Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Pickleball has been around for nearly 60 years, but it’s in the midst of a renaissance. Here are 10 DFW spots to dink, drop, and lob to your heart’s content.
It might surprise you to learn that pickleball was invented all the way back in 1965. Washington congressman Joel Pritchard, businessman Bill Bell, and their families were bored and listless at Pritchard’s home. There was an old badminton court but an incomplete set of equipment, so the duo gathered ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The goal: Create a game the whole family could play together.
Nearly 60 years later, pickleball is a thriving sport. It’s less demanding on bones and muscles than many other sports while still providing a quality workout. People love the social and community elements of the game, too. For fashion-forward folks, pickleball fits are also an opportunity to show off some style.
Alas, the popular theory that the sport is named after a dog called Pickles isn’t true. Rather, Pritchard’s wife, Joan, used crew pickle boats as inspiration. In rowing, the pickle boat is usually the least competitive, with the crew assembled randomly. Since pickleball used a mix of random equipment borrowed from other sports, it seemed like a fitting name.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has several courts across parks, complexes, and bars. Here are our ten favorite spots, starting with indoor facilities, moving to outdoor courts, and ending with eateries and places to sip.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
1. DFW Indoor Pickleball
4801 Spring Valley Road, Farmers Branch 75244
DFW Indoor Pickleball (DiP) is serious about pickleball—just look at the nine indoor concrete courts with pro texturing and colors. But DiP is equally as big on promoting community. The facility encourages players of all levels to come by, providing leagues, clinics, drills, tournaments, and other special events. The courts have generous hours, too: 7 am to 11 pm six days a week and until 10 pm on Sundays. You never know when the urge to play will hit.
2. Grove Pickleball
2354 Hardwick St, Dallas, TX 75208
The Grove only has two pickleball courts, but they’re designed with CushionX surfacing, a 4-millimeter cushioned mat. That makes things easier on your body as you zip around the court. Swing by for open play, reserve time in advance, or work with one of the Grove’s onsite pros in small group lessons. Feel more confident in your skills? Join a league or tournament and show everyone what you’ve got.
3. Oasis Pickleball Club
5757 State Hwy 205, Rockwall, TX 75032
You will never be hurting for an open court at Oasis Pickleball Club. The club boasts 42 outdoor courts, eight enclosed ones, and two additional championship courts. There are also four trainers to help you level up your game, and the facility has hosted the Texas Open Pickleball Championships since 2020. The local pro shop has plenty of options to buy gear or upgrade equipment. On days when you want to take it easy but still get your pickleball fix, you can watch live streams of the court on the Oasis website.
4. Samuell Grand Tennis Center
6220 E Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75223
As the name suggests, Samuell Grand Tennis Center has over a dozen tennis courts. Yet it also has 14 designated pickleball courts. While a few are hybrid designs for both sports, there are plenty of courts to avoid any tennis vs. pickleball feuds. Operated by Impact Activities (which has 12 additional courts at its Fretz location), you can make reservations online or through the app, take a few lessons, or sign up for a multi-club membership.
5. Cole Park
4000 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
Cole Park celebrated 100 years of existence last year. Of course, the pickleball facilities haven’t been around nearly as long, though with six courts and ample lighting at night, you’ll get plenty of runs in. You need to bring your own equipment and can’t reserve any courts, but for zero dollars, you can’t beat the price to play.
6. Pickleball Paradise
6260 Honeysuckle Rd, Midlothian, TX 76065
Sometimes, it’s nice to get away from the city and enjoy a more relaxed environment. Midlothian is about 25 miles south of Dallas, but Pickleball Paradise gives visitors a unique experience. Owner Michelle Knipp Cornish is a USPTA-certified pickleball and tennis instructor, and the venue provides limited membership tiers so everyone has ample opportunities to play.
Non-member reservations start at $16 per person for clinics and $30 per person for court time, with two-hour open play available for $10. Pickleball Paradise is also the exclusive seller of Babolat equipment, and Goodr sunglasses and Georgie & Lou bags help round out your gear.
7. Lake Worth Multipurpose Facility
7005 Charbonneau Rd, Lake Worth, TX 76135
There’s nothing super fancy about the four courts at Lake Worth—they’re just a good, consistent quality with ample room and fences between them to limit rogue balls entering (or leaving) your court. They’re free to play on and are open from 8 am to 10 pm, with LED lighting for nighttime play and covered picnic tables for friends and family to cheer you on.
8. The Sandy Pickle
5683 Village Glen Dr, Dallas, TX 75206
A sandy pickle is a terrible occurrence at the beach, but The Sandy Pickle is a much better time. It’s home to six pickleball courts, six sand volleyball courts, and golf simulators for a different kind of swing. You can reserve online or through The Sandy Pickle app, which lets you classify your skill level to find other folks of similar talent to play against. The venue also has a stocked bar with creative cocktails and a food truck with very reasonable prices. And though this has no impact on your play, The Sandy Pickle’s mascot is the cutest one on this entire list.
9. Chicken N Pickle
4600 Merlot Ave, Grapevine, TX 76051
2965 S. Hwy 161 Grand Prairie, TX 75052
This spot isn’t local to Texas, with locations scattered throughout the U.S. However, Chicken N Pickle is an excellent place for a full day of games. Pickleball is the top attraction—it’s in the name, after all—but you can also enjoy shuffleboard, cornhole, and ping pong. In between games, grab a frosty, locally brewed beer or order something from the full menu loaded with chicken-based items. Private lessons and beginner clinics start at just $15, so you’ll be slamming with the best of them in no time.
10. Courtside Kitchen
1615 Rogers Rd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Courtside Kitchen encourages patrons to “Carpe Dink ‘Em,” and you’ll want to seize the paddle as you step onto one of the two covered, five tented, or two outdoor courts. Prices start at $20 for non-peak hours and increase to $40 on weekends. While you can certainly grab a drink to sip while playing, be sure to check out the beer garden before or after. You might catch some live music and can fuel up on burgers, sandwiches, wings, salads, and, in what seems like a mildly introspective option, fried pickles.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
