Why are we launching Pickleball at HWTC?

Having run a successful taster session last year, we know there's an appetite for the game. It's quick to pick up and suits players of all ages and abilities. We see Pickleball as an additional way to encourage the community to get active and take advantage of our facilities.

Pickleball Sunday sessions

Club-organised  Pickleball sessions will run once a month on a pay-as-you-go basis. Each session costs £6 per person to cover equipment costs.

Sessions will run on two pickleball courts from 3 - 4 pm and 4-5 pm with a capacity of 8 people per session i.e. 4 per court.

IMPORTANT BOOKING INFORMATION

To book a session, head over to the bottom of our coaching page and click on the course for you. We will release sessions a week or so in advance of each date.

You must be a member of the club - either Pay & Play or annual - to book a session. A minimum age of 14 applies. Members below 18 will need to be booked as an additional player on the parent's/guardian's booking. Otherwise, please make one booking per person.

Over time, we will work out how to improve the court setup organisation and sort groups into players of different standards.

Sessions will run on the 3rd Sunday of each month, apart from the first one, on these dates: 24th March, 21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a sport played with a racket that combines elements from badminton, tennis, and ping pong. The game is played on a court with the same measurements as badminton doubles. The net is similar to a tennis net, but a little lower. The game is played with a hard “paddle” and a hard, hollow plastic ball with holes in it.

Even though pickleball is like tennis, there are important differences that make pickleball especially more accessible for children and seniors. The most important difference is the speed of the ball. A pickleball ball travels at about a third of the average speed of a tennis ball.  The smaller court surface area combined with the slower ball speed, and an underhand serve make pickleball easier to play than tennis.

The game is the fastest-growing game in the USA with more than 4.2 million players and is really starting to take off in the UK.

How to play

See how to play details on the Pickleball England website: how-to-play-pickleball

Video of how to play: How to play pickleball

If you have any questions or comments, please drop Helen Timpany a line at helen_timpany@hotmail.com.