Your Guide to Pickleball in Milwaukee
Originally published in Milwaukee Magazine The low-impact sport is making waves across the city, and we’re sharing tips on how to get started.
Photo by Getty Images
In summer of 2021, Milwaukee Business Improvement District #2 opened the Riverwalk Commons Pickleball Courts, a permanent sports installation underneath I-794 in the Third Ward. By the time the court was installed, the sport was a bonafide phenomenon in Wisconsin and was rising in popularity across the nation. The indoor/outdoor game has been the fastest growing sport in America for five years in a row, with no signs of slowing down.
The untraditional sport has made waves in large part to the accessible nature of the game. The part-tennis, part-badminton, part-pingpong game is relatively low-impact, making it a great way for seniors and players of all fitness levels to take part. “The sport is really easy to learn,” says Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads, a website that tracks the sport and helps visitors find games and courts. “The equipment is simpler than what you would find in tennis, and the game is just a lot easier for people to pick up.”
If this niche-turned-mainstreamed game hasn’t hit your neighborhood, there’s a good chance that it will soon. Ready to give the game a try? Check out our suggestions on where to play and shop and how to get started.
Grab Your Equipment
Pickleball is a low-fuss sport, but there are still a few things you need to get started.
Pickleball Paddles
Dimensionally, pickleball paddles are somewhere between a ping-pong paddle and a racquetball racket. The options vary in size, material, shape and weight with one obligatory feature – a flat face/blade. Traditional pickleball paddles are 15”-16” in length (including the handle) and 7”-8.5” across. Variables including skill level, hand size, weight preference and technique preference will determine which paddle is right for you.
ProLite Sports is a local company that has made pickleball paddles and other equipment since the mid 1980s. According to their website, they also invented the first composite pickleball paddle. You can purchase equipment online or from several different online retailers. Big box sports stores like Dick’s, Play It Again Sports, Burghardt’s and Dunham’s also offer a range of pickleball equipment.
Pickleballs
Pickleballs are lightweight plastic balls that resemble wiffle balls. They are perforated, with 26-40 holes that work to restrict the balls’ speed. This slows down the game, making it approachable for people of all skill levels. The balls with more holes are designed to be played outdoors. They are often made with harder plastic, and designed to withstand outdoor conditions. Because of their material, pickleballs are relatively inexpensive. You can expect to pay around $20 for a 6-pack of pickleballs.
Nets
Most courts will have a net already installed but if you’re playing on an empty court or paved surface, or perhaps playing at home, purchasing a net will be necessary. Pickleball nets are very similar in design to tennis nets, but shorter in stature. They have a metal or plastic frame and a long swath of netting. The standard pickleball net is 34” in height in the middle of the net, and 36” by the sidelines and 22’ wide. The majority of pickleball nets are portable, and you can expect to pay $40+.
Where to Play
In addition to the incredible Riverwalk Commons Pickleball Courts, Milwaukee residents have a few great places to choose from within city limits, with even more options when going into the suburbs. The Picklehead team put together a database of courts across the city and made sure to include an option for users to add their own as new courts crop up. Check the map to find more courts as the sport continues to grow.
1. Good City Brewing
2108 N. FARWELL AVE.
After grabbing a beer and a bite, head to the court at Good City Brewing’s East Side location for a fun game or two. This location only has one court, so make sure to leave some wiggle room in your schedule in case another group is playing when you arrive.
2. Hart Park Pickleball Courts
7300 W. CHESTNUT ST., WAUWATOSA
The Hart Park Pickleball Court features four lighted courts with an asphalt surface. The boundary lines are painted on top of tennis lines, and the net is a bit taller than a typical pickleball net. This is an outdoor only court, so plan to bundle up if you’re playing in cold-weather months.
3. Pickleball Lab
W62N228 WASHINGTON AVE., CEDARBURG
The Pickleball Lab in Cedarburg is a private club with two dedicated pickleball courts. You have to be a member to play here, but they do offer classes, clinics and private lessons for those who want to improve their game.
