Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 13

May 09, 2024

Hello, and welcome to Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 13!

In this issue of Austin Pickleball Update, we’re featuring one of Austin’s newest pickleball clubs, Waterloo Pickleball, and providing (as always) a huge tournament and league update.

In this issue of APU you will find:

  • Play Pickleball in Austin - Waterloo Pickleball

  • Tournament, League, and Community Event Update

  • Austin Pickleball Update Social Groups

If you’re looking for places to play pickleball in Austin, check out our Austin Pickleball Courts and Clubs page here. 

Interested in sponsoring APU and reaching our engaged community of 1,000+ pickleball players in Austin? Reply to this email or DM us on Instagram and we’ll be in touch.

Let’s drop on in!

Paddle Discount Codes

Welcome to Team APU, CRBN

Austin Pickleball Update is excited to announce that we are now an affiliate for CRBN Pickleball. Use code "APU" for 10% off all paddles and gear purchases from CRBN Pickleball, including the CRBN 1x, 2x, and 3x paddles.

Interest in the Ruby or Double Black Diamond paddles from Six Zero? You can also use code "APU" for 10% off all paddle and gear purchases from Six Zero Pickleball.

Tournament of the Week

Play Pickleball in Austin - Waterloo Pickleball

The indoor courts at Waterloo Pickleball are stellar.

Waterloo Pickleball is a pickleball club located in downtown Austin at 410 Pressler St. The club officially opened to the public in March 2024 with four total courts, two indoor and two outdoor.

Waterloo pickleball shares its space with CrossFit Central Downtown, a CrossFit gym with an engaged and active community. 

Welcome to the Austin pickleball scene, Waterloo Pickleball!

The origin story of Waterloo Pickleball dates back to 2020, when the unmistakable lines of a makeshift pickleball court found their way to the asphalt parking lot at 410 Pressler. While this setup was just for friends to play for fun, it was in this very spot where Waterloo Pickleball’s future would manifest into reality. 

Jumping forward to the fall of 2023, CrossFit Central owner Jeremy Thiel was presented with the opportunity to take over the master lease at 410 Pressler, more than doubling the available space for the gym. But what to do with this newly acquired space? 

During a brainstorming session on a sweltering Autumn day, a pivotal moment occurred. Jojo Atherton, a long-time client, tennis pro, and pickleball coach, stepped onto the parking lot and noticed the original pickleball court lines from more than three years ago. Eureka! Pickleball is (of course) the answer! Jojo and Jeremy united their passions, and alongside other devoted pickleball enthusiasts, founded Waterloo Pickleball. The rest, as they say, is pickleball history. 

A parking lot turned pickleball court.

Waterloo Pickleball’s goal is to offer a welcoming space to meet like-minded individuals to compete and grow with. They want to help players improve their overall fitness and health so that they can be the best versions of themselves. APU loves this mission and is here for it, especially as it relates to pickleball. 

How to Play at Waterloo Pickleball

Waterloo pickleball is a members only club, so access to the courts is restricted to members and their guests. There are a number of membership options on their website, however these mainly break down to 3 tiers: Basic, Premium, and Elite. 

Outdoor courts you'll love.

Basic membership runs $199/month, is a pickleball only membership that allows court reservations 5 days in advance, as well as access to clinics and private lessons. 

Premium membership runs $299/month, and includes everything in basic along with open gym use and access to the recovery and wellness amenities like the sauna and cold plunge. 

Elite membership runs $499/month, and provides access to everything they offer on site: pickleball, recovery and wellness, and unlimited CrossFit classes.

Waterloo pickleball also offers Founders memberships, where you can pay for multiple months upfront or make a multi-month commitment for a reduced monthly rate. Some memberships require a $99 initiation fee, and the club allows guests to join open play or round robin nights for $20.

Waterloo is pickleball experience you'll look forward to.

Waterloo Pickleball is capping pickleball membership at 80 people total to start, and will be assessing how the facility functions and works at this capacity before opening up more memberships. As of now, Waterloo Pickleball has about 50 membership spots available. 

