Meet Kim and Vicky Smith, the Monmouth mavens of pickleball

By LiliAnn Paras

Pickleball is everywhere. The phenomenon has captured casual players and fierce competitors alike, young and old and all ages in between. Courts pop up in public parks, private clubs, and in more than a few driveways. Celebrities are hooked, tennis pros are converting, pickleball influencers are a thing, and ambassadors promote the sport. Pickleball is played in schools, at charity events, and is featured in advertisements. Started in 1965 by three fathers to occupy their children, the sport has swept the country, media, and of course, Monmouth County. What accounts for this popularity? The rules are simple, the equipment is minimal, and most importantly, it is a lot of fun! 

If you are a player in Monmouth, chances are good that you had the pleasure of meeting Kim and Vicky Smith, the well-known and well-liked mother-daughter duo. They each have deep roots in the area. Kim lives in Fair Haven with her husband, Dave, in the same house where they raised their three children. Vicky, her daughter, resides in Atlantic Highlands with husband Joe, their two young boys, Joey and Cooper, and their two energetic dogs.

Kim and Vicky work together at The Fort Athletic Club. They also host recreational clinics in various towns, organize tournaments and charity events, and can be found playing for fun at area venues. They travel to play, too, and recently returned from the US Open tournament in Naples, Florida, where Vicky competed and won gold in her age group and division.

It is no wonder one of their favorite sayings is, “I don’t always play pickleball… Oh wait yes I do.”

CM had the pleasure to hear how it all began for the Smiths and to learn their views on this very popular sport.

CM: How did you get involved in playing pickleball?

Vicky (V): My mother discovered pickleball through an article in an airplane magazine. She looked for local opportunities, eventually becoming an instructor and ambassador for the sport. She was the first to get hooked, and soon got our family involved. Initially, I played just to humor her on Mother’s Day and her birthday, but soon realized if I wanted to spend time together, I needed to start playing more! It took a few tries before I got hooked myself.  Now we get to work and play together and get to see each other all the time. What started as a seemingly silly game soon became a passion and a career!  

CM: We learned you even were a pickleball ambassador in Antiqua!

K: Ambassadors promote the sport, do a lot of volunteering, and help to grow the pickleball community wherever we can. I went on vacation in Antigua and ended up doing a free clinic to teach the resort activity coordinators ‘How to Teach Pickleball.’

CM: What has changed since you began?

K: In 2016, as an ambassador, I introduced the sport at New Shrewsbury and Colts Neck Racquet Club by offering free clinics. Back then all the tennis courts had to be taped every time we went to play, and all the nets had to put together and broken down each time.  It was a lot of work and too much for one person, so I, along with some of my pickleball buddies, formed Monmouth Pickleball Club to help in order to have open plays and play as a larger group. It is rewarding to go back to those clubs now and to see so many pickleball players along with so many new faces.

CM: What are some of the advantages of playing pickleball?

K & V: Great aspects of pickleball are its portability and health benefits. Whenever we travel, we bring our sneakers and paddles and use an app called “Pickleheads” to find local places to play, which is a fun way to meet new people and get some exercise. We’ve played in California, South Carolina, Vermont, New York, Florida, Antigua, and the Cayman Islands.

It’s also gratifying to witness the health benefits. We have seen people lose weight, lower their cholesterol and get off insulin. It’s also helped people with depression.  This past year, the US Surgeon General recommended pickleball to combat the public health crises of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. 

CM: Has anything surprised you about the sport and the players?

K & V: An interesting phenomenon is the formation of friendships and relationships. We've even seen couples who met on the courts end up having pickleball-themed weddings!

What’s also surprising is how inclusive pickleball is; anyone can play, regardless of athletic ability, age, or background. One of the best female players in the world is just17 years old and started playing professionally at age 12. This diversity and accessibility make pickleball such a unique and enjoyable sport.

CM: What changes in the sport/players have you noticed?

K & V: The style of the game is constantly evolving, and it’s fascinating to watch as professional athletes continue to improve. The game used to focus more on slowing down the pace and soft shots, but now it involves more speed and power. Many tennis professionals are transitioning to pickleball, bringing their advanced skill sets. Watching pro pickleball today, you’ll see long, strategic points that resemble a game of chess with a cardio workout.

CM: What do you think are the biggest misperceptions about pickleball?

K & V: A major misperception is that pickleball is a brand-new sport, but it has actually been around since 1965. Another common misconception is that it’s a sport for older people. While many retired individuals do play, pickleball is gaining popularity across all age groups. More people in their 30s and younger are getting involved, and many colleges now have teams.  Children are also playing it in gym class.

CM: What have you found most rewarding about your involvement?

K & V: The friendships we’ve seen develop—and those we’ve developed ourselves—have been overwhelming. Our pickleball friends are like family. We love seeing groups of players, who started as strangers a few years ago, still getting together to play and even spending time together outside of pickleball. We know a group of about 20 women who met playing at The Fort Athletic Club and recently took a pickleball “girls’ trip” to Mexico to play and take a clinic together. It’s also incredibly rewarding to see how the sport positively changes lives. We've taught people who moved here from across the country and struggled to meet others. Now, through pickleball, they’ve found a new group of friends. The fantastic team of instructors and coaches, and players that we get to work with every day are also some of the best parts for us. 

CM: And the most frustrating?

K & V: The shortage of courts, although more are being added all the time.  On many weekends at some of the local pickleball courts we will have 40 to 50 people waiting to play!  It is also frustrating when there are courts, but towns do not supply enough open play time to meet the demands of all the players out there. The spirit of the sport is that everyone plays with each other in large groups. Some towns are doing a great job, but others need to step up and supply the court time needed for the growth of the sport.  

CM: How do you balance playing for fun and playing competitively?

K & V: We both love a good competitive match, but maintaining a positive attitude and mindset ensures that every game is enjoyable. The primary goal is to have fun and get some exercise. We also love introducing new players to the sport, so it’s important to play games with people of all skill levels. 

CM: What advice do you have for someone who wants to get involved in pickleball?

K & V: Just do it! Find an intro clinic and get started. It’s so much fun, and you’ll be glad you did!

CM: What do you enjoy doing other than pickleball?

K & V: We love spending time with our families. (Kim and her husband have five grandchildren under four years old.) We enjoy going to the beach, taking boat rides, reading, and traveling.

CM:  Is there anything else you want readers to know?

K & V: Pickleball can be a great way to network and host team-building events. One of our favorite things to do at The Fort is to run pickleball networking or company team-building events. Instead of another boring work happyhour outing, why not host a work pickleball event (and then happy hour)?