Four months ago we posted the first NYC pickleball guide. The community growth and development in the city since then has been off the charts, so it's already time for a refresh! From the newly finished permanent courts at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Heights to the booming community in Central Park, there is pickleball for everyone. Read on! Outdoor Open Play Manhattan Houston & 6th (William F. Passannante Ballfield) - West Village, Manhattan Courts: 6 taped courts on asphalt, community brings portable nets Hours: Daylight hours. Courts are generally open in the mornings and early af ..read more

Austin, Texas—the home of Major League Pickleball, world-ranked #1 men's player Ben Johns, and one of our favorite paddle brands, Recess Pickleball—has established itself as an epicenter of American pickleball. Read below for the local scoop on court availability, compiled by our friends at Recess. Outdoor Public Courts Pan Am Park - 2100 E 3rd St Courts: 3 permanent courts Hours: Daylight, typically a fun crowd on weekend mornings Recess x Erne Scoop: Perfect for a Saturday morning. The Pan Am regulars are very welcoming, so come ready to make som ..read more

It sounds obvious, but you want to hit the ball where your opponent isn't! Take every opportunity to finesse the ball into openings, creating awkward and challenging returns. Even if you don't pass your opponent, forcing them to lose their balance will often cause them to pop the ball up just enough that you can attack it aggressively and either end the point or ensure the end is coming soon. Any time you can force your opponent to stretch for a shot, turn their shoulders, move backward, or even lunge forward, you have increased their chance of making a fatal mistake. Somet ..read more

Teammates need to move in sync and follow the direction of the ball in order to close holes and cut off angles, especially in a dink battle. High-level teammates will typically be covering 50-60% of one side of the court, depending on which side of the court the ball is moving into. Skilled players are adept at flicking and directing shots through openings left by teammates. Moving in sync in the direction of the ball makes it harder for those holes to develop ..read more

Always keep your paddle up and in front of your body, especially when at the kitchen line. With your opponents only 14 feet in front of you, there is little time to react when the action heats up and the dinks turn to drives. Keeping your paddle out in front gives you the best chance of pushing a hard drive right back at your opponent, rather than merely blocking it or, worse, missing it entirely. And always expect every shot to come right back at you—it's not over 'til it’s over ..read more

Unfortunately the pickleball scene in Los Angeles pales in comparison to its neighbor, Orange County, but you can still find games in a few locations. Outdoor Open Play Memorial Park (Santa Monica) Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-12pm, Monday & Wednesday 5pm-9pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-2pm Erne Scoop: There’s always a dedicated court for beginners, so don’t be shy if you’ve never played! The community is happy to help teach. Courts are first come, first served, but please be mindful of tennis coaches with permitted reservations.    John Ada ..read more

Seattle, the birthplace of pickleball! Here's the rundown: Seattle has a serious pickleball community including an organizational body, Time for Pickleball. They have an exhaustive list of every court in Seattle (indoor and outdoor). We helped by consolidating the best outdoor open play opportunities if you're visiting or just getting acquainted with the Seattle scene. Outdoor Open Play See the schedule below, and use Playtime Scheduler to organize or join games. Miller Playfield Tennis and Pickleball Courts (Capitol Hill) Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-Noon Erne Scoop:&nb ..read more

When the opportunity arises—the ball is high enough above the net—"green light!" Attack quickly, aggressively, and unequivocally. Whenever possible, aim either sharply away from the opponents or right at their feet. High level players have very quick hands and are adept at counterattacking or resetting drives hit at them, but a quick and aggressive shot at a player’s feet is always challenging to return. And even if they get it back, it'll often be high enough for another kill shot ..read more

Patience is key to high level pickleball. Once the dink game is on, it’s critical to keep working your opponents through the soft game, striking only when the opportunity is truly there ("green light"). Too often, lower level players try to force shots or hit drive winners from too far below the net. If the ball makes it over the net, it's usually rising and an easy put-away for a skilled player.  Wait for your opponents to make a mistake and work patiently to help them do that ..read more

Deception, misdirection, and mystery are a critical part of high-level pickleball. Always look for opportunities to throw your opponents off-balance by hitting the ball where they least expect it. When you break their rhythm, or cause them to reach or turn to handle a shot, you increase the chance they will pop up their return high enough to put away.  For example, position your body and eyes as if you’re going to hit it in one direction, only to flick your wrist and paddle in the opposite direction at the last second ..read more