Pickleball has found a new home at San Diego Mission Bay Resort and it’s a “big dill” for players of the fast-growing sport, who are scouring the region to find more places to play.

San Diego Pickleball begins play on six to eight newly resurfaced, dual-lined courts on Friday, April 14 at Mission Bay Resort at 1775 E. Mission Bay. Booking began on April 7 through sandiegopickleball.com. Players can book courts for reserved play through the website seven days in advance. The cost is $32 for a 2-hour play session; $40 for a 2 1/2-hour play session; $44 for a 3-hour play session. Each booking is for four players and additional players can be included in the play session at $8 per player collected courtside.

“San Diego Pickleball was founded in June 2016,” said Blake Fidler, San Diego Pickleball spokesperson. “Play began at the Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma and continued for three years. In June 2019, San Diego Pickleball relocated to the Pacific Beach Tennis Club where play just ended in March after almost four years. Seven years later, San Diego Pickleball is still going strong.

“We are excited to offer open play for drop-in players every weekday from 1:30-4 p.m.,” continued Fidler adding, “Players will be separated by ability level if needed to allow for both social and competitive play. A court monitor will coordinate the rotation of play, nurturing a welcoming atmosphere and collecting $8 per player collected courtside. The additional court time will allow for reserved play, open play, round robins, ladders, drills, and instruction. San Diego Pickleball is open to the public and will continue to welcome all players at all ability levels for both social and competitive play.”

The resort is also offering intro pickleball lessons on Saturdays starting at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at $25 per player collected courtside. Parking is available on the street outside San Diego Mission Bay Resort and in the public lot, Playa Pacifica Park, with a short walk across to the resort. Please avoid parking in the resort, which is $42 per day.

Pickleball is an indoor/outdoor racket/paddle sport where two players (singles), or four players (doubles), hit a perforated hollow plastic ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles. Pickleball was invented in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in Washington State, and in 2022, adopted as the official state sport.

A pickleball court, and the manner of play, resembles tennis, but the court is less than a third the size of a tennis court. The hard plastic ball used in pickleball produces significantly less bounce than softer flexible balls, which gives the game a dynamic pace and strategy ranging from soft dink shots that stay within the two non-volley zones to powerful drive shots and overhead smash shots.

One of the fastest-growing sports in the United States with over 4.8 million players, its growing interest can be attributed to several factors, including a short learning curve, appeal to a wide range of ages and fitness levels, and low startup costs.

PICKLEBALL COURTS

Where: San Diego Mission Bay Resort, 1775 E. Mission Bay.

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Info: sandiegopickleball.com, 858-630-8740.