Pickleball is a fun paddle sport that continues to grow in popularity. While pickleball was first invented in 1965, many people are just discovering it and making it the new thing to do. It's a sport anyone can play, no matter how old or young you are, and it's becoming America's unofficial pastime.
If you live in the El Cajon, California, area, you have plenty of places where you can play pickleball, with indoor and outdoor courts available so you can play in any weather. Team Kia of El Cajon has put together this guide so you can check out the best places to go and start playing right away so you don't miss out on the fun.
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport that combines some elements of tennis, Ping-Pong, and badminton. It's played both indoors and on outdoor courts. The court is about the same size as a badminton court and is often a modified tennis court that accommodates both tennis and pickleball. You can play singles or doubles, and it’s easy to play and master.
A pickleball paddle is slightly larger than a Ping-Pong paddle, has a slightly different shape, and is typically made from a lightweight composite material. The plastic ball is light with holes in it, and there are different balls for indoor and outdoor play.
Bostonia Recreation Center
The Bostonia Recreation Center in El Cajon is a great place to play pickleball. There are two courts, and it's only $13 a year to play. The courts are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and the recreation center has paddles and balls that you can use if you don't have your own. The winter 2023 session offers pickleball for adults and seniors, and all skill levels are welcome to participate. You’ll need to register in-person, and make sure to check the Bostonia website for specific times and sessions.
Del Cerro Tennis Club
The Del Cerro Tennis Club in San Diego has pickleball court rentals and offers pickleball lessons. Court rental is $32 for two hours and $44 for three hours. The rental includes four people per court, but you can have extra players and spectators for $10 per person. You’ll need to make a reservation online in order to use the courts.
Del Cerro Tennis Club also offers open play on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you're just getting started with the sport and want to learn how to play, you can take lessons or join a clinic. The pickleball clinics are just $30 per person for an hour of instruction, and following the lesson you get another 30 minutes of play with the other participants.
YMCA of San Diego County
The YMCA of San Diego County offers several pickleball options, including open play, tournaments, private lessons, and clinics. The locations that currently have pickleball courts are:
- Rancho Family YMCA.
- Dan McKinney Family YMCA.
- Jackie Robinson Family YMCA.
- Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA.
- Mission Valley YMCA.
- Ryan Family YMCA.
- Toby Wells YMCA.
Some locations have equipment that you can use, while others require you to bring your own paddles and balls. There are both indoor and outdoor courts available, and each location offers a variety of play levels, from beginner to intermediate and advanced.
San Diego Pickleball
San Diego Pickleball hosts weekly pickleball sessions and sets up eight outdoor courts at the Pacific Beach Tennis Club. You can choose from nine public play sessions each week, so you don’t need to be a member of the club to play. You can join in no matter how old you are or what your skill level is, and the club welcomes all skill levels for both competitive and social play.
If you're just getting started and want some tips, San Diego Pickleball offers intro lessons for first timers on Saturdays at 2 p.m. It's just $25, and the instructors will teach you the basic rules, scoring, and positioning. The club even provides the paddles and balls. Make sure to call and reserve a spot if you want to take part in a lesson.
La Mesa Parks
Three different La Mesa Parks offer pickleball courts, and there’s no charge to play. You can go to:
- Collier Park at 4401 Palm Ave: This park has a striped tennis court for four pickleball courts. Keep in mind the park is currently closed until the fall of 2023 for renovations.
- La Mesita Park at 8855 Dallas St: This park has four pickleball courts. Lessons are available from the recreation department, which take priority for court time.
- Highwood Park at 4200 Parks Ave: This park has newly renovated tennis courts with two dedicated pickleball courts. There are also two shared tennis and pickleball courts.
The Hub San Diego
The Hub San Diego has something for everyone, and there are always pickleball games going on. This facility has 26 dedicated pickleball courts, a pro shop, a restaurant, and some of the top instructors in the area. Members get a long list of benefits, from unlimited open play to advanced priority court reservations, discounts, and social events. If you don't want to get a membership, you can just purchase a day pass when you want to play.
The Hub offers clinics and lessons for players who want to improve their game and for beginners who are just learning how to play. Whether you're an advanced player or a beginner, you'll have access to a variety of tools. Some of the clinics and lessons include:
- Private and semi-private lessons.
- Adult introduction to pickleball.
- Adult beginner clinics.
- Adult intermediate clinics.
- Adult drill sessions.
- Adult cardio pickleball.
If you want to play competitively, you can sign up for league play, and there are also opportunities for ladder play, tournaments, and round-robins.
These are some of the places we go when we want to play pickleball. If you know of some spots we missed, stop by Team Kia of El Cajon and tell us about them. We can check them out and maybe even play a game. While you’re here, we'll show you our great lineup of new and used Kias for sale.
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