I’M CONFUSED !!
By David Kjeldsen

Have you ever had something that you just find annoying and wish you could put your "two-cents" in to the powers that be? Well, I guess I can now that I have taken over PlatformTennisNews.com, I now have a forum to speak my piece.

I have been involved in our sport for over 25 years. I have been a player, albeit, even in the best of times, a marginally accomplished "C" player at best. I have been a retailer and I have been a manufacturer. I have been bestowed the sport's highest honor, induction to the Hall of Fame. Yet, at times I am really not sure what sport I love to play!

Okay, I know "my" sport uses a paddle and a ball. My sport has a net separating two halves of the court. And, my sport has 12 foot high "chicken-wire" walls that surround the court that I can play shots off of. And most courts I play on are raised off the ground. But, I am confused. What is the name of the sport I love so much?

Is it platform? Platform tennis? Paddle? Paddle tennis?

I know I am a life member of the American Platform Tennis Association so I guess I play "platform tennis". But when I speak to members of the association's board, every director says they love to play "paddle". When I talk to our current and former national champions, they too say they love to play “paddle”. Wouldn’t you think the members of the sport's governing body and our national champions would know the proper name for our sport?

If you travel to Saint Augustine, Florida or Venice Beach, California you can see a wonderful sport, often played on beach sand, which uses a paddle and an unpressurized tennis ball, has a net, and uses an under-hand serve to start play. They call this game "paddle tennis" and for short "paddle”. They never call it platform, platform tennis or paddle ball. I think they know the game they play.

I recently saw the solicitation video for the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation.  I was surprised how many speakers in the video said they love to play "paddle tennis". Are they seeking a contribution of my funds for the Paddle Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation? I’m confused.

As I go forward with the publication of this (I hope) monthly news letter, I will try my best to describe our sport as "platform" or "platform tennis" and the equipment we use a "paddle". If we hope to grow this wonderful sport it is imperative that we at least get the name correct and be consistent with its usage. Long live paddle…I mean platform!

what do you think? let me know! info@platformtennisnews.com

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