[LiverpoolWalrus]

Has anyone else noticed this? You show up at the place and time for "Beginner" or "Advanced Beginner" pickleball play as advertised in the Rec News and everyone there is intermediate or higher? Does anyone know of a court where true advanced beginners can play?

I know I can set up my own team, but that's not what I'm looking to do right now.
Thanks.

[CFrance]

I have a suggestion. Try to find scheduled Beginner or Adv. beginner that doesn't start first thing. A lot of times the more advanced players will start playing at 7 but not get off at 9 when the beg or adv beg is scheduled. It jams the courts up. Also, they will trade places in line so that they're still playing with each other, making it even more confusing. After Christmas it will be worse. You may change your mind about forming a group and getting a court reservation (which are only available starting at noon in the high season).
On the other hand, playing "up" really raises your game.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I have a suggestion. Try to find scheduled Beginner or Adv. beginner that doesn't start first thing. A lot of times the more advanced players will start playing at 7 but not get off at 9 when the beg or adv beg is scheduled. It jams the courts up. Also, they will trade places in line so that they're still playing with each other, making it even more confusing. After Christmas it will be worse. You may change your mind about forming a group and getting a court reservation (which are only available starting at noon in the high season).
On the other hand, playing "up" really raises your game.

Aha! Maintenant je le comprends! Les intermediares ne partent pas. Merci.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by CFrance

On the other hand, playing "up" really raises your game.

Not if you lose most of the time and morale takes a big hit.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by LiverpoolWalrus

Has anyone else noticed this? You show up at the place and time for "Beginner" or "Advanced Beginner" pickleball play as advertised in the Rec News and everyone there is intermediate or higher? Does anyone know of a court where true advanced beginners can play?

I know I can set up my own team, but that's not what I'm looking to do right now.
Thanks.

My wife and I just got back from playing tennis at El Santiago. The pickleball courts abut the tennis courts.

Frankly, I don't see the allure.

[Bonnevie]

Originally Posted by LiverpoolWalrus

Has anyone else noticed this? You show up at the place and time for "Beginner" or "Advanced Beginner" pickleball play as advertised in the Rec News and everyone there is intermediate or higher? Does anyone know of a court where true advanced beginners can play?

I know I can set up my own team, but that's not what I'm looking to do right now.
Thanks.

I can't agree more. I have even questioned people on why so many people who I consider intermediate or higher play at advanced beginner. They told me "there's really not much difference" or "there's a lot of overlap". that's not true, there's a great deal of difference. I have been made to feel that I'm inadequate to play there among them. I printed out the requirements for each level so if anyone says anything to me, I can show them I do meet the advanced beginner requirement and they should play elsewhere.

I had one woman say as she looked at me over the net "I don't want to play with her" because she didn't think it would be a good game.
I've had bangers slam balls at me. I believe it was to discourage me from lining up again to be in their four.

Advanced beginner used to be fun and social. I like to win, too, but I see adv. beginner level as trying to practice new things, socializing, and getting exercise. those that want to play at higher levels should go to the appropriate sessions. Some stay on after open hours, I realize, but then make us feel like we don't belong.

I asked a friend who is a top ranked player about it and he said some people just like to always win. pretty pathetic.

as to you get better playing with a better player, you can't get better if someone is slamming the ball at you with all their force. one time my partner actually told me to just get out of the way to avoid injury.

[jojo]

Yes it is a problem. I play tennis regularly and thought I'd add pickleball one day a week. As stated, most of the players are not beginners. Very difficult to play a game when advanced players just slam it at you. Fortunately some players will be gentler. Wish there were a place for just beginners.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by LiverpoolWalrus

Aha! Maintenant je le comprends! Les intermediares ne partent pas. Merci.

Bien sûr que ça peut être ennuyeux. And I get what you're saying if the upper level players are not playing nice. Plus if they were any good, they'd be dinking and not slamming. I hope you find someplace.

[Topspinmo]

Well, start off all classes begin at 10AM or later when open play closes. The problem some don’t show up for open play till 9am or after. So they rarely get off the courts 10am. Only one Rec. center when I played advanced beginner’s years ago actually came out an run off all the open players at scheduled time, that was at Chula Vista. Rec. center where I play can’t even install zip tie on the wind screen when they get so bad blow out and hamper you’re backswing. So, bottom line be happy there someone there to play with. Beginning and advance is subjective anyway. They only way going to get better is practice and play.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jojo

Yes it is a problem. I play tennis regularly and thought I'd add pickleball one day a week. As stated, most of the players are not beginners. Very difficult to play a game when advanced players just slam it at you. Fortunately some players will be gentler. Wish there were a place for just beginners.

If you play tennis at least at medium level and know how to keep score and where to stand you should be above beginner. I don’t know where you’re going to beginners at, but saddlebrook, sea breeze, Chula Vista use to be good places to go, (but, don’t expect at 1001 am it will be only beginners) Everybody will slam ball when get pop up even the 4.5s or above, Which they will never play with anybody but in their click. And if they do you get unwelcome feeling immediately.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Bien sûr que ça peut être ennuyeux. And I get what you're saying if the upper level players are not playing nice. Plus if they were any good, they'd be dinking and not slamming. I hope you find someplace.

Nobody dinks pop up.

[irishwonone]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I have a suggestion. Try to find scheduled Beginner or Adv. beginner that doesn't start first thing. A lot of times the more advanced players will start playing at 7 but not get off at 9 when the beg or adv beg is scheduled. It jams the courts up. Also, they will trade places in line so that they're still playing with each other, making it even more confusing. After Christmas it will be worse. You may change your mind about forming a group and getting a court reservation (which are only available starting at noon in the high season).
On the other hand, playing "up" really raises your game.

Great statement. I totally agree. Playing against better players in every sport is how your game improves. Clearly there will always be a few that are full of themselves. But overwhelmingly everyone was in your position at some point and will give you a chance to play and learn.

[Gmaf6]

Groups with reservations in the Season from October to April can only reserve courts from noon on. Earlier times are for Open and League Play. I was told that if it's in the Rec News as Beginner Open Play or Advanced Beginner Open Play and there are rated/better players playing and they don't want to play with your level, you're to go to the Manager of that Recreation Center and make them aware of the situation. We have a group at Riverbend on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at Noon that are for Beginner/Advanced Beginner play. Sundays are for men and women - the other days are Ladies. We haven't had much turnout because of the time, but hoping that that will change with the cooler weather. Unless the courts are full, we have no problem allowing better players to play, but have asked some to leave in the past if we are full and they're not at our lower level of play. Some people have issues that prevent them from playing at a better level and it only seems fair for those playing at a lower level to have their own time to play.

[terenceanne]

Some people just want to show how wonderful they are by thrashing beginners - as always there are always a few bad apples.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by LiverpoolWalrus

Has anyone else noticed this? You show up at the place and time for "Beginner" or "Advanced Beginner" pickleball play as advertised in the Rec News and everyone there is intermediate or higher? Does anyone know of a court where true advanced beginners can play?

I know I can set up my own team, but that's not what I'm looking to do right now.
Thanks.

You got that right! It was almost enough to stop me from playing!