June 6, 2023

In a world where public spaces are increasingly being monetized, local pickleball courts have found themselves in the crosshairs of controversy. 

Municipalities all over New Jersey are beginning to capitalize on pickleball’s meteoric rise in popularity by charging players for the use of their public courts, and players are outraged. 

“Why should I pay at a PUBLIC court? I already pay high taxes for these courts! If I am going to pay, I’ll go to an academy or clinic where I can get some instruction from a real pro and improve my game.”

But, the idea of charging players for use of public courts isn’t necessarily new. Brookdale Park, a popular public recreation spot in Montclair, NJ, has been charging $6 per player to use their pickleball courts for years. Astonishingly, this fee is strictly enforced at all hours of the day during the outdoor season. 

Some players suggest that this practice is harmful for the growth of pickleball and driving players away from public pay to play locations. 

Another local pickleball player said that she has “stopped going to Brookdale Park altogether” because she doesn’t believe she should pay up to $24 per hour for use of a public court. 

Moreover, local players have been complaining that the courts haven't been cleaned since the start of the 2023 season, arguing that the allocation of resources to monitor this fee collection rather than focusing on other maintenance and management tasks speaks volumes about misplaced priorities.

With new pickleball courts popping up seemingly every day, will those who charge a fee to play at public courts see a marked decrease in playership? The answer is likely yes, as it’s clear that some locations are already experiencing an exodus.

Galloway Open

Galloway, NJ

6/16 - 6/19

MP Summer Championship

Hamilton, NJ

7/14 - 7/16

PickleRight Inaugural Tournament

Flourtown, PA

6/10 - 6/11

Father's Day Celebration

Mahwah, NJ

6/17

Put Away More Overhead Slams

Turn sideways to hit your overhead slams. This will allow you to generate optimal power as you can rotate through the shot. It's very difficult to hit the ball hard and accurately if you are facing square to the net. A great analogy that I like to use is throwing a ball in baseball, softball, and football. They almost always throw from a sideways stance, because that is the most efficient way to throw hard and accurately. In fact, the overhead slam in pickleball is very similar to the motion of throwing a ball. If you can throw, you can definitely hit an overhead. Just make sure you get sideways!

Check out this video on how to perfect your overhead slam!

Summer Tennis Camp in North Jersey!

Looking for something fun for your kids this summer? First Serve Tennis is offering a daily tennis camp for ages 5 to 17 at Verona High School! Reach out to 973-699-5831 with any questions and find more details/sign up here: https://www.firstservetennisnj.com/summercamp

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