When you’re considering things to do in Hilton Head on your next vacation, chances are you’re thinking of the beach, water activities, and fine dining. You might add a trip to the Discovery Museum, nature tours, visits to a preserve and wildlife refuge, and even the distillery to your itinerary.
But if you like fun, competitive games, how about Hilton Head pickleball?
A relative to and hybrid of elements of tennis, ping pong, and badminton, pickleball involves paddles, a wiffleball, and a court the size of a badminton court. Forcing you to play closer to your partner and your opponent than tennis, it’s a highly social, low-impact game that has caught on in many cities and states across the U.S. Pickleball has been referred to by some as “America’s fastest-growing game.”
Enjoyed by a wide range of people, from celebrities to executives to sports enthusiasts to casual players, pickleball has popped up in Hilton Head resorts as well as recreation centers and sports clubs, making pickleball on Hilton Head Island a top entry on many lists of things to do in Hilton Head Island.
Learn more about pickleball and our pickleball courts near our Hilton Head condo rentals.
The History of Pickleball
It all began in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, as the result of boredom, more than a little ingenuity, and a creative challenge.
Two golfers became involved in creating their own game; after a series of experiments with different types of balls, paddles, and rackets, as well as the net height and playing surface, pickleball was born. Interest gradually extended beyond neighbors and relatives. By 1972, the pickleball name was trademarked and kits were being manufactured as popularity grew.
Typically, the game is played with doubles, though singles can play as well. Small paddles volley a wiffle-like ball that weighs a little more than an actual wiffleball over the net, with the served ball hit overhand as in tennis. The served ball is to land on the court diagonally opposite from the server. Only one bounce is allowed before the return volley. “Faults” such as a served ball touching any part of the non-volley zone, a ball getting hit out of bounds, the ball’s contact with the net, a hit from the non-volley zone, or a hit before the ball bounces once, all lead to points. The first to score 11 points wins.
Unofficially, the first pickleball tournament occurred in 1976 in Tukwila, Washington. More organized tournaments began in 1982. The first rulebook for the sport was published in 1984, and by 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was established in 2005, and that organization’s website is attributed to the growth of the game’s popularity. Today, the USAPA has more than 53,000 members and more than 2,300 registered players.
National pickleball championships began to play in 2009 in Buckeye, Arizona, with less than 400 participants. In 2016, however, registration was capped due to space limitations. By 2019, nationals expanded into a 10-day event with nearly 28,000 in attendance.
Desperate to find an outdoor activity during the 2020 pandemic restrictions, many people turned to pickleball, as the sport saw just over a 21 percent increase in participation during that year. In 2022, Washington’s state legislature officially named pickleball the state sport.
Pickleball at HHI Beach & Tennis Resort
Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort is one of the resorts that offer Hilton Head pickleball along with tennis courts just across Ocean Front Boulevard from some of our Hilton Head oceanfront condos.
These newly-installed permanent courts—six in total—provide exquisite views of the Atlantic Ocean and are surrounded by stunning resort landscaping. Balls and paddles are available at the front desk from Tuesdays through Thursdays and at the fitness center from Friday through Monday.
Besides ideal weather and new, well-maintained courts, HHI Beach & Tennis Resort has PPR Certified Pickleball coaches to help you master the game through lessons and clinics. Round robins are also taught by Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) coaches. As of June 2022, HHI Beach & Tennis Resort hosts an Intro to Pickleball event wherein players can learn basic strokes and score from pro coaches. This learning and training opportunity is held every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
You can schedule to play between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday – Sunday at the fitness center. While the cost is $10 per court per hour, the resort offers complimentary play time for residents.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re ready to learn a new sport and make some incredible memories, book a stay with Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort. We offer everything you may need for the vacation of a lifetime!
Tennis and pickleball coaches at HHI Beach & Tennis Resort are a husband/wife team. Denny is a charter member of the Professional Pickleball Registry and former Director of Tennis at Hilton Head Island’s Port Royal Racquet Club, while Tanda is a former USPTA and USPTR Tennis Professional and 33-year Activities Director of that same club.
Find Your Hilton Head Island Condo
At the 50+ -acre Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, you’ll find many condos including oceanfront and oceanview condos. Enjoy such amenities as full-sized, fully stocked kitchens, spacious living and dining areas, direct beach access via four boardwalks, provided linens and towels, flat-screen TVs, high-speed internet, and laundry facilities.
Some features vary from condo to condo; based on your particular rental, you could enjoy queen-sized beds, captain’s bunks, sleeper sofa, private patio, furnished balcony, beach-inspired art, and décor, up to 42-in. TV, blue ray DVD, and ceramic flooring. These Hilton Head Island condos can comfortably sleep between four and six guests.
Besides the tennis and pickleball courts, our Hilton Head Island resort has a fitness center-pro shop combo, with equipment such as tennis rackets, tennis balls, pickleball paddles, and balls to borrow to play on the courts, and bags, equipment, accessories, and clothing for sale. The fitness center contains aerobic equipment (treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals) and weights. The center is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day.
Resort amenities also include pools, a kiddie pool, a convention center, and restaurants like CocoNutz Sportz Bar with burgers, sandwiches, and outdoor dining. You can also enjoy a drink at Jamaica Joez Beach Bar and a frozen treat at Jamaica Monz Ice Cream Hut, offering soft serve, snow cones, and more.