4. Milwaukee County Sports Complex
6000 W. RYAN RD., FRANKLIN
The Milwaukee County Sports Complex is a year-round 55,000 square-foot club that hosts volleyball, basketball, soccer and now pickleball games. Its three playing areas are segmented by skill level, so you can be matched with an appropriate opponent, even if you go alone. The open play is only $2 and is available Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until noon. The courts are wheelchair accessible.
5. Manor Marquette Park
801 E. MARQUETTE AVE., OAK CREEK
This Oak Creek park offers two outdoor pickleball courts for residents and visitors to enjoy in the warm months (or if you’re brave) at no cost. There are no rentals available, so make sure to pack all the equipment you will need.
6. Paley Tennis Center
2916 W. VERA AVE., GLENDALE
Paley Tennis Center has four indoor courts for pickleballers to compete. The courts can be reserved, or you can drop in during open play on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. Lessons are also available for participants looking to up their game.
7. Jewish Community Center
6255 N. SANTA MONICA BLVD., WHITEFISH BAY
For $25/month you can get a community play pass to play at the JCC’s two regulation-sized pickleball courts. In addition to open play on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, there are also tournaments, classes and leagues. Equipment is available to rent at the front desk.
8. Dale Z.’s On Tour
3585 S. HOWELL AVE.
Dale Z’s On Tour is a Southside bar and restaurant where you can enjoy a game of pool and a game of pickleball. They have two outdoor courts where you can challenge your friends or family to a game. They even host pickleball leagues during spring and summer months for the more competitive players.
9. The Facility
10725 EXECUTIVE CT., MEQUON
With nine pickleball courts available for rental, you can play Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for open and advance play, plus Sunday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Facility. You can drop-in to try it out for $7 or get a 10-pack to keep going back.
Open Play vs. Leagues
When just starting off with pickleball, you might want to attend open play sessions at your local court. These games are on a rotational basis, where players will get paired up with other players and wait in line in order for a court to open up. The large majority of pickleball games are played with doubles, but open play allows you to join a game as an individual if your friends aren’t available that day. These games are usually casual, and you can be paired with a player of any age and skill level. It’s a fast and easy way to learn the game and decide if you want to get serious about it.
If you caught pickleball fever, joining or creating a league would be your next step. “We’re definitely seeing that people are outgrowing their open play sessions and want to get involved in something a little more structured,” said Mackie. “We’re seeing that in tournaments, groups, round robin socials and other structures that require people to play at the same level.”
Most gyms or established courts will have leagues available to join, there are also leagues available through rec sports and sporting groups like Milwaukee Sports and Social. Leagues are valuable if you’re committed to playing regularly. You can pick a partner that is on a similar skill level and practice consistently with that person, and the competition will keep you at the top of your game. It’s also a great social opportunity, and helps you to build friendships with the people you play with regularly.
Tips from Pickleball Enthusiasts
While the game of pickleball is relatively straight forward, it doesn’t mean you can’t come prepared with a few tips and tricks that will help you on the court.
1. Get to the Kitchen
“One of the most important things for newer players to understand is to play ‘up at the net,’ aka the kitchen,” says Mackie. “If you are returning the serve, you can run right up to the kitchen afterward.” The kitchen is the space above the horizontal line by the net. There are a handful of rules that dictate what you can do in the kitchen (here’s an article that outlines these rules) but, primarily, make sure you aren’t in the kitchen while you’re in active volley, but you can be just outside the line. While most points will be earned close to the kitchen, the close proximity also means the rallies will speed up, so be prepared and stay attentive.
2. Learn How to Dink
At that kitchen line, players can do two types of shots. One is a volley, where you hit the ball while it’s in the air to return it to your opponents. The other shot is called a dink, and it allows players to softly hit the ball inside the opponents kitchen. This gives players an advantage as it slows the play down significantly for a controlled game pace. It also often results in a shot that is in an awkward or difficult position for your opponents to reach.
3. Aim for the Feet
Betsy Kenniston, founder of Crazy Pickleball Lady, suggests aiming your shots at your opponents feet as you hit the ball over the net. The lower the ball is, the higher chance your opponent will have to “pop” the ball up on the return, giving it more air, and you have a better chance to be positioned for a killer return.
