Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 4

Hello, and welcome to Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 4!

In this issue of APU you will find:

• Austin Pickleball Update in 2024

• Upcoming APU Paddle Demo Events

• Play Pickleball in Austin - Eastside Paddle Club

• Pickleball Gear - Selkirk Pro S1 Pickleball

• Austin Pickleball Update DUPR Events

• Upcoming Tournaments

Austin Pickleball Update in 2024

In 2023, it became clear that there is a growing desire and need for anything and everything related to pickleball in Austin; general news, information around courts, clubs, events, tournaments, and everything in between. In fact, the start of Austin Pickleball Update came about because my wife Kylee and I were looking for this very same information and weren't able to find it in a single place. We knew that if we were looking for it, there were other Austinites out there seeking the same thing. Thus our labor of love, Austin Pickleball Update, was born. 

2024 is going to be a big year for pickleball in Austin. We expect there to be numerous new facilities and clubs opening across the city (and are already aware of a few that are coming), and even with this growth, we still expect the demand for courts to outstrip new supply. This shouldn’t be viewed as a negative, as the growing interest for pickleball in Austin will continue to turn our city into a premiere destination for the sport.

Our intention with Austin Pickleball Update is to be the source for everything pickleball in Austin. We will continue to provide relevant information to educate our readers through our newsletters, so that you always know where to play, how to play, and what else is going on in the Austin Pickleball community. Our motivation is to always provide (and find new ways to provide) value for our readers, first and foremost. 

Austin Pickleball Update has a lot in store for 2024, including more paddle demo days, DUPR events, brand and club partnerships, community news, and more. If you’re a club, coach, instructor, brand, player, or anyone else interested in engaging with the pickleball community in Austin, we want to hear from you! 

It’s going to be a fun ride, and we are excited to be on it together building this amazing Austin pickleball community. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Upcoming APU Paddle Demo Events

After the success of our inaugural paddle demo events at SARC (see our demo event recap in APU - Volume 3), we are excited to announce the dates of our next paddle paddle demo events. We are also thrilled to be partnering with local clubs Austin Pickle Ranch and Urban Pickleball Club to bring these demo events to more players and locations!

If you’re interested in checking out and demoing some of the latest, high-end pickleball paddles, we’ll be running paddle demo events at the below locations and times:

• Austin Pickle Ranch - Friday 1/12 - 5-7pm - book a court here

• Austin Pickle Ranch - Wednesday 1/17 - 5-7pm - book a court here

• South Austin Rec Center - Saturday 2/3 - 9am-12pm - register here

• South Austin Rec Center - Sunday 2/11 - 9am-12pm - register here

• Urban Pickleball Club - Thursday 2/22 - 5-7pm - private member event

At our paddle demo events, you’ll be able to get play time with some of the newest and high-end paddles on the market, including:

• Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm

• Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm

• Selkirk SLK Halo 16mm

• Gearbox Pro Power Elongated 14mm

• Gearbox CX14E 14mm

• JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS 16mm

• Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm

• Six Zero Infinity Edgeless Double Black Diamond Control 16mm

• CRBN 1x 16mm

Interested in playing with the above paddles prior to our public demo days or for longer periods of time? Check out our local Austin paddle rental program here for more information.

Play Pickleball in Austin - Eastside Paddle Club

Eastside Paddle Club is a new indoor pickleball and social club that debuted officially in November, 2023. Located in East Austin at 979 Springdale Rd, their mission is to “elevate the pickleball experience by providing a unique atmosphere with a full suite of amenities similar to traditional sports clubs.” 

Eastside Paddle Club is unique to the Austin pickleball landscape in that it is the first indoor sports facility in Austin dedicated solely to pickleball. Anyone who has played pickleball in Austin during our intense summer heat or wet winters will find respite and comfort playing in Eastside Paddle Club’s indoor, climate controlled space. 

The facility currently has 6 indoor courts available for use, with 4 more rooftop courts coming soon.

Eastside Paddle Club offers two membership plans. A $169/month “standard” membership, provides private lockers, club gatherings and events, lounge & coworking spaces, and two guest passes per month, while their $299/month “premium” membership provides everything in the standard plan plus food and beverage discounts, a $50 bar tab each month, and the ability to reserve court spaces. 