What's it like to play at Waterloo Pickleball?

In one word, awesome. Waterloo Pickleball has amazing court spaces and surfaced, with the feel and bounce you’d expect from any top court space. I also love their indoor/outdoor court combo since it provides an extra layer of comfort and accessibility depending on the play you’re looking for. 

During my play sessions at Waterloo Pickleball the staff have all been extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being an extremely active CrossFit gym with many people working out, it’s easy to navigate and get to the pickleball spaces. Additionally, the bookable court times ensure you can arrive and get started pickleballing quickly once your time slot opens. 

Indoor courts perfect for an Austin summer.

Playing at Waterloo pickleball is an easy, stress free, and extremely enjoyable pickleball experience.

Waterloo Pickleball’s foundation is their community. They see themselves as a social community hub that offers pickleball, CrossFit, and recovery for like-minded individuals that want to improve their health and wellness all in one space, which is unique in Austin. The club is also a big proponent of mental health, and they believe that one of the key components to improving and maintaining one’s mental health is being involved with a community. 

Waterloo Pickleball has it all.

With the combination of Waterloo Pickleball and CrossFit Central Downtown in one space, they are excited to cultivate a vibrant community that includes people of all skill levels and experiences, united by their desire to live a fit, healthy, and aligned lifestyle.

This is definitely a mission that Austin Pickleball Update can get behind.

Interested in playing at Waterloo Pickleball? Check out the upcoming Capital City Pickle Wars Doubles Tournament on Saturday, May 25. This themed doubles tournament features beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill brackets, random partner assignment, and a two game minimum. Use code "APU15" for $15 off registration. Learn more and register here.

Austin Real Estate Perfect for Pickleball

Vince Mathon, pictured right, shortly after winning a pickleball tourney.

Looking to buy or sell property in Austin? Look no further than Vince Mathon, Austin, TX Realtor®, Founding Partner of Revel Property Group, and pickleball player. Vince is your go-to expert for a personalized, professional, and uncomplicated real estate experience, especially if you want to know the best pickleball properties in Austin. If you're looking to buy or sell a home/land, discuss investment opportunities, or lease an apartment/house, text or call Vince at 737-267-5585. Learn more at www.vincemathonATX.com.

Upcoming Leagues, Events, and Tournaments

Community Events

Local pros Zane Navratil and Jack Munro are running a 3.5-4.0 clinic at Austin Pickle Ranch on Monday, June 10 from 6-8pm. Areas covered include effective dinking, partner communication, choosing which balls to attack, and more. Great opportunity to learn locally from some of the game's best. $140 per person. Register here.

Austin Pickleball Leagues

  • Location - The Millbrook Estate, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Millbrook Pickleball Club is hosting its 2nd annual summer league that is available for the general public to register. The league will run for 6 consecutive weeks every Wednesday at a designated scheduled time from 6-10p.m. They will be accepting the first 30 teams that have a DUPR rating of 3.5+ only on a first come first serve basis.

  • Price - $500 per team

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - One of the longest running pickleball leagues in Austin that is 100% volunteer run. Three different Ladder League include Sunday Co-Ed Green League (3.0-4.0), Monday Women’s Purple League (3.0-4.0), and Tuesday Co-Ed Gold League (4.0+). Waitlist for multiple leagues. 

  • Price - $45/month

Austin Area Pickleball Tournaments

Cedar Park Paddle Battle - May 8-12, 2024

  • Location - Wildflower Country Club, Temple, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender doubles events. 2.0-4.5 skill brackets and age brackets. Matches are best 2/3.

  • Price - $80

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round Robin format with 2.5-5.0+ skill brackets events. Must register with a partner. 3 game guarantee.

  • Price - $40 per player

  • Location - The Pitch, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Charity double elimination tournament with games played to 15 and prizes for winners. Players can request a partner during registration, and there is a consolation bracket after first loss. 

  • Price - $30 donation

Onion Creek Picklefest - May 18, 2024

  • Location - Onion Creek Club, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round robin men’s and women’s doubles tournament with 3.0-4.5 skill brackets. 2 game minimum.

