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‘Anyone can get involved’: Here are some local places to play pickleball

Amelia Stern, The Enterprise
·4 min read

BROCKTON —In Brockton, searches for pickleball courts more than doubled over the past year, according to data from Pickleheads, a free website that allows searchers to find pickleball courts, games, and lessons throughout the U.S.

Over the past year, searches for pickleball courts in Brockton have risen by 75% on our website, said Brandon Mackie, the co-founder and COO of Pickleheads. “I think the pandemic was just a catalyst that exposed the world to pickleball. It's the fastest growing sport in America and it’s showing no signs of slowing down,” he said.

In Brockton, part of Pickleball’s appeal stems from its accessibility. “Pickleball is truly a sport that spans all races, genders, age groups, and income levels. It's very affordable to get involved,” said Mackie.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game of pickleball and where you can play in Brockton.

C.D. Woods with partner Ross Zachs return a ball at the net during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
C.D. Woods with partner Ross Zachs return a ball at the net during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

What do I need to play pickleball?

Pickleball is a sport played on a badminton-sized court — 20 feet by 44 feet for both singles and doubles — with a net set to a height of 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center, according to USA Pickleball. For comparison, a tennis court net is set at 42 inches at the sidelines and 36 inches in the center by the International Tennis Federation.

Colleen Durno returns a forehand during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Colleen Durno returns a forehand during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

All that’s needed to play is a plastic ball and a pickleball paddle, which is twice the size of a ping-pong paddle.

“It's very affordable to get involved,” said Mackie. “You can buy [a paddle] for $20 on Amazon and that's really all the equipment that you need,” said Mackie. “It's very different from a sport like golf or cycling where you have to spend $1,000’s or join a country club.”

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How do I play pickleball?

Like tennis, each pickleball rally will start with a serve over the net that must get into the diagonal court, but not in the non-volley zone, which is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net where players can’t hit a shot out of the air. Each serve must also be hit with an underhand stroke.

Jason Verhoosky returns a backhand during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Jason Verhoosky returns a backhand during the Brown Billone Club Pickleball Classic in Easton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

After the serve, the game continues until a player’s shot is out of bounds, hits the net, or if a player misses the ball completely. The ball must bounce on both sides of the court before a player can volley.

The first team to 11 points wins, but you have to win by 2 points. You can only win points on your own serve, but in doubles, each player will have a chance to serve before it goes to the opponent.

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Where can I play pickleball near Brockton?

  • Brown Billone Club in North Easton: Six indoor, lighted courts available with permanent lines and portable nets. Sign up for pickleball games at www.bbcpickleball.com for $12 per 2-hour game. A membership is not required to sign up for games. Visit www.eastontennisandswim.net/Pickleball or call 508-297-1599 for more information.

  • Charles Watt Tennis Courts in Stoughton: Six outdoor courts available with permanent lines and permanent nets. It is free to play and reservations are not required.

  • Dana Barros Basketball Club (DBBC) in Stoughton: Five indoor courts available with permanent lines and portable nets. Sign up for the DBBC Pickleball Team at www.PlayerLineUp.com for $15 per game or $100 for 11 games. A membership is not required to sign up for games. Visit www.danabarros3.com/pickleball/ or call 781-436-3820 for more information.

  • Edgewood Pool and Tennis Club in Raynham: Eight outdoor courts available with permanent lines. Players must bring their own nets. A year-long individual pickleball membership of $100 or a family pickleball membership of $300 is required. Official pickleball programming will be posted in May. Visit www.edgewoodpoolandtennisclub.com or call 508-977-7795 for more information.

  • Fore Kicks in Taunton: Six indoor, lighted courts available with permanent lines and portable nets. Each game is $12 per person. Sign-up ahead of time online. A membership is not required to sign up for games. Visit www.forekicks.com/taunton/  or call 508-822-4433 for more information.

  • Frothingham Park in Stoughton: Four outdoor courts available with permanent lines. Players must bring their own pickleball nets. It is free to play and reservations are not required.

  • The Old Colony YMCA in Brockton: Two indoor, lighted courts available with permanent lines and portable nets. A YMCA membership is required to reserve a court. Visit www.oldcolonyymca.org/locations/brockton-branch or call 508-583-2155 for more information.

  • The Old Colony YMCA in Taunton: Two indoor courts available with permanent lines and portable nets. A YMCA membership is required to reserve a court. Visit www.oldcolonyymca.org/locations/taunton-branch or call 508-823-3320 for more information.

  • Randolph InterGenerations Center (RICC) in Randolph: Two outdoor courts available with permanent lines and permanent nets. A membership is required to reserve a court. Visit www.randolphicc.com or call 781-961-0930 for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Pickleball courts in and around Brockton 2024