Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 22

September 12, 2024

Hello, and welcome to Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 22!

In this issue of Austin Pickleball Update, we have a feature on one of Austin’s most unique pickleball concepts and locations, The Lab, a giveaway contest with Zane Navratil, and (as always) a huge tournament and event update!

In this issue of APU:

  • Giveaway Contest with Pickleball Pro and Austin Local, Zane Navratil

  • Play Pickleball in Austin - The Lab

  • Tournaments, Leagues, and Community Clinics & Events

  • 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. 

Let’s dink on in!

Giveaway Contest with Pickleball Professional and Austin Local, Zane Navratil

3 Chances to Win!

What’s up Austin Pickleball Update community?!

If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably seen some epic clips from The Lab, Austin’s highest performance pickleball court that is part pro training facility, part content factory, and part community court.

I’m excited to announce that The Lab is now open to the public! You can book court time now by visiting Play at The Lab.

To celebrate the public opening of The Lab, I’m partnering with Austin Pickleball Update to give away two free hour long lessons at The lab as well as a signed ProXR Signature paddle of your choosing! 

To enter, fill out this form and follow @austinpickleballupdate, @playatthelab, and @zanenavratilpickleball on Instagram. Winners will be announced in APU Volume 26 on Thursday, November 7th.

Thanks for entering and checking out The Lab! I can’t wait to see you on the court there soon! 

Zane Navratil - ZNPickleball.com

Event of the Week - Paddle for a Purpose

Arvo and Racquet Moms present Paddle for a Purpose!

Taking place Thursday, October 17th at Austin Pickle Ranch from 6-9pm, this special pickleball event brings together community and compassion to support the United Breast Cancer Foundation in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Paddle for a Purpose is about playing for a greater cause - raising awareness, celebrating survivors, and showing support for those impacted by breast cancer. 25% of all ticket proceeds will be donated to the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

This women-led, women-only event features the $89 Paddle & Play Pass, which includes a brand new Arvo Pink pickleball paddle, a matching neoprene case, a ball, and a shot at winning amazing raffle prizes, with 1st prize valued over $500! Get your tickets here.

Six Zero Paddle Discount Code - APU

Save 10% on the new Double Black Diamond Elongated with code "APU"

Six Zero is thrilled to introduce the latest evolution of their bestselling paddle – the Double Black Diamond Elongated (DBDe), available September 15th! 

Engineered to take your game to new heights, this version maintains all the power and control you love, but with a longer reach for maximum court coverage. Whether you're playing singles or doubles, the Double Black Diamond elongated gives you the balance of reach, control, and power, making it perfect for aggressive players looking to up their game.

Use code “APU” and save 10% on your Double Black Diamond Elongated as well as other paddles and gear from Six Zero pickleball.

Play Pickleball in Austin - The Lab

Welcome to The Lab, one of the most unique pickleball concepts and locations in Austin, and, dare we say, the country. 

The Lab

If you aren’t familiar with The Lab, located at 4909 E Cesar Chavez St, the venue has appeared in viral social media posts for pickleball pros like Zane Navratil, Jack Munro, and Dekel Bar, as well as for The Kitchen. 

And that is one of the main focuses of The Lab; to be the most visible pro court in the country that is part pro training facility, part content factory, and part community court.

The Lab is the brainchild of Carlos Di Laura and Ryan Dawidjan, two pickleball brothers who wanted a court where they could host high quality games, film content, and help others improve their game while having fun.

Carlos Di Laura and Ryan Dawidjan, co-creators of The Lab

Ryan Dawidjan (aka Picklebald) is the General Manager of the Texas Ranchers (MLP Premiere Level team) and the co-host of the pickleball podcast Raise the Bar, in addition to co-founding The Lab. 

Carlos Di Laura is the coach of the Chicago Slice (MLP Challenger Level team) and a ProXR sponsored pickleball athlete who is currently on the road to becoming a full-time professional player, in addition to co-founding The Lab. 

Carlos and Ryan have taken great pride in making The Lab the highest performance court in Austin, and their setup features acoustic panels, dark backgrounds, LED lights, cameras for recording content, and an upstairs viewing deck.

APU connected with Carlos Di Laura to learn more about The Lab, which is now open and available to the public for booking. Check out our interview with Carlos below. 

Would you consider The Lab a club? Or just a location to play pickleball? 

I don't think The Lab falls into either really. I think we are a high-performance training facility and content factory. 

This doesn't mean you need to be a pro to play at The Lab. That is The Lab's biggest misconception. The Lab is a place for everyone that wants to get better at pickleball. 

We offer “group memberships” now designed for 4-6 people (friends you usually play with) that want to get better and make The Lab their private court.

Where should interested people go today to play at The Lab? 

Visit our website playatthelab.com or reach out to us on Instagram @playatthelab. Players can book lessons, court time, ball machine rental, and more. 

What is the current initiation fee/monthly fee for the facility? Are there any different tiers for pickleball membership if you have them? 

