One court. Two games. White lines outline the tennis court; baby-blue lines indicate pickleball boundaries.

That's the new arrangement for two tennis courts inside Twin Falls' Harmon Park, thanks to recent efforts by the Twin Falls Pickleball Club.

The club is a loosely organized group of about 16 pickleball players. Pickleball is a hybrid sport of sorts that mixes tennis, racquetball, badminton and ping-pong into a quick-paced game. Winning isn't dependent on strength and speed, but on shot placement and game strategy.

Pickleball is great exercise; physical benefits include increased hand-eye coordination, balance and range of motion.

The game is easily integrated onto the tennis court because the pickleball court is similar to its cousin game but smaller.

"We used the blue color because it's not in the same color spectrum as the white lines so tennis players won't get caught looking at our lines and pickleball players will be able to easily discern their lines," said club member Sharon Sacco of Twin Falls.

The 68-year-old first picked up pickleball a couple of years ago after seeing the game played in St. George, Utah, where Sacco and her husband spend their winters.

"It looked like something I could do," she said. "But there was only one pickleball group there, in a gated community. Naturally, they didn't invite us in to play, so a bunch of us started our own group and we were up to 47 members in four months."

Sacco said the Twin Falls group is growing as well. Players come from all over the valley, including Hagerman - where a weekly pickleball get-together was started earlier this summer by couple Gary and Jeri Robbins.

Unfortunately, said Gary Robbins, not enough players steadily showed up, so the couple joined the Twin Falls club which meets three times a week.

"It just didn't catch on enough," he said.

Jim Boyle, who picked up pickleball in Hagerman, now comes to Twin Falls as well.

"Well, my game is a lot better," said the 60-year-old Hagerman resident. "They say pickleball is addicting and it is. I do it for the exercise because I don't know I'm exercising because the game is so much fun."

With the recent court conversion the club hopes to grow more. Sacco said they couldn't have painted the lines without the support of the city and the Twin Falls branch of the U.S. Tennis Association.

"We converted a court at the Pierce Street tennis courts in June, and every time we practice someone new shows up to play," Sacco said. "Hopefully, now that we have these two additional courts we'll draw more players. We want people to know that this game isn't just for older people but for every age, and anyone is welcome to join us."

City Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Bowyer said allowing pickleball enthusiasts to paint the courts was simply to see the facilities used more.

"Hardly anyone was playing tennis at Pierce Street," Bowyer said.

Blair Koch may be reached at 208-316-2607 or blairkoch@gmail.com.

Let's play pickleball The Twin Falls Pickleball Club meets at 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. Fridays at Harmon Park in Twin Falls. The club charges no dues. By meeting up with the club, newbies can try the game before buying the paddle and balls necessary for play. You can order equipment through the club, which purchases items in bulk through the USA Pickleball Association. A paddle costs around $40, and balls are $5 for three. Information: Sharon Sacco, 736-2265.