Why have we launched Pickleball at HWTC?
Having run several Pickleball Sunday sessions this 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.
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 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
How to book and set up
NOTE: pickleball equipment hire is only available to paid-up annual members.
1. Book and pay for pickleball equipment hire via the booking page. ONLY BOOK ONE HOUR OF EQUIPMENT, REGARDLESS OF LENGTH OF PLAY. At the point of booking, you will need to pay £6.
2. Then book out a tennis court to reserve a court for play. If you wish to play for more than half an hour, we suggest a minimum of two hours as it takes 20 - 30 mins to set up the court and net and about 10 mins to take down.
3. If play is booked during floodlight hours, additional fees apply as normal.
4. When you book the tennis court, you will get the access code for the external gate. Text or call Helen on 07798 670730 to get the shed code as this is needed to access the equipment.
5. After play, please return all equipment as you found it and lock the shed behind you.
Click this link for a helpful Video for court set up.
For first-time users, Helen can provide more details on how to book, set up and play. She can be contacted at helen_timpany@hotmail.com or text/call 07798 670730.