The Best Places to Play Pickleball in Charlotte, NC
Pickleball is a fast-growing sport in the United States, and its popularity keeps rising. For those not familiar with the game, here is some insight.
Pickleball is a sport that has borrowed elements from other sports like tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The game involves using a paddle and a plastic ball with perforations. The game’s rules are simple, making it an ideal sport for people of all ages and skill levels. Playing pickleball is an excellent way to clear your head, have fun and break a sweat simultaneously.
Speaking of growing, one area in which the sport is booming with interest is Charlotte, NC The most extensive pickleball facility is in the complex called Rally. The building has a total of 27,650 sq ft of indoor room. The pickle complex location is Charlotte’s Lower South End (LoSo) neighborhood at the corner of Old Pineville Road and Southside Drive.
Here are some places in Charlotte where you can enjoy a game with friends and family.
1. Carolina Courts
- Location: 240 Chestnut Parkway, Indian Trail, NC
The Carolina Courts is a great venue for playing pickleball in Charlotte. To reserve a spot for you and your team, you’ll need to contact them first. In addition, they charge a fee of $5 per day to play.
The Carolina Courts accommodate players of all skill levels and offer clinics for beginners and intermediate players.
2. Charlotte Squash Club Pickleball
- Location: 705 International Dr. Charlotte, NC
The Charlotte Squash Club has six big outdoor pickleball courts to accommodate 70 players. The venue is open on weekdays from 4-8 pm and 2-6 pm on weekends.
To access the courts for free, you should be a registered member. However, the general public can use the courts at a drop-in fee.
3. Field Day Park
- Location: 1101 Field Day Ln, Clover
Field Day Park is another excellent location to play pickleball in Charlotte. The venue has six outdoor pickleball courts.
The courts are well-lit for the players who enjoy playing in the late evenings. No fee is required to play at Field Day Park.
The courts are open from 8 am-9 pm. You can book a reservation on their website for a maximum of an hour.
4. Crews Recreation Center
- Location: 1201 Crews Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
The Crews Recreation Center has three courts, and the center provides the players with the necessary gear. However, players are advised to carry their paddles.
The center charges $2 per day. The courts are open to everyone, irrespective of their skill level.
The courts are open every Tuesday from 5:30-8:30 pm from March-August, Saturdays 8:30 am-12:30 pm from March-October, and Saturdays 8-10:45 pm from November-February. However, the schedules can shift anytime, so it is best to call for verification.
You can reserve a spot, but the staff can only hold the area for an additional 15 minutes if you are late.
5. Huntersville Parks and Recreation
- Location: 11836 Verhoeff Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Huntersville Parks and Recreation offers free 3-hour pickleball clinics conducted by coach Randy Watkins. The venue is open for members, and you can book a reservation via their website.
6. J L Suttle Pickleball and Tennis Complex
- Location: 200 West Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28152
The J L Suttle pickleball and tennis complex has ten outdoor courts and can accommodate 30 players. The courts are open to the public, and no fee is required.
The venue is open most mornings and sometimes in the afternoon. For beginners and intermediate players, clinics are offered on both tennis and pickleball.
7. Clarks Creek Community Park
- Location: 5435 Hucks Roads Charlotte, NC 28269
Clarks Creek Community Park is yet another place to play pickleball in Charlotte. The site has eight outdoor courts and can host about 50 players.
The courts don’t have lights making it challenging to play till late in the evenings. The courts are open daily from sunrise to sunset. No fee is charged.
8. Talbert Recreational Center
- Location: 210 Talbert Pointe Dr. Mooresville, NC 28117
Talbert Recreation Center is an excellent spot for players who prefer indoor courts. The place has three indoor pickleball courts.
The courts are open on Tuesday from 9 am-12 noon. There are no restrictions on who can and can’t use the courts, and players don’t pay a dime.
9. Levine Jewish Community Center
- Location: 5007 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Levine Jewish Community Center accommodates adult players who are 50 years and above. Apart from teaching members pickleball, they also engage in other activities like aquatics, fitness and wellness, athletics, art classes, social action, and tennis.
10. Lifetime Fitness
- Location: 11220 Golf Links Dr, Charlotte, NC 28277
Lifetime Fitness club has several indoor courts dedicated to pickleball. Club members are welcome to play at set times in the week. The courts are open to players of all ages and skill levels.
The paddles and balls are provided, but it doesn’t hurt to carry yours. The club offers introductory classes to beginner players to learn the game’s basics and rules. A certified professional pickleball player also leads drills.
You can bring your partner or be part of a team. The teams participate in matches to win a league championship trophy.
11. Prosperity Athletic Club
- Location: 9300 Browne Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
Prosperity Athletic club has six pickleball courts; four are permanent, while the other two are either used for pickleball or tennis. Members play for free, while non-members pay a fee of $3. Reserving a court as a member is free, but others pay $10 per hour.
12. Freedom Park
- Location: 1908 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Freedom Park is a public facility with eight outdoor pickleball courts. Players don’t pay any fee. The court is well-lit, allowing players to enjoy the game even when night falls.
13.Tuckaseegee Rec Center
- Location: 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Tuckaseegee is a public pickleball venue with six outdoor courts. Players pay no fee to play on the courts. The facility, however, has no lights, so players can only use the courts until sunset.
14. Sports Connect Granite Street Sports Center
- Location: 10930 Granite Street Charlotte, NC 28273
Sports Connect center is booked for pickleball, among other games. The facility has 14 indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts. In addition, the place also has nine indoor volleyball courts and five outdoor beach volleyball courts.
The center is multipurpose and booked for other activities like parties, camps, clinics, and sports. Therefore, it is wise to contact them before to confirm whether the courts are available.
What are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?
According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), the game has two players per team. Here are the rules the players need to adhere to;
- The game starts with a serve by the player standing behind the right square. The ball is served diagonally to the player on that square.
- The return of the first serve must bounce. Then, after that, the players can volley.
- The rectangular area in front of the net is a non-volley zone, and hitting the ball while standing here is not allowed.
- Teams earn points if their opponents hit the ball into the net, are out of bounds, or fail to return the ball while in play.
- The serving team earns one point.
- The first team to reach 11 points wins, but it has to be ahead of its opponent by at least two points.
Each player needs a paddle. The paddles are smaller than a tennis racket but bigger than a ping-pong paddle. The pickleball ball has holes and is available in different colors. So, armed with a paddle, ball, and court, you are ready to play pickleball.
Are There Pickleball Tournaments in Charlotte?
Some teams compete in tournaments to win a championship trophy. The venue of the contest is Lifetime Charlotte,
Here is what you need to register to participate in the tournament;
- Players must be above 12 years
- A team should have a minimum of 10 players
- The registration fee is $70
- Registration can be done online, and the fee is paid via PayPal.
Where Can I Learn to Play Pickleball in Charlotte, NC?
As a beginner, you can start by watching online videos and grasping a thing or two about the game. In addition, watching practice makes perfect; make a point of getting you the necessary gear to play pickleball.
Look for skilled players and join their team. The best option, however, is looking for a pickleball facility offering clinics on how to play the game.
How Much Will It Cost to Play Pickleball?
Some of the facilities with pickleball courts require you to register as a member. You pay a certain fee depending on your package and how many people you want to include in the deal. Members are allowed to access the courts anytime at no charge.
There are also public courts that don’t ask for any fee. It is free for anyone. However, you need to carry personal gear. Other courts are private, but they do allow non-members to play on their courts at a fee. Most facilities charge between $2-10 per day.
