Pickleball in Philadelphia and South Jersey

Looking for a way to stay safe while staying active? Pickleball is a fun game that helps you do just that. It combines elements of tennis, racketball, and ping pong to create an entirely new way to play. Keep reading to learn more about pickleball and where to play around Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Pickleball’s History and How to Play

Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, invented pickleball on a summer day in 1967 on a badminton court after not being able to find rackets for badminton. Since its inception, pickleball has grown in popularity with over 15,000 places to play it indoors and outdoors in the United States. Pickleball even has its own governing body, USAPA.

You can play pickleball in singles or doubles just like in tennis and it’s a sport for all ages. The court is set up like a doubles badminton court. Players must have or set up a court with a net, paddles and a ball made for the sport. Basic rules of pickleball include:

• Underhanded serves must be made and one foot has to be behind the baseline.
• The ball must land across the court within the other player’s court
• Points can only be scored by the serving team

Where to Play

The Sporting Club at Bellevue
Located in the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia, The Sporting Club offers an active pickleball program. Three courts are available and they appear to be indoors. The courts are open during set periods each morning and afternoon. Beginning players receive court preference on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Paddles and balls are provided. The club is currently closed but plans to reopen on August 3, 2020 after completing work to maintain member safety due to COVID-19.

The Water Tower Recreation Center
The Water Tower Recreation Center in Philadelphia hosts a Meetup group of pickleball players on their outdoor courts. Meetup days and times vary but the group is large and active. They don’t have any dates set to meet due to COVID-19. But membership in the group is open. Join and you may see updates as gyms begin to reopen starting around August 2020.

Segar Park
Pickleball is alive and well at Segar Park in Philadelphia. In its sixth season, this large group of players takes signups starting one week before the Meetups on Sundays and Thursdays between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. There are four courts in total and it costs $5 to play. The money covers the cost of the sessions. Rackets and balls are provided. People must have an idea of how to play before attending. The group is actively meeting with the next date set for Thursday August 6, 2020.  Click here to RSVP.

South Jersey Pickleball Meetup
The South Jersey Pickleball Meetup is a very active group in Cherry Hill with over 2000 members. Locations of the games may vary depending on the skill level and may be competitive or social.  Beginners should start at the courts in Pennsauken since there is an instructor there. A yearly fee of $10 is asked of members to help replace equipment as necessary. Pickleball meetups are happening now so join the group to find the next one!

Pickleball Courts at Berlin Park
At Berlin park there are open courts and no cost to play.  Located in a public park in Berlin, NJ there are 2 tennis courts with multi-purpose lines for 2 court pickup play or 4 courts using portable nets. The courts are lighted for evening play.  No set schedule, so call a partner and set up a time to meet up and play!

Contact us for more information
Pickleball is a great way for everyone, including seniors, to stay healthy, active, and safe. At BroadZero, we are dedicated to helping seniors make better choices for their health and well-being. Ask one of our knowledgeable professionals how to help you with your Medicare insurance needs today.