There seems to be no end in sight for the pickleball boom in the United States. As interest and participation levels have soared in recent years, it’s been called the fastest-growing sport in the country. But while pickleball has attracted Americans of all ages and skill levels, a similar racquet sport has captivated athletes worldwide. Padel, billed as a mix between tennis and squash, has enjoyed a surge of popularity across the globe. Soon, St. Louisans will be able to play an old favorite or try something new in a new location.
The Padel and Pickle Club (1220 N Price) is on track to open in Olivette this December. Here’s what you can expect once it opens.
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The Location
The sprawling, 42,000-square-foot complex will feature eight pickleball courts and six panoramic padel courts, along with locker room facilities, a lounge and bar, and a pro shop. Co-founder Kevin Maher Jr. says the idea is to launch the Padel and Pickle Club brand with a flagship location in St. Louis, before expanding into several other cities in the coming years.
“This is a true passion project,” Maher says. “St. Louis has such a rich tradition with racquet sports in general, so we really wanted to launch our idea here with location No. 1, with plans to get to seven other cities in the next five years. We feel very passionately that the community is going to love it.”
The pickleball courts, in particular, are designed with player comfort in mind. They’ll be built with a CushionMaster II surface that is meant to reduce injuries.
“We intentionally went with a little bit more expensive product on the pickleball side,” Maher says. “That will help with tissue injury mitigation. We want to make sure we do everything within our power to give everyone a very safe, fun, engaging place to play.”
After games and tournaments, players can clean up in the showers before grabbing a drink—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served—in the lounge area.
“The bar and the lounge open to the central area where you can sit and get a panoramic view of all the different courts and see all the different types of play going on,” Maher says. “You can stick around and have a Gatorade, or have a Coke or a beer. We designed this and built this so that after you jump off the court, you can grab a shower, cool off a bit, and then watch some other people play.”
Padel
If you haven’t tried pickleball, chances are you know someone who plays. In St. Louis, there is an ever-expanding list of places people can learn, play, and practice the sport. Padel is similar to pickleball, in that it’s easy to learn and accessible to players of all ages. But there are some key differences.
The sport originated in Mexico in the 1960s, blending elements of tennis and squash. Games are played in a doubles format on a walled court, with a scoring system that is exactly the same as tennis.
“It’s a very easy sport to learn,” Maher says. “It’s one of the most fun, engaging, unique racquet sports that I’ve ever played. It’s a social, athletic game, and anyone can get out there. You could be 12 years old, or you could be 72 years old. What we wanted to do was combine these two fun racquet sports under one roof.”
How to get started
The Padel and Pickle Club will offer open play, tournaments, clinics, and leagues, as well as training sessions with an in-house instructor. There will be 1,400 memberships available for purchase. Later this fall, a membership presale will offer regular individual memberships for $60 per month. Family memberships will also be available.
“We can also do guest passes,” Maher says. “If someone wants to try before they buy, they can sign up online or on our app. Once you sign up, come in and play for an hour to see if you like it. If someone really enjoys it, they can sign up for a membership. If not, they can continue with guest passes and still have an opportunity to play as time goes on.”
