Summer Pickleball Survey Results - Monmouth Area Pickleball

Thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in our Summer Pickleball Survey! We received more than 100 responses and have briefly summarized the results for you below. Some of the questions have short follow-up polls.

Here are the results:

Question 1. How long have you been playing pickleball?

Pickleball has really grown in popularity over the past year. Approximately 1/3 of respondents noted that they’ve been playing for less than 12 months. Another 1/4 of respondents noted that they’ve been playing for more than one year, but less than two years.

Question 2. Age of Monmouth Area Pickleball Players

It’s probably no surprise that the majority of players in the area are in their 60s. Interestingly enough, the young demographic that should be more inclined to participate in online surveys failed to do so 🙂

Question 3. How many days a week do you play?

Nearly one-half of all respondents indicated that they typically play pickleball approximately 3-4 days a week, while one-third said they limit their play time to 1-2 days a week.

Question 4. Self-Evaluation of Skill Level

An overwhelming majority over players said that they would self-evaluate their level of play as being either intermediate or advanced intermediate.

Only 10 percent of players identified as “advanced” or “expert.”

Question 5. Willingness to Play “Below” Your Level

Most players indicated that they would be “willing” or “happy” to play below their skill level. Many write-ins noted that they’d be happy to “play down” for a few game, but not for the entire day.

Question 6. Do you think most players understand the official rules?

Nearly three-quarters of respondents believe that most players have a pretty good handle on official pickleball rules.

Question 7. Where is your favorite place to play?

The Red Bank YMCA is, by far, the most popular place to play in the area.

Other popular options include:

Fair Haven Fields
Marlboro
Lavallette
Sawmill YMCA, and
Rossmoor.

Question 8. What time of day do you prefer to play?

Most seem to prefer playing in the early morning or evening, though some indicated they enjoyed playing at any time of day.

Question 9. What brand paddle do you use?

Prolite, Paddletek, and Engage are, perhaps not surprisingly, the most popular paddles amongst area players.

Other popular choices include:

Monarch
Champion, and
Upstreet.

Question 10. Which ball do you prefer?

Onix is the hands-down favorite among area players. Some players noted a preference for Onix indoors and Dura outdoors.

Question 11. Why do you play pickleball?

Pickleball tends to be popular among area players because it is a great way to get exercise and meet new people. Another popular reason: it’s just fun.

Question 12. What are your biggest pickleball pet peeves?

The answers provided here can help us make pickleball in the area even more enjoyable for everyone. Understanding what conduct bothers others can help us to all self-police and try to make the game fun for everyone.

We received quite a few write-in responses for this question. Other pet peeves area players expressed included:

Players not being mindful of the rules.
Foot faults on the serve with no call for a violation.
Players staying on the court after a win while many others are waiting.
Players taking themselves too seriously.
“Better” players openly expressing annoyance or irritation when playing down.

Question 13. What, if any, improvements do you think can be made to the local game?

Thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions about how you think the local game can be improved. Here are the top suggestions/requests.

More dedicated outdoor pickleball courts

This will take action at the local level. Let your town or development know that there’s a demand for pickleball courts. Feel free to contact us if you want help organizing or preparing a proposal.

Better communication about when and where people are playing.

Communication is one of the leading concerns in the area. Right now, GroupMe seems to be the best tool for the job.

We’re currently looking into alternatives that can be helpful and accessible. Right now, GroupMe is (a) free and (b) easy.

Designating courts by skill level

Many respondents noted that the Red Bank Y has become particularly unfriendly for beginners and that most courts are consumed by more advanced players. There are a few options for addressing this. Which do you prefer?

Of course, none of these are without drawbacks. If you have any suggestions about how to make the courts system at the Y any better, please feel free to let us know.

Better Organized Play

One common concern is figuring who has dibs on the next open court when a game ends. How do you think play should be organized?

Regular Practice Drills and Sessions

Many of you indicated that you’d be interested in meeting on a regular basis to practice. There are a few options to improve your game:

Take lessons from a Certified Instructor. Lessons don’t need to be for beginners; all players can focus on particular skills or area of improvement with the help of an instructor. Click here for information about lessons in the area.
Find other players who also want to drill. You can arrange to meet semi-regularly to improve your game.
Attend a clinic or boot camp. Kim Smith is a great resource and regularly holds clinics in the area. There are still spots open in the next boot camp on July 3rd, where the focus will be on serves, return of serves, drop shots, volleys, lobs, overheads and basic strategy. Visit the Monmouth County Park System website for more information.

