Wimbo Pickles: a big dill for Wimberley sports

Pickleball culture has come to Wimberley, and Wimbo Pickles has come to facilitate.

Pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in the United States. In 2022, nearly nine million people in the United States reported that they played the sport, a number nearly doubled from the previous year. Some of those people lived in Wimberley, which — until recently — lacked any organizations for the sport.

“Wimberley has zero public courts,” said Steven Richardson, the founder of new club Wimbo Pickles. “There are a few courts on private property and three outdoor courts at Camp Young Judea in Woodcreek that are used during summer camp sessions, but nothing else [exclusively dedicated to pickleball]. By reading community forums, I saw the interest out there and knew we needed an organization to bring players together.”

Richardson said he established Wimbo Pickles for Wimberley pickleball players, so participants of the popular sport did not have to drive out of town.

Pickleball — a mixture of tennis, ping pong and badminton — can be played as singles (two players versus each other) or doubles (four players in teams of two). Similar to badminton, it is played on a 20-by-44foot court. Compared to tennis, the net is lower in pickleball, and both the ball and the racquet are different. Like ping pong, a pickleball racket is referred to as a paddle. Scores are only counted on serves.

As a low impact sport, pickleball gives participants an aerobic workout without the stress and strain to joints other sports often bring. It can be useful in rehabilitation programs and is suggested to patients recovering from surgeries because it builds strength and improves endurance and speed, according to Richardson. It can also help participants relieve anxiety and stress.

By joining Wimbo Pickles, members receive access to Camp Young Judea’s outdoor courts, court discounts, discounts at local restaurants and stores and instant membership in the social side of the club. A t-shirt with the Wimbo Pickles logo is also part of the package. Memberships can be for individuals, pairs, or families.

Wimbo Pickles members also have access to a clinic which will enable them to get their DUPR score: a quantitative score that rates a player’s skill set. Created by Dreamland Dripping Springs’ Steve Kuhn, this score helps match players with opponents of their skill level. Dreamland, a 86-acre activity complex, was the founding site for Major League Pickleball, “one of several professional leagues in the U.S. for the burgeoning sport,” according to Texas Monthly.

Wimbo Pickles is partnering with a local nonprofit organization to build outdoor courts, which will likely be ready in May.

“I’d like to see us participating in tournaments, and for that, we need eight courts to conduct play, said Richardson. “It’ll be good for Wimberley because competing players will stay in hotels and eat at our restaurants.”

For more about the sport, readers can go to usapickleball.org. For information about Wimbo Pickles, visit wimbopickles.org.