Pickleball 101?
 

I'm not a pickleball player, but my cousin is renting a place for a month this winter and wants to get involved. She is brand spanking new to the sport. Clearly a guest pass is required. Other than that, are there mandatory pre-playing classes or anything she has to do before showing up at a court to look for a game?

Does she know where to stand, does she know how to keep score, can she get into rally? If not she needs to understand game like any other sport, where to stand when receiving ball and serving, how to serve, and understand kitchen line rules. If she knows all that and can rally point then show up at open play times. So will say don’t come to my rec center cause we are too good. Duddlysquat, nobody in villages is TOO good.

She bought a paddle and has watched a few YouTube videos. No actual court time ever.

They offer an excellent PB 101 type intro course. Not sure how you sign up, but I'm sure if you inquire at one of the regional rec centers they can explain the process.

It used to be free, I would hope it still is, but if it is run by PCVG, there may be some fees after 10/1/25. Not sure.

Do a search on ….

Pickle ball 101 the villages fl

Lot of info

Showing up to open play having never played would be an issue. She should take the Intro to Pickleball class.

Intro to PB / Instructional Program | Pickleball Community Volunteer Group

Ok, best to find instruction as suggested below. PB101 in past fills up quickly and at most once week unless the changed there format, so may not be that easy to get instruction it she has limited time here? I hope she at least played some racket/paddle sport? If not going to easy picking PB up quickly. Racketball and tennis players quickly figure it out and don’t have go through hand, eye, paddle coronation. If she likes the game don’t let her get discouraged, with practice it will come..

Tell her to read this: Pickleball Rules Summary | USA Pickleball

And watch some more videos including ones that speak about the basics -- racquet grip, stance, where to position yourself on the court, how to serve. It's amazing how many people start the sport without knowing those basics.

Then, months or years later, they realize they have to re-work their game or try to improve despite their wonky habits. Start clean with good habits. Also, she doesn't need to go invest in shoes yet in case she decides she doesn't like the game. But, if she does like it, getting appropriate court shoes is very important. They are designed to allow you to move easily in all directions. Whereas running type shoes have heavy tread, you can't turn easily and have a good chance of falling or wrenching your knees when trying to turn..

As others have said Introrduction to Pickleball taught by PCVG is a good place to start. If she cannot get into that class there are many beginner times set aside at courts throughout TV. The time and locations are posted in rec news or in pickleballcommunity.com

I would not recommend open play if she has never played. It would not be fair to her or others,

You mentioned a guest pass - from the PCVG website (pickleballcommunity.com) info about their introductory courses:

"Only players with a Villages ID may register. Guests may attend and play only if there is space."

Agree, :BigApplause:

Only non-marking court shoes are allowed on PB and tennis courts in villages, I’m sure that includes platform tennis also. More importantly property foot wear helps prevents injuries.

101 is given at rec centers. sign ups required at the desk in the lobby. Villagers come first, than guests. But be careful, lots of injuries associated with this sport.

We have a group that plays Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 at Everglades.
She is welcome to join us. Just let us know that she is new and we will spend an evening teaching her the game. Ask for Lynette or Roger.

If it is pcvg related event, you will have to pay $20 to join this group 1st starting soon. Then all classes are 1st come 1st served if you are a resident, a guest will have to wait to see if the class fills up to see if you can join, which is how it should be. We are getting into the season when the snowbirds are back and everything will be filling up beyond capacity. She would have had a better chance getting into this class if it was during the summer.

She would be better off in getting a personalized teacher to go over the basics. Almost all the courts are not in use in the evenings and if a friend can help her that is a great time to go over the basics. Also, if she is a past tennis player she will pick it up in no time. Lastly, open pickleball play will be at least up until 10 am and if she shows up at 8 or 8:30 and explains she is new to the game, it is very likely some players will have her join in for a game to help her. Generally, PB players are very friendly and welcoming.

She would be a lot better off to spend that $20 on an individual instructor.

No fee for classes. The 20 dollars per year fee only applies to leagues tournaments and drill and plays. Clinic and classes for no fee. The fee was instituted to cover the cost of the software medals and trophies. All classes are run by volunteers.
Go to pickleballcommunity.com for all the answers

No fee for classes. The 20 dollars per year fee only applies to leagues tournaments and drill and plays. Clinic and classes have no fee. The fee was instituted to cover the cost of the software medals and trophies. All classes are run by volunteers.
Go to pickleballcommunity.com for all the answers

I recommend she find a rec centre that offers pickleball in her hometown first. She could go watch at first and ask the players if they know anyone that can teach beginners. I'm sure there will be someone willing to help her out.

Thank you everyone for your input and advice. I will pass it on to her. :bigbow:

Great advice. Helped me too, thank you.

To get started go to the link below. It has beginner videos.
I would also recommend that your friend stick to the "beginner open play" schedules that you can find in the weekly recreation activity paper that can be found in any rec center.
There are classes, but they fill up quickly. I don't know if a non-resident (with a guest pass) can sign up for them.
Virtual Classroom / Intro to PB Series / Intro to PB / Instructional Program | Pickleball Community Volunteer Group

My girlfriend is a hard-core Pickleball player, and I played with her once one morning. Too many stupid rules. You cannot hit from the kitchen, you have to move to the garage to hit over overhead, you can hit from the shower though!
I played paddle ball as a kid that was real simple. We hit the ball against the wall. We hit it back. Too complicated for me.
I will say I had trouble because the ball only bounces about a foot and I'm used to playing paddle ball when the ball would bounce a couple of feet. Took me a few minutes to understand you gotta hit it right away.

Oh. yeahhh, handball! and Racquetball. Much fun! I remember a couple games we played with a racquetball against a wall that (depending on where you were raised) the games were called "Suicide" or "Butt's Up!" IIRC, the "suicide" version of the game allowed for all other players to take a shot, but the butt's up version allowed only for the throwing player that beats the runner to the wall to take a shot.

There was also a version of tennis that was played during P.E. in middle school called Paddle Tennis. The paddles had holes drilled in them to allow airflow to make swinging easier. Kinda played like pickleball with a similar racquet. We used to make the paddle tennis paddles in wood shop class in 7th and 8th grades.

Good times.

I my experience, the pickle ballers in TV are very competitive and somewhat clicky. If your friend is brand new to the game she might be better off getting started at a community or senior center near her right now. That was when she gets to the villages she can jump right in.

This Post is spot on: " Pickleballers " the Competitive & Clicky is putting it " Mildly.

The very worse place is " Lake Miona " Pickleball Players, they are by far without question are the Rudest. Both Male & Female players.

They are not shy in letting anyone know that, & who those try to play that isn't up to their " Standard " are 100% ignored him or her...Period !!

It has been that way for years, some of the original players have drifted to other courts ( Burnsed & Rohan ) only to be replaced by others with the same attitude.

Player(s) Beware ! The Sad part once these so called " Pro's " leave after playing, they are a bunch of ___________ Individuals ...Fill in the blank. :loco:

Pathetic .........

Intro to Pickleball Series:
Please complete the course in the following order:

Virtual classroom
Intro to Pickleball Part 1 and then be advanced by the instructor to the Beginner Mentored Program (BMP).
BMP, attend up to 5 BMP sessions and then be advanced by the mentor to Intro to Pickleball Part 2. Some players may be advanced with less than 5 BMP sessions.
Intro to Pickleball Part 2 and then be advanced to the Clinic Series after a recommendation by the Intro Part 2 instructor.

lol, really?

"Years" is a long time to hold onto resentment after being turned away from a pickleball game.