Play Indoors or Outdoors?
April 29, 2025
If you’ve played pickleball for a while, you have probably had to wait between games. You have stacked your paddle or put it in a rack or signed your name on a whiteboard or sheet of paper.
Your wait times could be a thing of the past thanks to the sport’s next big thing: indoor pickleball clubs.
They are climate-controlled facilities with at least a dozen dedicated pickleball courts separated by fencing. A place where you can play from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. A place with showers and lockers. Think of a health club that’s all pickleball.
One study found that three indoor courts on average are opening every day. Indoor clubs are being built in former Big Lots, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Best Buy stores. They’re being added to malls, bowling alleys and trampoline parks.
“I believe indoor court growth will eventually eclipse outdoor court growth,” says Brandon Mackie, whose job requires knowing exactly where pickleball courts are located. Mackie runs the court finding app and website, “Pickleheads.” He teamed up last November with the Sports Fitness & Industry Association to create the “2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report.” It includes an in-depth analysis of pickleball participation and facilities.
The number of indoor courts increased by approximately 40 percent from 2021 to 2024. “Pickleheads” data shows that in 2021, there were 15,679 indoor courts in over 3736 facilities. There are currently more than 27,000 indoor courts in over 5400 facilities. This number includes YMCA’s and municipally owned gyms and community centers that have converted or added indoor pickleball courts. It’s better than nothing for pickleballers but often confusing to those playing on gym floors marked for basketball and volleyball. So many lines!
Hundreds of indoor clubs have opened recently or will open during the first half of 2025. By the end of this year the indoor pickleball scene will look vastly different than it does now. A few larger cities will have two indoor pickleball clubs. The facilities will open as early as 6 a.m. and close as late as midnight, depending upon location.
This is exciting news for pickleball players who can control exactly when they will play, will have short or no wait times, prefer playing indoors and don’t mind paying for it. Membership fees range from $40 per month to $200 or more (the average fee according to our small sampling is around $100 per month), depending on the club and membership tier. For example, some clubs might charge for reserving courts if your membership fee is lower. A higher membership tier might include more benefits, like unlimited play without booking nfees, four guest passes per month, and free clinics. Most indoor clubs offer lessons, leagues and tournaments. Some will rent you a ball machine if you want to practice. Many clubs will set aside certain courts based on the player’s level. Club owners say they want no beginner to feel intimidated.
Pickleball Kingdom, Plano, Texas (photo courtesy Pickleball Kingdom)
-
There are currently at least four major players nationwide in the indoor pickleball club business: Ace Pickleball, Dill Dinkers, Pickleball Kingdom, and The Picklr. There are smaller indoor clubs (in terms of the number of current locations) including The Pickle Pad and PickleRage. These clubs are for both hardcore, advanced players and those completely new to the game. They focus primarily on open play and their food and drink offerings will be minimal. Some will have a pro shop and offer demo paddles.
We asked several pickleballers who play multiple times per week how they view playing indoors vs. outdoors.
Brian Gelston, 52, Tacoma, Washington
What I think about indoor vs outdoor is whatever one is the best for weather conditions on any particular day. If it’s raining indoors, if it’s 75 and sunny outdoors. What I like about indoor is you can play year-round in any weather condition, the lighting is always good and the ball plays true. It isn’t affected by any other factors.
What I like about outdoor is just being outside, enjoying nature and people just seem happier outside. It’s also where the sport was originally supposed to be played.
Memberships at $100 a month is a deal for all the benefits pickleball has to offer. Playing 5 days a week would only be $5 a day, no brainer!
Side note on this- I have an indoor and covered outdoor court and I still pay to play at a club about once a week for variety.
Angela Dorsett, 46, Tampa Bay area, Florida
Both serve a purpose in refining your game. Indoors is great for practice because of predictability of play. Unless the facility got flooded or there’s no electricity, we train every morning no matter what.
But playing outdoors forces you to track the ball, shorten your backswing, and be more situational with your strategy to adjust for wind and sun. So we go to outdoor courts to test out our mechanics and ability to adapt.
Maybe [I would pay a membership fee] if it allows me to reserve courts ahead of time. If I can’t do that, then I’d rather go to the public courts.
Mike Schenck, 64, St. George, Utah
Indoors is preferred if weather isn’t good. Indoors, the weather is never a factor
Outdoors is better if no wind or weather issues, wind is very annoying
I pay about $60 a month per year at The Picklr, founder rate. Would I pay $100? Maybe, but would have to be better accommodations than what we have. Also, the ceilings in St George are horrible, sides are minimal, and [there are ] not enough courts. But if a tournament is in town, or it is too cold, windy, or raining, at least we can play somewhere.
