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Pickleball has become ubiquitous. The fast-paced, low-impact sport has taken over court spaces at parks, gyms and other recreational facilities, and more newbies are giving this game a chance every day.
The Downtown Las Vegas hub for pickleball is the Plaza Hotel & Casino, which has 13 rooftop courts where locals get a discount on fees and free beginner’s classes are taught every Saturday at 9 a.m. The Plaza just hosted its first three-day Nike Pickleball Camp this past week.
Local pro Steve Cole leads those classes and has been participating in the sport for 11 years. He shared some tips with the Weekly for those interested in joining the craze and hitting the courts.
Treat your feet well
There are “pickleball shoes,” athletic shoes marketed specifically for pickleball, but tennis shoes or other lightweight cross trainers will also provide the cushioning, support and shock absorption needed to play the game and avoid injury. Just make sure you’re wearing court shoes and not a leftover pair of sneakers. “You’ll want to treat it like the sport it is to avoid injuries in the beginning,” says Cole.
You don’t need to spend a lot on gear
Some beginners may need to invest in athletic eyewear, but other than court shoes and comfortable, breathable attire, all you’ll need is a paddle and balls. “The investment is for the most part very inexpensive compared to other sports,” Cole says. “You can get a good $50 starter paddle and balls are relatively inexpensive. That [low cost] is another good aspect of the game.”
Get comfortable on the court
The classes at the Plaza focus on how to move within the court, which comes easily to anyone with racquet sports experience but also quickly to rookies, Cole explains. “It’s not a lot of running, just good court positioning. There’s lateral movement but your forward movement is no more than 15 feet. The baseline is 22 feet, so when you’re playing doubles, it’s only 10 feet across that you’re covering.” The pickleball court’s kitchen, nearest the net, is a zone where players cannot volley the ball, so that space reduces the size of the court significantly; it’s already one and a half times smaller than a tennis court.
Playing is the best way to learn
The flow of the game will feel familiar and natural to most beginners, but pickleball scoring is a bit different from other sports. You can only win points on your serve, and the first team to 11 wins but you must win by two. Classes like those at the Plaza go a long way in taking the intimidation factor out of trying something new. “When you get started and you don’t know how to play, especially if you’re going out to public courts against experienced players, it can be a little intimidating,” Cole says. “That’s why we want you to get comfortable first with the rules, a little strategy and court awareness, how to hit the ball.”
There’s a reason it has become so popular so fast
The social aspect of pickleball is the engine that has driven it to 311% growth in the last three years, as documented by a recent Sports & Fitness Industry Association report. There are now more than 16,000 places to play across the U.S., and new or coming-soon facilities in the Las Vegas Valley like Chicken N Pickle, The Picklr and Electric Pickle. “If you talk to your neighbors, co-workers and relatives, somebody you know is playing pickleball,” Cole says. “The reasons why so many people are coming to our sport is it’s a very easy game to learn, it’s low impact so any age group can play, and it’s just very enjoyable, social and interactive.”
A few places to play
Plaza Hotel & Casino 1 N. Main St., daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m., plazahotelcasino.com.
Sunset Park Pickleball Complex 2601 E. Sunset Road, daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m., clarkcountynv.gov.
Vegas Indoor Pickleball 7575 W. Sunset Road #110, daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m., vegasindoorpickleball.com.
Durango Hills Park 3521 N. Durango Drive, daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m., lasvegasnevada.gov.
The Picklr Henderson 1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m., thepicklr.com.
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