Pickled! 101

Q: I have never played pickleball. How do I get started?

A: Welcome to the fastest growing sport in the WORLD! You will begin with our “Intro to Pickleball” class, then you’ll be ready to move on to our beginner Open Plays, Quick Start lessons, and Beginner League. You do not need a partner to get started! (P.S. at our clubs, beginner players are known as “Seahorses”!)

Q. Why do you have unique names for everything? (Captain, Stingray, Flamingo, etc.?)

A. Because we are a super-fun group of people, and all our clubs have a nautical theme. You’ll be using the terms in no time and won’t even realize it!

Q. What is Court Reserve?

A. CourtReserve is our court management system. You can use CourtReserve to: View the calendar of events Sign up for events and clinics Book courts Creating an account on CourtReserve is easy and free.

Q. What is a Drop In or Open Play?

A. “Open Play” or “Drop Ins” are regularly-scheduled, organized event where players can show up to play without a partner. Players rotate in and out to mix/match with others of similar skill levels, creating a fun, dynamic, and social environment.

Q. How do I book a court?

A. Booking a court is easy with our CourtReserve system. Click the “Locations” menu to get started at your preferred club location. Then,  create a FREE Guest log in to our Court Reserve booking system.  You can also call us at and we’ll be happy to reserve a court for you.

Q. Do I have to bring my own paddle and balls?

A. If you are new to Pickleball and don’t have your own equipment, no problem! We have paddles and balls available to use, purchase or rent. Members may also demo many of our better paddles by checking in at the front desk.  

Q: Are non-members allowed to play at Pickled! Clubs?

A: Yes.  There is NO INITIATION FEE and all players are members of Pickled!  Our FREE Guest Membership is called “Stowaway,” in keeping with our nautical theme. As a Guest Member you still have full access to our reservation system, which is called CourtReserve.  See the Memberships section for more information.

Q: Why are there different rates for the Summer and Winter membership plans?

A: We understand that taking advantage of the Chicagoland summer weather is super important to many players, so our summer plans are priced differently.  That means club access is cheaper in the summer, when more players are outside, and more expensive in the winter when court time is at a premium.  (NOTE: winter memberships fill up quickly, so many players opt for a summer membership just so they have first access to winter.)

Q: When are the Summer vs. Winter plans effective?

A: Our summer season is June 1st through September 30th.  The winter season is October 1st through April 30th. 

Q. What is INDY?

INDY is a great way to join Pickled! Open Play with a great group of people! INDY began as the “I’m Not Dead Yet” meetup group and now hosts INDY Open Plays for all ages at all our clubs. You can find one every day of the week! All levels of play are welcome at INDY. It’s one fun, giant, round robin. No partner needed.

Q: What is the minimum amount of time I can book a court?

A: Thirty (30) minutes.

Q:  What is the maximum amount of time I can book a court?

A: Two (2) hours.

Q. What is the maximum number of players allowed on each court?

A. 8 (4-6 is better)

Q: How many courts can I book at the same time (concurrently)?

A:  Stowaways can book one court at a time.  All other members can book a maximum of two courts simultaneously.  If you need more than two courts, please request a private party reservation here.

Q: How are the various member rates applied to court reservations, especially if we are all different types of members?

A: Good question.  When a court is booked with mixed membership plans, the cost to each player is determined by dividing each individual’s hourly fee by the number of players on the court. For example, a one-hour reservation booked with four players who have the following memberships: two Captains, one Stowaway, and an Admiral will cost:

$4.50 ($18 ÷ 4 = $4.50) for each Captain

$8.00 ($36 ÷ 4 = $9.00) for the Stowaway

Free for the Admiral

In other words: Each player is responsible for their portion of the court cost.

A minimum of $9 per player will be charged if all players on a reservation are Guest Members (Stowaway).  That applies even if there are six players per court. 

The CourtReserve app will always calculate the cost automatically, because, well, math is hard.  And we’d all rather spend that time playing pickleball.

Q: What is a “Booking Window,” and how does it work?

A: A booking window is the period of time your discounted rates apply.  You can still reserve a court or participate in Open Play outside of the booking window. For example:   For example, if you are a “Beachcomber” member and want to book a court on the weekend, you’ll pay the Guest Member (Stowaway) rate outside your daytime/weekday booking window.

Q: I’m a Beachcomber member. Can I play on weekends or evenings?

A: Yes.  Check out the answer above re: booking windows. 

Q:  I have a Beachcomber Membership. Can I play Open Play on evenings and weekends?

A:  Yes, as illustrated above you’ll pay the Stowaway rate ($12).

I have a punch card. When do I pay with one punch vs. two?

Punch cards are sold in packs of 10 or 20. They are good for Open Play only. Use one punch for weekdays before 6:00 pm and two punches for weekends or weekday evenings after 6 p.m.

Q: Do you offer classes, lessons, and drills?

A: Yes, check them out HERE. Members enjoy discounted rates for great savings!