There are no memberships set in stone yet for The Lab. It's a challenge for us to come up with the magic number for memberships and price as there is only one court available at The Lab. 

Right now we are open to anyone that wants to book hourly, and the facility also offers private lessons, corporate events, and clinics, among other activities. 

The only membership offered at The Lab is what we call “Pods”. This membership is designed for a group of 4-6 people (friends you usually play with) that want to get better by making The Lab their private court, and includes court use and group lessons.

The $1,000/month group membership fee (which can be split between different people) includes 4 hours of instruction and 8 hours of court use for drilling and open play between the group.

In addition to this, group memberships receive discounts on additional lessons, courts bookings, ball machines, merch, etc. The plan is to cap our group membership at 3-4 groups. 

When booking court time, is that done in 60 minute or 90 minute slots? And how often can parties book time? 

Court time is booked in 60-minute intervals, and interested parties can book time at The Lab from 11am to 10pm for $60/hour depending on whether time booked is on peak or off peak hours. 

7am-11am morning slots are when touring pros are using The Lab as their training facility, and we are unavailable at those times. 

What is the schedule for open play times at the club? 

Right now we are focused on hourly bookings, as The Lab is the perfect court to bring a group of friends and play and hang out.

That said, we are exploring the idea of doing leagues and ladders, in addition to open play times. Check our website to find the latest information on activities at The Lab. 

What events does The Lab regularly run?

Pickleball cardio and group clinics, among other activities. We will start doing more brand activation events and corporate parties in the coming months, so reach out to us if that is of interest to you or your organization.

The Lab is also home to the Rapid Recovery Lab, which is a service based offering focused on recovery, physical therapy, cupping, acupuncture work, and other areas of physical wellness to keep players in top pickleball shape. 

They do all kinds of recovery, PT, cupping, acupuncture work.

Could you share more about the genesis story of The Lab? 

Ryan and I are like brothers that love everything pickleball. We wanted a high quality court to have the freedom to film content, host high quality pickleball games, and help others get better while having fun. 

We found the warehouse space and did a lot of diligent research on acoustics, court surface, and other areas in order to set up The Lab. A lot of our stuff is DIY and I think that’s what adds unique character to the Lab.

What is The Lab's focus/goal for pickleballers in Austin? 

We want Austin Pickleballers to feel like The Lab is their court. The time you spend at The Lab will have you laughing, geeking out on pickleball, having fun, and learning more about your game. 

Ryan and I love when people rent court space at The Lab, and we often watch them and throw out some strategy ideas, technique tips, and other notes to support the journey of the players.

In your words, what makes The Lab unique as a pickleball destination in the Austin area? 

The Lab was designed with a lot of passion, research, and intent. The building we are located in used to be a warehouse that was storage for plunges, showers, bathtubs, and all kinds of other items. And now, it is a pickleball haven. We think that’s pretty cool!

Interested in playing at The Lab for your next pickleball session? Visit their website playatthelab.com or reach out on Instagram @playatthelab to book court time, lessons, and more.

Austin Pickleball Update is also running a giveaway contest with Zane Navratil to promote the official opening of The Lab (mentioned above), which you can enter here.

Stay tuned to Austin Pickleball Update for future updates and news from The Lab!

Become a Dink Master 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 play?

More touches = 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. 

Read our full review of The Dink Master in APU Volume 11. 

Upcoming Tournaments, Leagues, Clinics, and Community Events

Clinics & Events

Community Events

Club Programs

Local Coaches

  • Amy Yarbrough upcoming Group Clinics & Mixers

    • Upcoming clinics include Skill and Shot Selections, Beginner and Advanced fundamentals, free intro classes, and more. 

Miscellaneous Events

  • Eastside Paddle Club is hosting a wine mixer on September 20 from 4-6pm.

  • MyPBLife is hosting a Pickleball Mixed for 35+ singles on September 21 from 7-9pm at Austin Pickle Ranch

  • Pickleland is hosting a kids pickleball camp from September 22 -October 13.

  • Engage Pickleball Camps is hosting a Intermediate and Intermediate Plus clinic at Harker Heights Athletic center on October 4 and 5. 

  • Paddle for a Purpose, presented by Arvo & Racquet Moms, is taking place Thursday October 17th from 6-9pm at Austin Pickle Ranch. This event is women-led and women-only, and the $89 ticket includes a custom Arvo Pink pickleball paddle, a matching neoprene case, a ball, and a chance to win some great raffle prizes.

Austin Pickleball Leagues

Austin Area Pickleball Tournaments

September

October

November

December

January

Austin Pickleball Update Social Groups

Follow Austin Pickleball Update on Instagram for pickleball content and local news and follow our Facebook group to learn about upcoming events.

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Share this newsletter with your Austin pickleball friends so that they stay up to date 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, reach out and let us know! We're always grateful to hear from our readers.

Look out for Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 23 on Thursday, September 26, 2024!

See you on the courts!✌️