Levels

The five levels, in plain words

Pickleball uses a scale from 2.0 to 5.0 and above. Our club runs from 2.0 to 4.0. Pick the one that sounds like you. If a morning feels too easy or too hard, say so and we move you; nobody is tested and nobody is stuck.

2.0

Brand new to the game

You are learning to serve underhand, keep the ball in and remember the score. Every session at this level assumes nothing.

2.5

Rallying

You can keep a short rally going and you know the kitchen rule, mostly. You are starting to move to the ball on purpose.

3.0

Playing real games

You serve and return with some consistency, you dink a little, and you know where to stand. Games are games now.

3.5

Consistent, thinking

You have a third-shot drop most days, you move with your partner, and you are working on patience at the kitchen line.

4.0

Strong and competitive

You control pace, mix drives and dinks, and rarely give a point away. You want partners who can do the same.

Two players seen from behind at the baseline waiting to serve, paddles down, visors on, palms beyond the court
Illustration Waiting to serve.

How a session runs

Every organised session is for one level, or two neighbouring levels when numbers are small. You arrive ten minutes early, warm up, and a host pairs the first games. From there it rotates: winners split, losers stay together, the next four come in. The host keeps the rotation fair so nobody sits out twice in a row.

Sessions are mornings in our launch plan, because Naples afternoons in season are for the shade. Socials and round-robins mix levels on purpose; open play does not.

Open play etiquette

Six habits that make a morning run well. New members pick them up in a session; long-time players are usually the ones reminding themselves.

Kitchen rules

The seven-foot zone at the net is the kitchen. No volleys from inside it, and no stepping in on the follow-through. Everyone gets this wrong at first; nobody minds.

Paddle tap

After every game, meet at the net and tap paddles. Win or lose, that is how a game ends here.

Rotation

Winners split, losers stay together, and the next four come in. Nobody sits for more than one game while the courts are full.

Call it fair

You call the lines on your side. If you are not sure, it was in. Say the score before every serve, loud enough for four people.

Be on time

Sessions start together so the pairing works. Arrive ten minutes early, warm up, and the morning runs itself.

Play the person in front of you

Match the game to the group. A 4.0 in a 3.0 session softens the game; a beginner never gets buried.

Where our launch-season plan starts

The club does not own courts, and it has no arrangement with any park. Our launch-season plan starts at public courts like these, because that is where Naples plays. The facts about each park are sourced; the club's use of them is a plan.

Fleischmann Park

Lighted courts in central Naples, and by local accounts the first Collier County park to offer pickleball, back in 2011. Court directories list a $5 drop-in or $25 a year.

Source: City of Naples
Public court, not a club facility

Days, courts and hosts are being confirmed. The first play calendar goes to founding members by email.

Open play words you will hear at the courts

Paddle stack
Paddles lined up in a rack or along the fence to hold places in line. The next four paddles make the next game.
Sign-up board
A whiteboard at some venues, such as East Naples, where you write your name at your level's court instead of stacking a paddle.
Level court
A court set aside for one skill level during open play, so a 3.0 game stays a 3.0 game.
Four off, four on
All four players leave the court after a game and the next four come on. Common when every court is busy.
Round-robin
An organised session where partners rotate every game, so everyone plays with everyone.

What to bring

  • A paddle. Any paddle. If you do not own one yet, say so on the founding list and we plan a way to borrow one for a first morning.
  • Two outdoor balls. The harder, smaller-holed ones. Indoor balls go soft in the sun.
  • Court shoes. Shoes built for sideways movement. Running shoes are not; see play safe.
  • Water, a hat or visor, and sunscreen. Naples mornings are kinder than afternoons, and still bright.
  • A towel and a light layer. For the coffee afterwards, which is half the point.
An open paddle bag on a bench with paddles, a towel and balls inside
Illustration The bag, packed.

Play questions

Where will we play?

Our launch-season plan starts at public courts like East Naples Community Park, Veterans Community Park and Fleischmann Park. These are public parks, not club facilities, and the club has no arrangement with any of them. The exact venues and days are being confirmed.

How are levels decided?

You tell us where you are, using the standard 2.0 to 4.0 scale, and we place you in a session that matches. If a morning feels too easy or too hard, say so and we move you. Nobody is tested and nobody is stuck.

What should I bring to a session?

A paddle, a couple of outdoor balls, court shoes, water, a hat or visor and sunscreen. If you do not own a paddle yet, tell us on the founding list and we will plan a way to borrow one for a first morning.

I have never played. Can I still join?

Yes. Being new to pickleball is not a barrier, being under 30 is. Read our guide for new players, then join the founding list and mark yourself as brand new. Our launch plan includes a gentle first session and clinics.