Tustin Pickleball offers a drop-in, open play format where players of all skill levels can rotate in and out of games playing with different partners and opponents throughout the session. It's a community-focused way to play, offering a relaxed environment for both novices and experienced players to enjoy the sport. 

 

In addition to abiding by our Code of Conduct, anyone who plays at Tustin Pickleball is expected to follow our open play guidelines and rules which are posted at the courts. Following these rules moves the games along smoothly and helps everyone play as much pickleball as possible.

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Playing on the Right Court

 

It is very important that all members play on the appropriate court for their skill level. We all want to have the best game possible and that usually requires that all players are close to the same level. A mismatched game could be over in an instant resulting in a waste of time for everyone and lots of frustration when wait times are long.

 

Players who want to play up a level to improve or partner with a friend, should do so when the courts are less crowded and certainly when higher level players are more willing to accommodate. If you do play up, be courteous and don't overstay your welcome. Conversely, higher level players who play down to work on a skill or partner with a friend should be courteous by reducing power and hitting shots that are easier for the opponents to handle. 

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Keep in mind that there is always less friction with people playing down than there is with people playing up... and it's much easier to tell someone they need to move up, versus telling someone they need to move down. To encourage self-regulation, we created the “2-7 rule” (posted on every court) which states that you need to move down a level if you lose two games by 7 or more points.

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Guidelines for Moving Up to Courts 7 & 8

 

If you're a high intermediate player wanting to move up to courts 7 and 8, there are important guidelines to follow. To play on these courts, you should be able to consistently hit an accurate drop shot from the baseline into your opponent's kitchen, be able to reset the ball from multiple court positions, and engage in extended dink rallies. No matter how hard you hit the ball, if you cannot meet these guidelines, you are not an advanced level player and should not be playing on these courts.

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It Takes All of Us to Create the Best Experience for Everyone

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If we can all follow the rules, be more aware of how our actions impact others, and make a concerted effort to play on the correct level courts, we can reduce the occurrence of “bad” games and create the best overall experience for everyone.