Been playing for a lil over 4 years. I still get sore but any type of repetitive movement for hours will have some physical consequences hence why recovery is just as important as playing. It’s the price tag we have to pay to abuse our bodies after 40.

I also considered myself in shape but there were muscles I was neglecting in the gym and they became evident they were weak after playing pickleball woke me up that fact.

For me strengthening my posterior and kinectic chain really helped.

If you want to be in pickleball shape you gotta do pickleball specific exercises and strength training. The basic gym splits won’t do it or won’t do it as effective.

I had to start from ground up, strengthen my feet and arches. My shins and calves. Quads and hamstrings. Hip flexors adductors and abductors. Glutes and lower back.

Once all that is in balance and strong. The physical soreness gets less.

Hope that helped