An open letter to the USTA

[sureshs]

Instead of surrendering to Pickleball and embracing it, it is still not too late to do what should have been done a decade or more ago.

Repurpose 10-and-under red ball to compete with Pickleball. To compete with the financial advantages of density, the court must be no bigger than a Pickleball court. Red ball courts are actually smaller, so that is good.

Red ball (currently singles only) court: 36 feet (because must fit into standard tennis court width) x 18 feet. Net 2 feet 9 inches high. Racket length max is 23 inch.
Pickleball court: 44 feet by 20 feet. Net 3 feet high. Racket length max is 17 inch.

However, the smaller width makes doubles difficult and so there are no red ball doubles. But I still think doubles can be managed as it is only 2 feet less wide. I think a new smaller length racket may be needed so that doubles players don't clash - or maybe not.

If need be, mandate underhand serves only.

The sport should be branded SST for Short Space Tennis and marketed as a quieter and softer-on-hands alternative to Pickleball in which the player can seamlessly transition back and forth between SST and T preserving the same skills. It is also a path for Pickleball players towards tennis.

 

[sureshs]

There doesn't seem to be great support for this.

 

[Purestriker]

There doesn't seem to be great support for this.

Suresh is now fully team pickle.

 

[sureshs]

It is still not too late.

 

[treo]

USTA Southern has a rule that doesn't allow pickleball lines on tennis courts used for USTA league play. I think they should change the rule and allow the lines in a light blue color. The city of Atlanta won't paint any pickleball lines at their tennis centers because of this rule. The courts would get more use if they had the pickleball lines for portable nets and the city can generate more revenue. Right now a couple of the tennis centers let us play for free but we have to chalk our lines in hot weather and use tape during the cold season. At those two tennis centers, pickleballers easily outnumber tennis players on a some weeknights and after league play on weekends.

I agree Red ball tennis should be replaced with a pickleball size court for dual use. Just paint two pickleball court lines on one tennis court and use portable nets. USTA could embrace Spec Tennis as a learning tool for tennis or adults who want to play a smaller, dumbed down version of tennis. POP Tennis is in between Spec and regular tennis using the junior lines already painted on most courts, using a paddle tennis paddle and green dot ball. POP and Spec seem to be dead in the water and need help from someone like the USTA while pickleball is exploding on its own.

 

[jimmy8]

what's pickleball?

 

[atatu]

USTA Southern has a rule that doesn't allow pickleball lines on tennis courts used for USTA league play. I think they should change the rule and allow the lines in a light blue color. The city of Atlanta won't paint any pickleball lines at their tennis centers because of this rule. The courts would get more use if they had the pickleball lines for portable nets and the city can generate more revenue. Right now a couple of the tennis centers let us play for free but we have to chalk our lines in hot weather and use tape during the cold season. At those two tennis centers, pickleballers easily outnumber tennis players on a some weeknights and after league play on weekends.

I agree Red ball tennis should be replaced with a pickleball size court for dual use. Just paint two pickleball court lines on one tennis court and use portable nets. USTA could embrace Spec Tennis as a learning tool for tennis or adults who want to play a smaller, dumbed down version of tennis. POP Tennis is in between Spec and regular tennis using the junior lines already painted on most courts, using a paddle tennis paddle and green dot ball. POP and Spec seem to be dead in the water and need help from someone like the USTA while pickleball is exploding on its own.

Why don't you play pickleball somewhere else besides tennis courts ? You can buy a pop up net and play on a playground or basketball court ?

 

[ChaelAZ]

Why don't you play pickleball somewhere else besides tennis courts ? You can buy a pop up net and play on a playground or basketball court ?

This.

We used to have some really nice other courts besides the Surprise Tennis Complex, but the city converted all of those to pickleball. But then the Surprise facility is always hosting USTA tournmanets, like 6 months of the year every year, and we have little option to even find a court unless you know some ol' geezers in the retirement communities. And then, they STILL allow pickleball at the Surprise facility.

 

[travlerajm]

There doesn't seem to be great support for this.

As long as I can step into the kitchen without penalty, I’m all in.

 

[NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter]

People that play pickleball pee sitting down.

 

[sportsfan1]

Why don't you play pickleball somewhere else besides tennis courts ? You can buy a pop up net and play on a playground or basketball court ?

Yeah exactly . There should be totally separate facilities. Why are basketball courts not being converted, is it w demand thing?

 

[travlerajm]

Yeah exactly . There should be totally separate facilities. Why are basketball courts not being converted, is it w demand thing?

Basketball courts are not safe either.

 

[sureshs]

Basketball courts are not safe either.

Lines are being laid down on basketball courts in rec centers here to play Pickle on.

 

[travlerajm]

Lines are being laid down on basketball courts in rec centers here to play Pickle on.

The pickle baller armada feels safer attacking soft indoor gyms than going after inner city playgrounds.

 

[happyandbob]

The pickle baller armada feels safer attacking soft indoor gyms than going after inner city playgrounds.

i would be entertained by a pickle ball vs inner city playground turf war

 

[time_fly]

With any luck, pickleball will go the way of jai alai and tae bo into former fitness fad obscurity.

 

[sureshs]

With any luck, pickleball will go the way of jai alai and tae bo into former fitness fad obscurity.

Unless it is kept alive by a steady stream of tennis players migrating to it full or part time.

One advantage of Pickle is that it is easily offered indoors in a limited space, like rec centers. The 2 rec centers I visit are offering free Pickle 3 to 5 times a week. Public tennis courts are not that easy to access and are often found in places where there are no restrooms guaranteed to be open. The public tennis courts here are usually attached to high schools or colleges where the restrooms are open on weekends only if students have some sport scheduled, and even then may not be accessible to the public. A few that are in public parks have a cabin restroom usually a good 10-minute walk away. Pickle is far more convenient for most people facilities-wise.

Another advantage is in states where tennis grinds to a halt in winter. Indoor tennis courts are very expensive. Free Pickle courts in community centers will flourish. I myself have played Pickle one day because it was raining.

Pickle is a great exercise for seniors in retirement communities who otherwise will be playing bridge, Mah Jong, bingo etc in a sedentary fashion.

 

[ThinkPad]

Why don't you play pickleball somewhere else besides tennis courts ? You can buy a pop up net and play on a playground or basketball court ?

Or a busy roadway.