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Where to Play Pickleball Near Waco
It started in the 1960s as a kids' game with a funny name. In the 2020s, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States. So much so that there are ongoing petitions to add it to public school curriculums. Our real estate agents hone their skills at these great pickleball facilities just minutes from Waco homes for sale.
So… What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball's first seeds were planted in the Pacific Northwest. On a Saturday afternoon in 1965, Washington State politician Joel Pritchard was looking for a way to entertain his family at their Bainbridge Island home. Pritchard, along with friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, suggested that the kids come up with a new game.
The family set to work experimenting with rackets and balls from table tennis, badminton, and similar games. Wiffle balls and table tennis paddles made the final cut, so after a few tweaks to each, pickleball was born.
Pickleball has been described as a mash-up of tennis, badminton, squash, and ping-pong. While the game includes individual elements of all, pickleball shares the common goal of using paddles to propel a ball back and forth over a net. While the sport started in the Pacific Northwest, there are plenty of places to play this sport in the Central Texas area.
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Greater Waco YMCA - 6800 Harvey Dr., Waco, TX 76710
The Greater Waco YMCA is part of an organization that's been providing youth and family fitness programs around Central Texas since the 1970s. Their gym is open for drop-in pickleball games at no charge for Y members. Admission for non-members is only $15. Availability runs from August through May, with a two-month break during summer youth camps. Times are 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The YMCA is host to plenty of other adult sports if you'd like to try something other than pickleball. -
Waco Regional Tennis & Fitness - 900 W. Lake Shore Dr., Waco, TX 76708
As a close cousin to tennis, pickleball is a natural fit for the activities at Waco Regional Tennis & Fitness. Open play is offered Tuesday and Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. Want to improve your skills? Individual and doubles clinics are offered for beginning and intermediate levels. WRTF features a variety of memberships for individuals, couples, and families, including tennis/pickleball-only memberships. -
First Woodway Baptist Church - 101 N. Ritchie Rd., Woodway, TX 76712
First Woodway Baptist Church believes that physical activity is a major part of personal development as well as a way to strengthen community bonds around Woodway homes for sale. Both competitive and beginner-friendly sessions are offered throughout the week. Come by at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month for "Pickleball & Potluck." -
Walker Park Pickleball Courts - 2615 N 3rd St, Temple, TX, 76501
Living near Temple homes for sale means you're never far from a pickleball match! This park has a total of two outdoor courts where you can work on your pickleball skills. The courts at Walker Park Pickleball Courts are free to use and available on a drop-in basis. Other amenities available for players include water fountains and restrooms.
Pickleball can be played in singles — two players facing off against each other across a net — or doubles, with two players on each side. We encourage you to go out and give pickleball a try! Whether your lifestyle includes athletic or cultural pursuits, you'll find a wonderful assortment of both in Waco. Contact us at Kelly Realtors for experienced help with all your real estate needs.