In addition to their standard and premium memberships, their website states that they will have corporate, family, and under 21 offerings coming soon.

How to play pickleball at Eastside Paddle Club

You’ll need to be a member of Eastside Paddle Club in order to use the facility. Without a membership, the only way to play is through using a member’s guest pass, or joining a member during your first visit there. 

Eastside Paddle Club just launched their organized open play structure, which is broken down by time of day. The first segment is from 9am to 4pm where they have two courts available, one for advanced play and one for beginner/intermediate play. 

The second segment runs from 4pm to close, which is 8pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. During these times there are four courts available. There is a King’s/challenge court, where the winners stay on and the losers cycle off, in addition to a beginner, intermediate, and advanced court.

They are in the process of building paddle stacking racks for determining who is up to play next, and for the time being players should stack their paddles on the ground for their chosen court. 

If you’re ever unsure of the current style of play or court availability, you can refer to the TV next to their front desk after signing in for current details, rules, regulations, and player rotation.

We had the opportunity to check out Eastside Paddle Club, and am happy to share that we had a great experience at the facility. Everything onsite had a premium feel, from the lobby to the playing areas to the availability of balls and paddles for their members to use. The courts felt great to play on, with the bounce and feel you would expect from a great playing surface. It really felt like an elevated and curated pickleball experience, which I believe is what Eastside Paddle Club is going for. 

That said, we spoke with a few members of the club who let us know that the courts can become cluttered and loud when the facility gets busy and there are lots of players on or around the courts. Given the recent launch of the club, these feel like growing pains that will likely be addressed and improved in due time.

With the constantly growing and changing pickleball landscape in Austin, Eastside Paddle Club is a welcome and needed addition for the pickleball community. For any pickleball players in Austin looking to stay cool in the summer and dry in the winter, Eastside Paddle Club is a top-tier option for you to consider.

Also, big shout out to Ray at the front desk, who was warm, friendly, and welcoming during our visit. We appreciate you, Ray!

Pickleball Gear - Selkirk Pro S1 Pickleball

What ball do you use when playing pickleball? Which ball is best for outdoor pickleball use? What about in the summer heat, or in the winter cold? Similar to paddles types and brands, you’ll often find that pickleball players have a strong allegiance/preference for a specific type of pickleball. 

At SARC, for example, most people prefer to play with the Franklin X-40, which is also the official ball of the US Open Pickleball Championships. 

I have also come across a few players who are fond of the Onix Dura Fast 40, which claims to be the “fastest ball made in the sport of pickleball”. I’m not sure if that’s true, but it does make for good marketing. That said, the PPA Tour is switching its official ball from the Dura Fast 40 to a yet to be released ball, the Vulcan VPRO Flight Outdoor ball, so it looks like Dura could be on the way out, fast.

Selkirk has now entered the (literal) pickleball game, with the recent launch of the Selkirk Pro S1 pickleball. Selkirk’s key differentiator is that their balls only have a 38-hole pattern (compared to 40-hole in the X-40 and Dura), and that they are backed by a 1-year no-crack warranty. 

This 1-year no crack warranty has made some waves in the community, as most players I know, myself included, have cracked their fair share of pickleballs through regular play. I’m looking at you, Franklin X-40. 

That said, there are some very specific terms around this 1-year no-crack warranty. Firstly, the balls must have been purchased on selkirk.com or through an authorized US retailer. Second, “at least 4 defective balls and a receipt are required to submit a warranty claim.” 

So they have a no-crack warranty, but you need to crack 4 balls within a 1-year period to claim the warranty. Additionally, “normal wear and tear” and “balls that have gone ‘out of round’” (whatever that means) are not covered by the warranty.

Weird warranty and terms aside, I really like the Selkirk Pro S1 pickleballs, so much so that they have become my new go-to pickleball when playing. The balls feel durable, smooth in flight, and have a great bounce, and even if their no crack warranty may be a marketing gimmick, I’ve cracked way too many Franklin X-40s to keep purchasing and using those balls.

If a single Selkirk Pro S1 lasts twice as long as a Franklin X-40, I’d consider it a win, especially given that pricing for a 12-pack on Amazon is essentially the same, $28.77 for the X-40 vs $29.99 for the Pro S1. 