  • Price - $80

002 Spring Classic - May 17-19, 2024

  • Location - Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with double elimination singles and gender doubles and round robin mixed doubles. 3.0-4.5 + open division skill brackets with age brackets. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $75 for first event, $25 for each subsequent event

Capital City Pickle Wars Doubles Tournament - RESCHEDULED - May 26, 2024

  • TOURNAMENT OF THE WEEK!

  • Location - Waterloo Pickleball, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Theme tournament featuring three skill brackets: Padawan Bracket for beginners, Jedi Bracket for intermediate players, and Sith Bracket for advanced players (4.0+ DUPR rating). Double elimination format with random partner assignment. Two game minimum.

  • Price - $60, use code APU15 for $15 off

  • Location - Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Co-ed doubles scramble with 3.0-4.5+ skill brackets and age brackets. Results not submitted for DUPR. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $50

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender/nonbinary doubles events. 2.5-5.0+ skill brackets. 4 game minimum.

  • Price - $40 per player

  • Location - Dreamland, Dripping Springs, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender doubles events. 2.5-5.0 skill brackets with age brackets. 5 game minimum.

  • Price - $75 for first event, $45 for second event

Dink Minor Leagues - June 22-23, 2024

002 Pickleland Indoor Open - July 27-27, 2024

  • Location - Pickleland, Pflugerville, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with mixed doubles and gender doubles events. 3.0-4.5+ skill brackets depending on event. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $65

Greater Texas Area Pickleball Tournaments - Dallas, San Antonio, Houston

PPA Tour: CIBC Texas Open - May 29-June 2, 2024

  • Location - Oasis Pickleball Club, Rockwell, TX (outside Dallas)

  • Overview - PPA Tour stop where amateur matches will be played alongside the championship court. Double elimination tournament with singles, mixed doubles, and gender double events. 3.0-5.0 skill brackets with age brackets. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $140 ($95 Tourney Fee + $40 event fee + $5 service fee)

A Private Pickleball Oasis on the East Side

East 12th Pickleball aka your dream court.

Nestled in a prime corner lot, East 12th Pickleball provides the perfect blend of accessibility and privacy, making it an ideal spot for anyone seeking a great pickleball game. Whether you’re new to pickleball and looking to enjoy time with friends or an advanced player wanting to improve your game with a coach, East 12th Pickleball offers the perfect setting for all of your pickleball court needs. Book court time at East 12th Pickleball today using this link, or check out their Instagram @east12thpickleball for more information. 

Austin Pickleball Update Social Groups

Follow Austin Pickleball Update on Instagram for pickleball content and local news, follow our Facebook group to learn about upcoming demo days and events, and join and use our 340+ person WhatsApp community to find local Austin pickleball players to play with.

Master Your Dinks with The Dink Master

Did you know that 15 minutes of wall drilling is roughly equivalent to the amount of touches you would get in 2-3 hours of doubles pickleball play?

More shots = more improvement.

The Dink Master is the #1 training aid in pickleball, designed to help you practice your dinks, volleys, and shot accuracy. With the Dink Master, you can control what types of shots you work on while getting in thousands more reps when compared to a normal game. The Dink Master helps you improve your coordination, muscle memory, and overall gameplay on your own time. Use code “APU” when ordering your Dink Master today for 30% off and free shipping.

Share Austin Pickleball Update

Please forward and share this newsletter with your local pickleball friends so that they stay updated around everything pickleball in Austin! 

If you’re looking for places to play pickleball in Austin, check out our Austin Pickleball Courts and Clubs page here. 

Previous volumes of Austin Pickleball Update:

If you have any Austin pickleball news, tips, or topics that we should cover or may have missed, please reach out! We're always grateful to hear from our readers.

Look out for Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 14 on Thursday, May 23, 2024!

See you on the courts!✌️

Phillip & Kylee Klugman - Austin Pickleball Update

Thank you for being part of the APU Community!