Pickleball FAQ

 

 

 

 

Indoor open play Pickleball is available for ALL members on the following days/times:

Sundays 9:00AM-11:00AM

Mondays 11:00AM-1:00PM & 5:30PM-7:30PM

Wednesdays 11:00AM-1:00PM

Fridays 11:00AM-1:00PM

 

 

PICKLEBALL POLICY:

Players can come individually or play as a group. Rotations between individual players and group rotations is a must.

Please be courteous and open to other members wanting to play and make some new friends!

Paddles & balls are available at the Members Service Desk to borrow.

Must check in at the front desk before going onto the outdoor court.

 

 

 

I am new to pickleball. How do I get started?
Welcome to NH Pickleball and the Executive Country Club! And welcome to the nation’s fastest growing sport. With the opening of our 4 new outdoor pickleball courts, and a planned expansion of 22 outdoor courts, 10 indoor courts, and a championship court, now is a perfect time to learn. To get started, we recommend you connect with one of our professionals, who will set you up with private lessons and group programs that will teach you skill development, strategy, and teamwork, ensuring you learn the fundamentals. Once you feel ready, you can continue your lessons, and also engage in “Open Play.” Courts will be designated for play by beginners, intermediates, and advanced players. Our experienced pickleball professionals can assist you with determining your player level and making recommendations. If you have your own group of players and wish to reserve a court, your membership will determine how far in advance you can schedule a reservation and those reservations can be made directly through our Front Desk.

 

How do I meet other players to play pickleball with?
As an Executive Country Club member, we offer many options for you to meet fellow pickleball players. This includes Open Play, clinics, group programs, and leagues. Our professionals can assist you with connecting with members and players with similar skills so you can establish new social connections and enjoy the game!

 

How do I know if there will be anyone there to play with during Open Play?
Our Open Play schedule offers a series of set times each week where all players with a reservation can participate in fun and challenging games. For information and assistance with Open Play, we recommend connecting with one of our pickleball professionals.

 

Is there specific age group programming for pickleball?
All ages are welcome on the court! From young kids to older adults, beginners to pros, and fierce competitors to social players, people of all ages and abilities are playing pickleball. Ages 16 and up can reserve court time through our Front Desk. Ages 15 and younger must have an adult present on the court to play.

 

What is the difference between Open Play pickleball and a pickleball court reservation?

Court reservation: As an Executive Country Club member, you will be able to reserve your court through the Front Desk.

1. Courts may be reserved for up to 2 hours per day.

2. Country Club members may book courts up to 7 days prior.

3. *Founding members may book courts up to 14 days prior.

Open Play. Reserve your spot on the court at the Front Desk to compete and play with other players who register with an Open Play reservation. If there are more than six players registered, each player will rotate in. This is a great way to meet new players! Open Play and court reservation access is dependent on membership type. Court Reservations

 

How do I reserve a court?
Pickleball court reservations can be done through our Front Desk. To reserve a court time, simply visit our Front Desk and a member of our staff will assist you with your reservation. Executive Country Club members may book a reservation as much as 7 days in advance. Other members and/or guests should be included in the reservation at this time. Additional members/guests may be added to the reservation prior to playing, but anyone not listed on the reservation will not be allowed on the courts. Court reservation access and fees are dependent on club and membership type. All court fees will be billed to the member booking the court.

 

How far in advance can I reserve a pickleball court?
For our “Founders” members, Pickleball court reservations can be made 14 days prior to the day of the reservation For our “Country Club” members, Pickleball court reservations can be made 7 days prior to the day of the reservation. Court reservation access and fees are dependent on club and membership type.

 

Are pickleball court reservations an additional cost?
Court fees vary depending on membership type.

 

How do I cancel my pickleball court reservation?
You are able to cancel your pickleball court reservation at the Front Desk. You can modify your reservation up to 24 hours prior to your reservation. You will not be able to cancel the reservation within that 24-hour window and any associated court fees will apply.

 

If I reserve pickleball Open Play, what should I expect?
Pickleball Open Play offers the opportunity to meet new players. We offer a general Open Play and Open Play times with specified skill levels at various times throughout the week. During Open Play, each player will reserve a space for themselves for a one- hour reservation. Limited spaces are available for registrants to enroll. When you arrive, players will team up 2 versus 2. Once the game is complete, players will rotate partners or allow waiting players a chance to sub in.

 

How far in advance can I reserve a spot in Open Play?
Executive Country Club members may book as spot any time prior to Open Play by visiting the Front Desk. It is recommended that members book their spot at least 24 hours prior to the Open Play time, so that other members will know how many people will be attending. I need to cancel my Open Play reservation.

 

What do I need to know?
Open Play reservations may be canceled by visiting the Front Desk.

 

What happens if I miss an Open Play time I reserved?
In consideration of other members who are reserving spots Open Play, members who fail to cancel an Open Play reservation and fail to show up may be charged an associated fee.

 

Can I join an Open Play without a reservation?
Members must reserve their spot by visiting the Front Desk to ensure a spot will be available when they arrive. If there are spots available at the start of the Open Play time, they will be given to members by the Front Desk on a first come, first served until the spots are full. Access to Open Play dependent on club and membership type.

 

Can I bring a guest with me to play pickleball?
Our “Founders” and “Country Club” members may bring guests to play pickleball when they reserve a court. Court fees for guests will vary depending on membership levels. Open Play pickleball is reserved for “Founders” and “Country Club members only at this time.

 

Common Pickleball terms:
Carry: A normal pickleball shot bounces off the paddle. A carry is when the ball slides along the paddle when swinging the paddle forward, giving the visual appearance of you throwing the ball off your paddle.