Melanie Makakaufaki, 37, Orange County, California
When I think of indoors I automatically think I need to pay. So I don’t like that I have to pay to play in indoors. Aside from that, I do feel that the ball moves faster indoors. I enjoy playing outdoors because I get so hot and I live in California so the weather is always beautiful.
It’s nice to have that option [to play indoors] when on a rainy day. The summer is coming up so maybe on a very hot day indoors may be useful. I could see myself paying for a membership but there needs to be other amenities.
Michael Oz, 40, Parkland, Florida
I prefer playing indoors because it allows for more control and more stamina. The courts also just give more of a pro playing atmosphere even though the PPA and APP ties are outdoors. I currently pay slightly higher [than $100] for my membership but feel like it’s worth every penny. Especially here in South Florida, where some days the heat is just brutal or [it is] simply raining out.
Katie McKee, 38, Overland Park, Kansas
I prefer playing outdoors for a couple of reasons. First, there are many public parks around Kansas City that are free to play at. Second, I know that many tournaments in the fall, spring, and summer in the midwest will be played outdoors so I think it is important to get adjusted to playing in the elements. The sun and wind can be major factors in tournament play especially for people who choose to only play indoors. That being said, playing indoors and not having to deal with the elements is preferable over outdoors. But most places in Kansas City you will be paying $40 an hour for one court to play indoors, and you're not getting experience playing in the sun and wind.
Yes, I would pay $100 a month for membership, especially if that includes court time. I would also choose one club over another if they had reasonable guest pass prices.
Candy Alexander, 73, El Dorado Hills, California
Outdoors, fresh air and sunshine. Indoors if raining. Playing indoors is easier on the knees for sure. Also it can be more social. I’d only pay to play indoors if I had no other options.
Here are things to consider when deciding which indoor club to join:
· Make sure you know what’s included with each membership tier.
· Check out each club’s court reservation policies.
· Find out if courts are reserved by player level if you prefer to play with those of similar ability. Some clubs will set aside courts for beginners.
· See if there are any hidden or extra fees. For example, one club might charge to rent a ball machine, another may provide one to members free of charge.
· Take a tour of the indoor club you’re thinking about joining. Most indoor clubs offer a day pass to non-members for between $15 and $30. Some indoor clubs offer a discounted first month membership.
Some pickleball industry insiders are wondering if there could actually be too many indoor pickleball clubs soon. Industry expert Todd Boss says, “In the 70’s and 80’s, racquetball’s popularity blew up. Too many clubs opened and many closed. I believe there’s the possibility of that happening in the pickleball space. The [indoor clubs] that are there first and that provide the most services will be the winners
Whatever the future holds, pickleball players who join indoor clubs can forget about paddle racks and paddle stacks.
And you can leave your sunglasses and sunscreen in your bag and lob without worrying about the wind. Hopefully, you won’t have to worry about a low ceiling.
(Some of the information above appeared in a story I wrote for the January/February issue of Pickleball Magazine.)
Thoughts of the week, not all pickleball
· If I want to add weight to my paddle’s butt cap, putting on a speed cap seems like way too much work, especially now that there are coins that simply stick on.
· Finally got around to watching the Elton John/Brandi Carlisle special on CBS and it was excellent.
· Video reviews in baseball have worked well but have eliminated the sometimes heated arguments between managers and umpires. I used to enjoy watching Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, Lou Piniella and others go nose-to-nose with umps, picking up bases and throwing them or kicking dirt on home plate.
I was deeply touched by the going away party some of my pickleball playing friends in North Carolina gave me on Monday. These are high quality, kind people.
-
· Goodbye Western North Carolina, hello again Southern Arizona. Our two years in the mountains were a fun adventure, but after 20 years in Florida and Arizona, we missed the warm weather, and there will soon be two indoor pickleball clubs near our new home. I was touched by the going away party some fellow pickleballers in Weaverville, NC, gave me. I have played pickleball in five states since 2020 with thousands of players, and no group has been kinder than those in Weaverville and Asheville.
Remember, if you buy any Hudef paddle that costs $169.99, use my discount code MS30 to knock down the price by 30%, to $119.99. Any less expensive paddle, the code is MS15, giving you 15% off.