Have you spent time playing with the Selkirk Pro S1? How do you like it compared to the Dura or the X-40? Hit reply and let us know! 

Austin Pickleball Update DUPR Events

We've heard from our community that there is a massive interest in organized games to establish or increase your DUPR rating. APU is laser focused on what the Austin pickleball community is looking for, and will be launching organized DUPR events and leagues in 2024!

Want to join in on the action? Fill out our interest form here and we’ll follow-up with more information around DUPR days and leagues happening in 2024.

Not familiar with DUPR? Check out the "What is DUPR?" section in Volume 1 of our newsletter to learn more.

Upcoming Austin Area Pickleball Tournaments

Winter Slamout 2024 - February 03, 2024

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

• Overview - Welcome to one of Austin Deaf Pickleball’s first tournaments in 2024! The tournament features co-ed scramble matches where partners rotate each game. Matches play to 11 points, win by 2, during the round-robin phase, followed by a single-elimination bracket competing for bronze, silver, and gold medals. There are four four skill levels available: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, catering to ages 14 to 49, and 50 and above.

• Price - $40

CenTex Gold Cup - February 10-11, 2024

• Location - Dreamland, Dripping Springs, TX

• Overview - Round-robin play followed by brackets with a 5 game minimum, and teams advancing to the medal bracket finals competing in a best 2 of 3 set. The event is open to all levels of play  from 3.0-5.0 for juniors, collegiate, and open series participants.

• Price - $75

PPA Tour - March 12-17, 2024

• Location - Hills of Lakeway - Elevation Athletic Club, Lakeway, TX

• Overview - Amateur matches will be played alongside the championship court, where the top professionals in the world compete for the biggest payouts in the sport of pickleball. Double elimination, 5 team minimum for under 65 events, combined by skill. Round-robin for divisions of 5 teams. See website for detailed tournament information. 

• Price - $140 ($95 tourney fee + $40 per event fee + $5 registration fee)

  • If you are playing in the tournament, you get a free grounds pass included with your registration fee, which gives you access to amateur and professional matches that are not played on championship court.

Greater Texas Area Tournaments - Dallas, San Antonio, Houston

ERA's Houston Winter Showdown - January 26-28, 2024

• Location - Era Pickleball, Woodlands, TX

• Overview - Tournament includes senior (50+) men’s/women’s doubles, men's/women’s singles, men's/women’s doubles, and mixed doubles/senior mixed doubles. Teams will play a minimum of 3 matches, with pool play followed by single elimination games. Event skills range from 2.5-4.0, in addition to an open skill category.

• Price - $75

The DFW Amateur Open - March 2-3, 2024

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

• Overview - Single-game round-robin played to 11, win by 2, with a 5 game minimum, and teams advancing to the medal bracket finals compete in a single game to 15, win by 2. Event is open to all levels of play from 2.5-5.0, with events broken down by skill level and then age.

• Price - $65

002 San Antonio Showcase - March 8-10, 2024

• Location - Fairchild Park - 1214 E Crockett St San Antonio, TX

• Overview - In this MLP-style team event, matches are composed of four 21-point games, with the first being women’s doubles, then men’s doubles, and the final two games consisting of mixed doubles. Each game is worth 1 point and the whole match is a best of 4. All teams will play Saturday and Sunday. The tournament also offers a men’s/women’s singles event on Friday. 

• Price - $305 for team event (4 people), $35 for singles

Newsletter Sponsors

Get the edge on the pickleball court with Dr. Thomas Kolenda (DC, FASA, FICPA) of Kolenda Chiropractic in Austin, TX. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Kolenda specializes in helping athletes of all levels excel in their game and maintain peak physical condition. If you're experiencing soreness or pain after a challenging pickleball session, don't let it hold you back. Take advantage of Dr. Kolenda's expertise and schedule your first appointment today. 1-512-231-9002, [email protected], kolendachiropractic.com.

Interested in reaching our community of engaged pickleball players in Austin? Fill out our sponsor interest form here and we’ll be in touch.

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Look out for Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 5 on Thursday, January 18th, 2024!

See you on the courts!✌️

Phillip & Kylee Klugman - Austin Pickleball Update