OT: How do you old guys stay in competitive shape?

[the Q]

Nutrition and minimizing alcohol consumption are going to be just as big for staying in shape as your workouts, but I would definitely recommend resistance training (weights or bands) and I’m loving yoga for my flexibility and core.

 

[uconnfan68]

Racquetball is awesome. So much fun, but with all the cutting and quick start/stops I’m amazed it’s an “old” persons game.

Played golf yesterday with 2 pickle ball enthusiasts... 1 was 71, and other was 80. I never heard of it, but they say it’s a combination of ping pong and badminton. I have zero intention of learning any more about it. I’d be happy if I could walk 18 holes again.

 

[storrsroars]

Played golf yesterday with 2 pickle ball enthusiasts... 1 was 71, and other was 80. I never heard of it, but they say it’s a combination of ping pong and badminton. I have zero intention of learning any more about it. I’d be happy if I could walk 18 holes again.

I know a few people who play it and enjoy it. I was curious and actually found a pickleball tournament on some cable channel and watched for a bit. It seemed to me that it was all volley right back at the opponents and not much else. The court was small so no real oppty for drop shots or lobs over opponents head. Just volleys. And volleys. And more volleys. It looked incredibly dull. But probably good for old folks as doesn't seem there's much running about.

Anyway, platform tennis seemed much more fun.

 

[superjohn]

I know a few people who play it and enjoy it. I was curious and actually found a pickleball tournament on some cable channel and watched for a bit. It seemed to me that it was all volley right back at the opponents and not much else. The court was small so no real oppty for drop shots or lobs over opponents head. Just volleys. And volleys. And more volleys. It looked incredibly dull. But probably good for old folks as doesn't seem there's much running about.

Anyway, platform tennis seemed much more fun.

It seems like a bad remake of badminton and paddle tennis. It's like they found a way to combine ping pong, paddle, and badminton into something that's worse than all of them.

 

[mauconnfan]

Played golf yesterday with 2 pickle ball enthusiasts... 1 was 71, and other was 80. I never heard of it, but they say it’s a combination of ping pong and badminton. I have zero intention of learning any more about it. I’d be happy if I could walk 18 holes again.

Well pickle used to be fun as a young kid playing baseball and only having 3 kids around.......it was exercise for sure and would be more than I could bargain for now. I can walk 18 holes with a caddie who can handle a cooler and my already heavy bag LOL....I know the feeling 68 but also on me to change some of it.

 

[Dogdeacon]

It seems like a bad remake of badminton and paddle tennis. It's like they found a way to combine ping pong, paddle, and badminton into something that's worse than all of them.

I played it on the Vineyard this summer, there was a nice group of older folks that were very welcoming to younger couples and even my 21yr old nephew. It is definitely more a social game and of course the older you get there is less movement. But I was able to run down balls and the quick reflexes at the net was fun. It is more a social game and I'd agree with the naysayers it takes a deep backseat to tennis, racquetball, squash, paddle-tennis, but more fun than Ping-Pong - maybe closest more familiar sport to people is badminton (I'd rate slightly above pickle ball).

 

[HuskyHawk]

Racquetball is awesome. So much fun, but with all the cutting and quick start/stops I’m amazed it’s an “old” persons game.

I played a lot of racquetball as a teenager back in the 80's. But the courts are all gone now. I don't even know where they have them anymore. It was great exercise, better than anything I've done other than beach volleyball. I wold worry about my knee holding up.

Starting a very restricted diet today, for the next 3 weeks. Might resume it after my short trip to New Orleans.

 

[storrsroars]

Racquetball is awesome. So much fun, but with all the cutting and quick start/stops I’m amazed it’s an “old” persons game.

I always thought squash was the old guy's version or racquetball. Longer rackets, so less reaching. But I've always been intrigued that more players don't get whacked in the head by squash racquets.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I always thought squash was the old guy's version or racquetball. Longer rackets, so less reaching. But I've always been intrigued that more players don't get whacked in the head by squash racquets.

Maybe less 'running', but squash has equal amounts of quickness necessary and is much more shot-making and strategic. No differential in the workout between the two I'd say. I liked squash better when I played briefly (a couple summers filled-in for away-at-Cape summer memberships) but I've only dabbled in both. Squash has clearly over-taken racquetball so I'm sure there are squash players that can better articulate why than I can. Both sports in their heyday are/were plenty popular in working 25-55+ set so I don't think there is any clear age differential in either the sports themselves or who plays them.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I recently took a friend to the park with a Frisbie….he said, this is going to be nothing. 1/2 hour later, he said I have had enough.

 

[the Q]

I played a lot of racquetball as a teenager back in the 80's. But the courts are all gone now. I don't even know where they have them anymore. It was great exercise, better than anything I've done other than beach volleyball. I wold worry about my knee holding up.

Starting a very restricted diet today, for the next 3 weeks. Might resume it after my short trip to New Orleans.

Honestly man, unless you are trying to do legit competitions, just do an 80/20 for your diet and you’ll be fine.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Honestly man, unless you are trying to do legit competitions, just do an 80/20 for your diet and you’ll be fine.

Has never worked for me in over 30 years of trying. I pretty much need a very rigid diet or I will go off of it. Once I drop the pounds, I have some plans for keeping them off. But if I don't track calories every day I gain.