The hottest sport in the UK right now? It’s darts, no question. Should Luke Littler want to switch up his 2025 training program, there’s a good chance that pickleball will make it into the mix.
Already the fastest-growing sport in the US with an estimated five million players including the likes of George Clooney, Billie Eilish and LeBron James, this formerly geriatric pastime is increasingly becoming a big deal on British shores. Last year, saw the first European Pickleball Team Championships hosted in Southampton, while governing body Pickleball England saw a 65 per cent spike in membership in 2024. If you too are minded to pick up a paddle and plastic ball once temperatures step above freezing, then Apple’s new Fitness+ pickleball training program is as good a place as any to get started.
Announced as part of a new suite of upgrades for the at-home workout subscription service, the ‘Strength, Endurance, and Agility for Pickleball program’ is hosted by former world No. 1 Catherine Parenteau and designed to get you in shape for the sport’s rapid-fire rigours. What if your New Year’s resolution is to replace Jack Draper as Britain’s best hope for Wimbledon? You’ll be in good hands whether your preferred racquet sport is tennis, squash or badminton.
“Pickleball keeps you on your toes with quick bursts of movement and fast reaction times,” says Kim Ngo, Apple Fitness+ trainer. “With HIIT and Strength workouts inspired by the game, this program helps you move confidently, prevent injury, and play your best.”
Strava x Apple Fitness+
Although pickleball is the headline addition from a whole suite of Fitness+ updates that will drop on the service come Monday 6 January, there’s plenty more for new and existing subscribers to dig into. A three-week strength program targeting every major muscle group should prove handy for those getting back to grips with their gym’s weights room, while ‘Yoga Peak Poses’ is designed to improve your form around tough-to-master poses such as Twisted Hand to Big Toe and Crow (IYKYK). Since January is also peak SAD season, an ‘Introduction to Breath Meditation’ program will debut for anyone looking to manage stress and improve their mindfulness.
Perhaps the most significant upgrade for long-time runners and cyclists who use Fitness+ to supplement their training is the platform’s enhanced Strava integration. Members will be able to share their Fitness+ workouts to Strava alongside the all-important metrics associated with it, while a free Fitness+ trial of up to three months is available for new and existing Strava subscribers.
How to use Apple Fitness+
Apple Fitness+ has changed quite a bit since its launch four years ago. Case in point, you no longer need an Apple Watch to access its library of 6,500 workouts and meditations – an iPhone will do the trick on its own. If you are minded to give its archive of 12 workout types (including HIIT, kickboxing and strength) a try, new subscribers are entitled to a free trial of up to three months. Sticking with the service afterwards will cost you either £9.99 per month or £79.99 annually.
Truthfully, Apple Fitness+ still works best with a smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 10, but it’s a great way for those who are already locked into the Apple-verse to kickstart their workout goals or grab a refresher without splurging big on ClassPass or a new Peloton Bike+ that inevitably spends most of its life as a glorified clothes horse.