 

Cross-court: Cross-court refers to a player’s position on the court. When a player is located in one of the playing boxes (let’s say the right side), cross-court refers to the box that is diagonally across from that player (in this example, the left side) on the other side of the net.

 

Kitchen: The kitchen is 7’ space on either side of the pickleball net. This space a different color from the reminder of the court to make it easily identifiable. A player may not step into this space unless the ball has already bounced within it. A player may not stand in the kitchen and hit the ball out of the air. This is also referred to as the “non-volley zone.”

 

Live ball: A live ball is a ball that will bounce off the playing surface once. A player must make contact with the ball off of the first bounce or else the ball will become “dead.”

 

Dead ball: A dead ball can refer to a ball that is no longer in play. A player must make contact with the ball off of the first bounce or else the ball will become “dead.” A dead ball can be a pickleball that has lost its proper bounce.

 

Dink shot: A dink shot is commonly understood as a softly hit pickleball ball shot that is hit from the non-volley zone that lands on the opposite side in the non-volley zone. A dink shot may be hit directly in front of or cross-court from the player who is hitting the dink shot. A dink shot can also be understood as a shot hit from anywhere on the court that is softer in nature, intended to land in non-volley zone.

 

Double bounce: Double bounce indicates that the ball bounces twice thus creating a dead ball or it can make reference to the “two bounce rule” (i.e., double bounce rule).

 

Double bounce rule: The double bounce rule is a pickleball-specific rule that prohibits any pickleball player hitting the ball out of the air until the serving team and receiving team have allowed the ball to be hit and bounce off the ground once on each side.

 

Ground stroke: A ground stroke is any shot made on the pickleball court. A common ground stroke in pickleball is called a drive. This ground stroke is a shot that is hit hard with pace using your whole body to generate pressure against an opponent.

 

Lob: A lob is a type of shot that a player hits out of the air or off the bounce over their opponent’s head.

 

Volley: Volley means to hit the ball out of the air.

 

Non-volley zone: The non-volley zone is 7’ space on either side of the pickleball net. This space a different color from the reminder of the court to make it easily identifiable. A player may not stand in the non-volley zone and hit the ball out of the air. This is also referred to as the “kitchen.”

 

Third shot drop: In pickleball, the three basic shots any player must hit are the serve, return, and a third shot option (lob, drive, drop). A third shot drop is a shot that takes a dink shot and combines distance. With this type of shot, the player hits a soft shot hit, after the return of serve. This shot has a gentle arch intended to be unattackable and land into the kitchen. The purpose of this shot is to take away space from your opponents and allow your team to get to the non-volley zone.

 

Skill Levels: Our pickleball professionals are available to assist members with assessing their skill level.

 

1.0–2.5: You’re a beginner. As you get closer to the end range of this scale, you learn how to keep score, understand serving positions, and can successfully serve the ball four out of 10 times.

2.5–3.0: You’re at a beginner-intermediate level. You’re more confident in hitting the ball out of the air, hitting ground strokes, and blocking shots.

3.0–3.5: You’re generally considered intermediate. You’re not as afraid of the non-volley zone and have an impetus to enjoy getting closer to the net. You start exploring different shots, such as sideline shots and lobs — perhaps even attempting a dink here and there.

3.5–4.0: You’re generally considered to be at an intermediate-advanced level. This is where the game starts to take a different shape, says Dutrieuille. You’re comfortable and confident with ground strokes, you hit the ball hard, you want to get to the non-volley zone line and are attempting to do a third shot drop. Your ability to manipulate and slow down the game increases.

4.0–4.5: You know where you want to hit the ball and are directionally intent — and you get it there about 60 percent of the time. You can easily serve successfully eight out of 10 times. You’re able to execute a third shot drop and a reset shot about 50 percent of the time.

5.0–5.5: You’re able to perform a third shot drop and a reset about 80 to 90 percent of the time.

5.5+: You’re at a pro level. You’re executing all shots at a rate of 90 percent or higher. Do you offer progressive lessons or clinics to further advance my skill? We are excited to support you in improving your pickleball skills. Our experienced pickleball professionals host a variety of options for you to get involved. This includes lessons and group clinics for players at all levels. We also offer private lessons through our experienced, certified professionals.

 

Will you be hosting pickleball tournaments?
Yes. There will be a select number of tournaments throughout the year. Those tournaments will be scheduled well in advance and posted on our website: https://nhpickleball.com/

 

Where do I enroll for tournament and leagues? As tournaments and leagues are scheduled, registration information will be available on our website: https://nhpickleball.com/ Our Professionals can assist you with information relative to tournaments and leagues.

 

What ranking system does the Executive Country Club use for pickleball?
While rankings are not a requirement of involvement our recreational play, the DUPR ranking system is a widely utilized option for general guidelines on player skill ranking. Our Professionals can assist you with skill rankings.

 

What paddles do you recommend for Pickleball?
The price of Pickleball paddles varies and can range anywhere from $60 to $300. The Executive Country Club has loaner paddles and pickleballs that are complimentary, so feel free to try them out before you buy!

 

What are the two types of pickleball balls?
Pickleballs are designed for either indoor play (no wind) or outdoor play. The Executive Country Club has both indoor and outdoor balls. Indoor balls have larger and fewer holes. Outdoor balls are harder and have smaller and more holes. The Executive Country Club has Selkirk Pro S1 outdoor balls available for use by our members.

 

Are pickleball paddles and balls provided?
Players are welcomed and encouraged to bring their own paddles, but we will have loaner paddles and pickleballs available for use by our members.