FAQs

Answers to common questions we get all the time!

General

I am visiting from out of town. When is open play?

When the weather is nice, open play takes place mornings and afternoon/evenings at both Lincoln Park courts and Pine Ridge courts. Many mornings there are public round robins being held. Check out the schedule on our homepage. Scroll down to the calendar.

During open play, folks are generally friendly to guests. Look for a court that suits your skill level, and if you want to play in, set your paddle down by the net.

Do you have a lost and found?

YES! Boy, do we ever.

There are club-provided lock boxes at Lincoln Park and Pine Ridge courts. Please deposit any found items in the lock box. Combination is 0123.

Large items that don’t fit into the box, like an umbrella or camp chair, or valuable items are sometimes taken home by a WSPC member for safe-keeping and an email goes out to members looking for its owner. If you lost an item and it’s not in the box, email George at g20520@aol.com to see if any member reached out to him stating they have it.

If you lost an item, check the lock box first before emailing George.

Once a quarter or so, unclaimed items are donated to Goodwill.

What's the combination of the lock box at the courts?

At Lincoln Park Pickleball Courts

Squeegees lock: MIST
East lock box: 0123
West lock box: 0123

At Pine Ridge Pickleball Courts

Squeegees:  PLAY
Lock box:  BILL
Nets:  DENT (net by the entrance); BAKE (net opposite court)

For more information, contact us here.

(This information was updated as of 4-26-2021.)

Are WSPC board meetings open for general membership to attend?
YES!  Check this site for the dates of upcoming WSPC board meetings. If you would like to get on the agenda, please send us a message through the contact form on this site or email George Gerson, our club’s communications director.
What is the super-secret promo code to get a discount at PickleballCentral.com?

The website is www.PickleballCentral.com.

Promo code: crwesternslope

When you use the promo code at check out, you will receive a 5% discount. An additional 5% is also given to our club.

Aside from Grand Junction, what other surrounding cities have pickleball facilities?

Places listed below offer indoor and outdoor play. Indoor times vary by season. Call those areas for more information. 

FRUITA:   Fruita Community Center

324 N. Coulson St., Fruita, CO 81521 — 970.858.0360

PALISADE:   Palisade Parks and Recreation

Call Palisade Parks and Recreation Dept. for more information — 970.464.5602

DELTA:   Bill Heddles Recreation Center 

530 Gunnison River Dr., Delta, CO 81416 — 970.874.0923

MONTROSE:   Montrose Recreation Center  

16350 Woodgate Road, Montrose, CO 81401 — 970.249.7705

BATTLEMENT MESA/PARACHUTE:   Grand Valley Recreation Center

398 Arroyo Drive, Parachute, CO 81635 — 970.285.9480

Club Membership

How much does it cost to become a member of the Western Slope Pickleball Club?

$35 per year. Our membership year runs from May 31— June 1 each year.

Where do I send the money if I want to pay by check or cash?

Mail $35 check/cash to:  George Gerson (WSPC Membership Director), 289 Chinle Court, Grand Junction, CO 81507. If you have any questions, call him at 970-241-8561 or email g20520@aol.com

You may also fill out an app and pay online. Navigate to “Join” in the main menu and follow instructions.

Make the check payable to: Western Slope Pickleball Club or WSPC

 

 

Why do you ask for my email address?

This is the primary and most direct method of communicating club information and events.

We will never spam you or sell your email address to a third party.

 

 

Rules of the Game

 

First, what is pickleball?

Check out this great 5-minute explainer video below:

 

Where can I learn about basic rules and get an introduction to pickleball?

Here is a great resource from the U.S.A. Pickleball Association:

https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics

Where can I view a hard copy of the USAPA Pickleball Rule Book?
Very often players will want a clarification on certain rules of pickleball play. At both Lincoln Park and Pine Ridge courts, there is a 2022 USAPA Rule Book (2023 is on order) in each storage box on site.
 
Each rule book has a sticker saying: “Property of WSPC. Please return to storage box.”  So please, don’t take it home with you.
Where can I get a digital copy of the official USAPA Pickleball Rule Book?

The official pickleball rulebook is published by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The USAPA and IFP are the governing bodies of American and international pickleball that formulate and interpret all the rules of the sport. The rulebook is a living document. New rules are added each year and old rules are frequently amended.

Click HERE for a pdf of the 2023 official rulebook.

Skills Training

Does Tao (our local pickleball pro) conduct regular clinic or offer private lessons?

YES.  Stay tuned for information coming via email. He will be offering private and semi-private lessons, as well as 3-day weekend bootcamps. Club members receive huge discounts versus what nonmembers will have to pay. So it pays to join the club. 

 

Are there any other opportunities for lessons in Grand Junction?
YES.

Club member Ed Roffey (4.5) is offering 1-hour private and group lessons during the summer. He works with beginners to 4.0+ players. Lessons are held at either Lincoln Park or Pine Ridge courts. Email Ed at edroffey@hotmail.com or text/call 970-216-9321.
Cost:
• Group Lessons (2, 3, or 4 players) — $20/hour per player (WSPC members)/$40/hour (non-members)
• Private 1-on-1 — $40/hour per player (WSPC members)/$60/hour (non-members)

 

How can I figure out my skill level or rating?

Many of us have no clue what our skill level/rating is, or we just ballpark it. If you would like to figure it out, click HERE and download the skill level assessments as issued by IPTPA, which is what our club uses. You can get a general idea of where you fall in the ratings and this can help you determine what skill level you should play in tournaments and at local structured play sessions.

 

What is a good resource for online pickleball lessons, tips and strategies?
Check out these lessons called “100 Pickleball Strategies,” spread out over seven videos. Each video is about 10 to 12 minutes long. They are considered to be the best collection of pickleball tips and tactics all wrapped in a tight video series.

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7

Equipment

 

What's a good online resource for gear reviews?
There are tons, but we like www.pickleballportal.com. Matt, who runs the site, writes very thorough and exhaustive gear reviews. Here’s a link to his very detailed review of Paddletek paddles, as an example. He reviews pickleball clothing, accessories, nets, balls, visors, elbow braces … just about anything you use in pickleball.

He also writes about skills, drills and technique. Here’s a link to one such popular article: 77 Quick Ways to Improve your Game
You can spend a lot of time on this site with all the great pickleball-related information.

What ball do you recommend for players? And do you sell them?

Yes, we do. We sell Franklin X-40 neon yellow balls for $3 for 5 or $20/dozen. Contact George Gerson at G20520@aol.com to purchase. This is a better price than you would get online for this brand of ball. We offer this as a benefit to our club members and sell them at our cost.

 

How do I choose the right pickleball paddle?
There are so many options and so many choices of paddles. It can be overwhelming. Click HERE to read this handy guide to help make that decision.