If you go to parks or recreation centers like the YMCA in Central Florida, chances are you’ve noticed a new sport that resembles tennis. However, that’s not tennis – it’s pickleball.
If your first thought was, “That looks like tennis,” you probably caught yourself wondering why the contestants were playing the game so wrong. Well, it’s obviously not tennis and it’s sweeping the nation. Let’s answer the question: Where Can I Play Pickleball in Central Florida?
Where Can I Learn to Play Pickleball?
As new as the sport may seem, there are pickleball leagues throughout the United States as well as Internationally. At these leagues, you can usually get some personal coaching for the sport. Leagues also have tournaments you can join once you learn how to play the game.
One league is known as Tampa Pickleball League and is located at the Oldsmar Flea Market in Tampa, Florida. They’re currently kicking off their Summer League Season. The first league will be a 6-week Intermediate 3.5 Doubles League, Monday Nights at 6 PM.
You can also learn to play the sport at Pickleball Orlando on John Young Parkway in Orlando where they offer a comprehensive Pickleball 101 lesson.
What Exactly is Pickleball?
Bill Bell, Barney McCallum, and Joel Pritchard started the game in 1965 to entertain a group of bored children. The sport began with a set of easy rules and some handmade equipment.
In short order, a new game was born – pickleball. Fast forward nearly 50 years and the sport has grown throughout to boast over 8,000 courts in the US alone.
Pickleball clubs have popped up internationally as well. There is now a governing body located in the US called: USA Pickleball. Basically, Pickleball is a type of paddleball game, similar in ways to badminton, tennis, racquetball, and table tennis.
Where Can I Play Central Florida?
Below are a few locations in Central Florida where you can play pickleball.
- Town ‘N Country Park Pickleball Courts are located at 7008 W Hanna Ave in Tampa, Florida. They are a non-staffed park with courts that is open to the public.
- South Econ Community Park is located at S Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando Florida. Hours of operation at this park are 8 AM – 8 PM daily.
- ClearOne Sports Centre is located on John Young Parkway in Orlando. You’ll need to make reservations online (here).
Be sure and stay up to speed on all the hot spots and sweet destinations in Florida. If you are heading to South Florida, get all the great Pickleball locations (here).
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