Get Started with Pickleball in NYC

Our friend Will Chaing made the most amazing 3 minute intro to Pickleball video. Watch it.

No! Pickleball is special in that you can just show up to an open play session and join in. While most open play sessions around the city are open to all levels, some locations are catered to more advanced levels and those skill level expectations should be respected. Find your local court on the guide, join the TeamReach or Slack group, and post a message introducing yourself.

If you are an experienced player that is visiting or new to New York City: Include your skill rating, pickleball communities you have been part of in other cities (it’s a small world!), and whether you own a portable net.

If you are new to the sport: Find a group that is open to all levels, and start there. Let people know that you are a beginner.

Most groups have events posted in the calendar section of the app, and you should RSVP to indicate you will be joining.

In the beginning, the best paddle to use is any paddle that’s in your hand. If you go to a beginner session and ask if anyone can bring an extra paddle, there will often be someone willing to let you borrow one. Our friends at Paragon Sports in Union Square have a great selection of beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddles that you can demo.

There is no perfect way to know your exact level, but there are a few handy guides to give you a general idea.

It is best to determine a self-rating, and drop it by half a point if you are looking to join a level specific group for the first time. Once you get comfortable there, feel free to then move up.

Important note for tennis players! While your tennis experience will help in developing your pickleball game, your current tennis rating is not always the best indication of where your pickleball rating is.

A majority of the courts require people to bring portable nets in order to play. This means that some communities’ open play sessions are dependent on people bringing and setting up nets. A community can live and die by the nets that are brought, so please be courteous and appreciative to those who do bring and set up their nets for the common good, and if you’re so inclined, be a good pickleball samaritan and pick up a net yourself! The max ratio of net to player is 1:6, so if you notice a session where there are many more players than nets, it may be best to refrain from joining that particular session.

We highly recommend the Swiftnet 2.1 and if you use code NYC20 at checkout, you can get $20 off your purchase. If you want to read about other net options, read our guide here.

It is important to determine if your level of play matches those who are currently playing. As you progress through the sport, you will often find that higher level players start to naturally cluster up and organize private games outside of posted open play sessions. While some groups may be open to new players, it may be best to introduce yourself between games, and see how you can integrate with them in the future.

Great question, that we’re still trying to answer ourselves. There are some instructional leagues happening during the afternoons and early evenings, but we are currently developing some summer league programming (sign up here for updates).