Pickleball Question
 

Coming to the Villages for Feb and Mar. Never played pickleball but it looks like a lot of fun. Do I have to purchase racquets or are they supplied at the courts?
Dave in snowy Ontario, Canada

Pickle ball wanna be.
 

I dont have the answer but since our preview visit in Sept I have been motivated to get into shape. Played tennis until my husbands knees got old. But we both think we could play pickle ball and love it. Cannot wait til TV is our home. 5 years away. Good luck to you and enjoy your visit.

Paddles are available in the equipment sheds at the various facilities BUT they are wooden and, while you can play the game with them, you are much better off using graphite or fiberglass.

However, graphite paddles were ordered in error for Coconut Cove and are available at that rec center's front desk.

Would suggest you take the beginners classes at a rec center to understnad, learn, and play the game.

It's addictive. If you decide to buy paddles, they are about $50. and are availalbe at Market Night at LSL and a few other outlets around TV.

Shoes are the most important equipment, however. Bring or get a pair of good court shoes. Don't play in running shoes, walking shoes, cross trainers, etc. These shoes will grab the court and you'll take a pretty good tumble (trust me on this). The tennis pro shop at Glenview sells Wilson court shoes for $35.

Would highly suggest you take the "beginner program" offered by TV (free). The rules and scoring are definately different than anything you have played. Look in the Daily Sun thursday rec guide (also available at the large rec centers) for days and times. There are three levels:
First : beginner lesson ... a one time deal
Second: beginner structured play....usually 2 to 3 times
Third: beginner organized ....you can go as many times as you need.

You must call and sign up for the first two at the rec center where they will be held. I would try and call a week ahead of time. Pickleball in the villages is huge. We have 96 courts.

jeffy

Dave, it IS a lot of fun! It's kind of like tennis, without all the running. Definitely take the lessons. I think the hardest part of pickleball is keeping score. If you let me know which rec center you'll be near I can tell you which days they offer the lessons and what number to call. I have the pickleball schedule on the fridge.

If you whine enough, the teacher will let you borrow his racquet so you can compare the wood one to the fancy one. There's a big difference!

Pickleball Racquet Question
 

Does anyone know if there are any stores in The Villages area that sells pickleball racquets? I'd like a good one---lightweight with a good grip. (I know they are available on-line but I'd like to see them and perhaps try them out!) Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Pickleball booth at Market nights at both LSL & SS.
Golf USA in SS has them and SKI USA at Marion Market.

I'm sure there are others.
_

I'll second that! The first time my wife, a former 3.5 tennis player until she twisted her knee, went on a pickle ball court she didn't have court shoes and she stumbled and pulled a muscle. She didn't get on a pickle ball court until the next winter (and then you couldn't get her off of it).


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Pickleball paddles are only sold at LSL on Tuesday and Thursday nights . . . they no longer sell them at Spanish Springs. The owners of Ski USA in Marion Market sell paddles and are players of the game plus they are Village residents!
I'd also advise you to purchase the video by Coach Mo (sold at Ski USA and Son-Rise Cafe) . . . best instructional video on pickleball there is.

www.pickleballcoach.com

I'm glad she's recovered. I'm surprised that she didn't just wear her tennis shoes or are they a different thing all together?

Different things -

She wore a pair of her many different types of sneaker/tennis/running/training/etc type shoes.

Court shoes (real tennis shoes) are basically smooth bottoms with indentations for traction.

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