Better Attitudes on the Court

There seems to be a consensus that beginners feel unwelcome when they come out for open play. In fact, multiple respondents indicated that they feel some more advanced players are downright rude when dealing with beginners. No one is pointing fingers, but I think we can all be a bit more cognizant about our attitudes and how we interact with others. Figuring out a way to designate courts and make sure play is more balanced can definitely help to improve this.

Use a Variety of Shots

One common concern is that many players rely too heavily on strength and do not have (or simply fail to use) a well-rounded arsenal of shots. Do you find yourself wailing on the ball from the baseline, not use a third shot drop, or fearing the dink? Making simple changes to your game can help you improve and make it more enjoyable for everyone. If you rely on your strength against good opponents, you may be leaving your partner out to dry. Think about using a soft game, forcing your opponents to make a weak shot, and then using your strength to get the point.

Question 13. Grievances? Complaints? Suggestions? This one’s for you.

Some players had a bit more to offer at the end of the survey. Here are some additional insights from your local pickleball peers. We’ve opened the comments at the bottom so that you can weigh in on a particular issue. If you can think of a way to improve upon it, please feel free to include that in your comment.

Don’t linger after your match! Once you’ve finished your game, try to bump paddles and vacate the court if there are other players waiting.
Be nice! This point was emphasized in the responses to Question 14. You never know what someone else is dealing with. We should all try to be courteous of other players and not take ourselves too seriously out on the court. There’s nothing at stake during open play other than our ability to enjoy ourselves.
Switching sides. Some pointed out that switching after six points due to sun or wind does not always work out fairly for both teams. If the elements are particularly bad, you may want to discuss switching at more frequent intervals during a game (e.g., every six points or if you are forced to play extra points). This can, and should, be agreed upon in each individual game before play begins.
Make “playing below your level” fun: Sometimes there will be situations when the level of play in a specific game is quite unbalanced. Instead of going for the kill and picking on the weakest player, this can be a great opportunity to (1) work on a specific shot and (2) help the less-advanced player improve. Try to include all players in the game, give the weaker player shots they can return, and try to win points against the stronger player. You’ll feel a better sense of accomplishment if you score and it will be more fun for everyone.
Designating leaders: More than a few people suggested that we appoint area leaders/ambassadors to help make open play more enjoyable for all. These individuals could help to designate courts, help players find level-appropriate games, and prevent groups from unilaterally deciding to hold a court and play with a few select players. If you’d be interested in taking on this kind of a role or have any other suggestions, please email us.
Play with new people: If I had a nickel for every time someone mentioned the “cliques” that had formed within the pickleball community, I’d…have a lot of nickels. I’m led to believe that new players (either to the game or the area itself) find it difficult to interject themselves into games during open play, particularly at the Red Bank Y. While there is nothing wrong with playing with the same group of people, there is something to be said about the very nature of open play. It’s a great time for exposure to new competition, different styles of play, and new people. Implementing more rigid systems and principles during open play can help to facilitate this.

The biggest takeaways from the Summer Pickleball Survey include:

We need a better way to communicate when and where people are playing pickleball.
We need a better system to organize play, keep games moving, and get everyone involved.
It’s just pickleball; we don’t need to take ourselves so seriously.
More courts, especially designated outdoor courts, would be beneficial.

We’re looking into ways to implement some solutions. If you have suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’d also like to point out that while we support the Monmouth Pickleball Club and its activities, we are in no way affiliated with the group. Some respondents had addressed certain aspects of “open play” sessions and leagues that are run exclusively by Monmouth Pickleball Club. These concerns should be addressed directly with the Club, itself. Suggestions for additional league play should also be directed to that group, as well.

We are simply advocates of making pickleball the best it can be in the area. We have zero authority to impose unilateral changes and simply help to effect change as a group. This platform is a great way to bring people together, foster positive ideas, and help evoke positive changes in the area that are desired by most.