout or just a fun social hour, covering its interval-style cardio load, balance and reflex benefits, common injury pitfalls, and how it stacks up against walking, swimming, and cycling.
I also share a personal lesson from a strained calf to make the case that a proper warm-up and gradual buildup are essential, even for a sport with a "low impact" reputation.
👉 WANT TO KNOW IF PICKLEBALL IS REALLY A WORKOUT?