Pickleball at Dinkers

Location is largest pickleball facility in Rochester

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Fifteen years ago, Stefanie Powell, 51, would have never imagined herself the owner of Dinkers, the Rochester area’s largest pickleball facility.

About 4,000 members and non-members play there regularly and a majority of them are 55 and older.

Powell says that many of them are empty nesters looking for a means to connect with others and for a way to stay active. Pickleball meets both needs.

Initially, Powell felt interest in playing tennis until she saw pickleball on television. That looked like fun, so she gave it a try.

“I loved it and I haven’t stopped playing,” she said. “It’s the only sport I could play at 8 o’clock in the morning and by 4 I’m looking for more games.”

The game melds elements of badminton, ping-pong and tennis. Participants use what looks like an oversized ping-pong paddle to lob a perforated plastic ball over an undersized tennis court. Pickleball may be played as singles or doubles.

Powell saw growth in pickleball as the sport picked up traction and pickleball courts became available at many community centers and parks. Powell realized that the accessibility of pickleball meant it would appeal more to older adults who are watching their budget and their joint health.

“Tennis is a little harder on the joints and the tennis players tend to transition to pickleball to stay active,” Powell said. “You could be a person who’s never ever played a paddle or racquet sport and play this as well. There are players here who have never had an athletic background, but they come out to take classes and lessons and they just enjoy it.”

The court is smaller than in tennis, so there’s less running around. The cost of equipment is reasonable, around $60 to $280 for a paddle. Some pickleball players frequent low-cost venues like community centers or parks. Because of its accessibility, Powell estimates that about 8,000 to 10,000 people in the Rochester area play “and that’s being conservative,” she said.

She opened Dinkers in East Rochester in 2017. As a public club, Dinkers welcomes drop-ins and takes reservations for one of its four outdoor courts or eight indoor courts or for an event like a birthday party or fundraiser. Walk-ins pay $10 per person for two hours’ access (minimum four people). Membership is $45 for singles or $70 per family per month, which includes unlimited play and discounts on events.

“The people like the social part of it,” Powell said. “It’s a melting pot of people for sure. Women, men and especially with younger people who are up and coming in the sport. It’s incredible the talent and desire to get back on the court and play again.”

The Association of Pickleball Professionals and the Professional Pickleball Association have helped promote the sport. Powell’s four sons once called pickleball an “old lady’s sport,” but now in their 20s, they’re hooked.

Powell advises people new to pickleball to not “go in with any expectations,” she said. “The hardest part is the name. People are apprehensive because of the name. You can look at it as social or competitive. You can get out of it what you want.”

Dinkers offers pickleball instruction and allows pro shop patrons to test paddles before purchasing.

To learn more about where you can play pickleball in the Rochester area, visit www.pickleheads.com/courts/us/new-york/rochester