Relish the Idea
PIckleball, anyone?
More and more, the answer is yes.
Monster Smash
Oct. 7–9
Sawyer Point Pickleplex
815 East Pete Rose Way
CPC members get discounted registration. All event registrations include either a boxed lunch or a food truck voucher and a drink ticket that can be used for beer, seltzer, water, or a soft drink
For more information, check out the event page.
The nation’s fastest-growing sport has a chokehold on Cincinnati, from professional tour stops to neighborhood pickup games in cul-de-sacs from Walton to West Chester.
The sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, rose to recent prominence during the pandemic, but it’s been around since 1965. It draws fans of all ages, from all corners of the country, with players now eclipsing the five million mark nationwide.
Why? Several reasons, according to pickleball experts here and around the country. It has a low barrier of entry – all you need is a paddle, a small court and a net – and, according to Mitch Dunn, co-founder and president of the CIncinnati Pickleball Club, it’s “easy to learn – but difficult to master. The sport attracts people looking for something athletic that is easy to pick up. Once they start playing though, they often find that the "difficult to master" part is what really hooks them. It's that part that makes the sport so addictive.”
Dunn and fellow co-founder Karen Games launched the Cincinnati Pickleball Club (CPC) in January 2020 – before the pandemic saw pickleball participation rise exponentially.
“We saw a huge opportunity for the tri-state. We made it our mission to turn Cincinnati into the hub of midwest pickleball, “ Dunn said. “We were confident we could pull this off because of Cincinnati's heritage as a tennis town.”
Since then, CPC has grown into one of the largest pickleball organizations in the midwest, with more than 1,500 members. The group has helped draw both professional pickleball tours to the city, with multi-year commitments.
Dunn points out, “Since we launched we have hosted eight major tournaments, run year-round league play that attracts roughly 200 players per session, given over 1,000 lessons, and hosted more Club events than we can count.”
And the allure of pickleball has made it to the city level as well. The city of Cincinnati saw enough potential in the sport to renovate the Sawyer Point Pickleplex, a $600,000 complex that will be the site of the third annual Monster Smash, a pickleball tournament sponsored by CPC, Oct. 7–9.
“Monster Smash is our last tournament of the year, and we think it's the most enjoyable tournament,” said Dunn. “It's a celebration of pickleball, Halloween, and the fall weather that Cincinnatians love.”
It also includes live music, a college division, a beer booth, and food trucks throughout the weekend. And the best part: anyone can enter.
“Even if you're not playing, we encourage people to come down to Sawyer Point and watch some of our gold medal matches. Pickleball is as fun to watch as it is to play.”
In addition to competition, Monster Smash will also feature open play once tournament play concludes.
“Pickleball is a game for all, regardless of your athletic prowess,” Dunn said. “I play with 12-year-olds and 87-year-olds in the same day, and have great experiences with both. So if you're curious, come out and join the Club. Pickleball is hugely beneficial for both your physical and mental wellbeing.”