Pickleball – a sport that combines tennis, badminton and ping-pong – might as well be an ode to parents everywhere: it was a sport made up by three dads on a mission to entertain bored, grumpy children. Punting around their homes, they found ping-pong paddles, a plastic ball and a badminton net. One of their wives said the new game reminded her of a “pickle boat,” the part of a crew race where rowers from different teams who don’t compete are thrown into boats together and race just for the heck of it. And thus, pickleball was born.
Named “the fastest-growing sport in America” in 2021 and 2022, pickleball is now recognized as a sanctioned sport that competes at the national level. In Columbus, it’s beloved as both a serious sport and a casual hobby for picklers of all ages. Read below for some of our favorite places to play.
Pickle & Chill has 19 dedicated pickleball courts. Image source.
Pickle & Chill
With nine indoor and 10 outdoor courts, Pickle & Chill is the largest dedicated indoor-outdoor pickleball facility in the Midwest. A visit there lets you choose your own adventure: you can take lessons, do open plays, make court reservations for your own group, join a league, participate in multi-day, round-robin tournaments or even join its membership program. Whatever you do, don’t forget to stop by Rays, the venue’s indoor bar (named after the owner’s dog!), for a beer and trivia nights. Members get special discounts and early reservation access, and paddles, balls and showers are free for both members and non-members.
Land-Grant's new pickleball courts at Gravity Experience Park. Image source.
Pickleball at Land-Grant Brewing Co.
Land-Grant is a favorite Columbus brewery, so naturally, it teamed up with a favorite Columbus hobby: pickleball. During spring and summer, bring the kids, pups and fellow pickleball players to the main Land-Grant taproom at Gravity Experience Park, have a beer or cocktail, then wander over to the onsite courts. Courts can be rented for $20 an hour and come with a shaded bungalow for up to eight people. For just $5 more, you can rent paddles and balls, too.
Fun fact: In winter, the courts become an ice skating rink!
New Albany's Pickleball Complex is home to 16 courts. Image source.
New Albany Pickleball Complex
Located in Bevelhymer Park, the award-winning New Albany Pickleball Complex has 16 tournament-grade courts that are open to the public. There are daily opportunities for open play and “challenge” courts, as well as a steady schedule of classes and clinics for picklers of all ages and skill levels. Get the basics at Pickleball 101, sign up for a four-week beginner or “advanced beginner” program, get in shape with pickleball cardio workouts and up your game with strategy and drill classes. This July, New Albany Pickleball Complex will host the first-ever Summer Slam tournament. Sign up to reserve your spot here or join one of the venue’s leagues.
Pickle Shack is open 24 hours. Image source.
Pickle Shack
At Pickle Shack, there’s no such thing as a bad time to play – literally. This 10-court, indoor facility, which was created for avid picklers to have somewhere to play during the colder months, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members can pay a small monthly fee to get discounted court reservations and earlier reservation times, but anyone (member or not) is welcome to sign up and reserve a court. Paddles and balls are available for free.
Neighborhood Courts
Dedicated pickleball facilities aren’t the only places you can grab your paddle and play. All over the city, Columbus parks have a combined 118 courts (60 indoor and 58 outdoor) where anyone can play pick-up games, take lessons or reserve a court for pickleball matches with friends. Bring your own paddle and ball, and if you’re playing on a non-dedicated outdoor court, a net. Some popular parks with pickleball courts include Coffman Park (Dublin), Library Park (Powell), Olentangy Parklands (Worthington) and Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park (Hilliard).
Columbus picklers have plenty of places to play the game, whether you’re a rookie, experienced or somewhere in between. Grab your sneakers, head to one of the destination’s many indoor and outdoor courts and show us how much you love it by tagging your photos with the hashtag #yesColumbus.