Chipickle pickleball club

This facility is just what downtown Chicago has needed for the pickleball community, but it still has a handful of growing pains that they need to overcome before more competition arrives or before the good weather gets here and this place empties out. 1. The open play is so chaotic and dysfunctional. This facility runs like the owners/manager(s) are on vacation and never came back. Everyone scans in for open play and then it's just chaos inside. No paddle rack system so people either don't know how to queue or are being cut by someone that claims they were waiting. And also when the "5.0" open play has a lot of people, they take over other courts that are assigned to different groups. 2. The courts are close together and that is fine, but at least put floor dividers down to stop stray balls from rolling 3 courts down and halting every game in the building. 3. The courts are extremely dusty and I don't know if they've been cleaned once. The last time I was there, I was tasting dust in my mouth as I was breathing during play. 4. *Their biggest problem in my opinion* For some reason, they do not offer a 3.5-4.0 open play session. Why, I do not know, considering that 3.5 players are generally one of the largest groups in the skill distribution. Because there are no 3.5 open plays, all of the 3.5 players sign up for the 4.0 to 4.5 open play and take up 90% of the availability, so actual 4.0-4.5 players do not have an open play group they can sign up for to play players that are at or near their level. I either have to fight for the 6 spots of availability in the 5.0 open play (which I am not anywhere near 5.0), or I have to join the "4.5 open play" and play with 3.5 level players the entire time. I've given up on SPF and now Chipicke unfortunately. Pickleball Clubhouse is the best facility for pickleball in Chicago and both places I mentioned could learn a lot from them. These issues really aren't that big to overcome and solving them would greatly improve the facility. But again, it seems like this place is on autopilot and ChatGPT runs this facility (check the response to reviews, the website, and probably the response to my review in the future). In 2 months time, this place will have to be competing with Grant Park's 16 outdoor courts and with what Chipickle is currently offering, I don't see how this place will stay busy the ~7 months a year we get of decent pickleball weather in Chicago. Their customers will be down the street at Grant Park. Please get off autopilot and put in the work to make this place better.

3 weeks ago

So this place is family-owned, and I feel that Tony and team have done a fantastic job with the facilities so far. His team listens to feedback and takes it to heart. The atmosphere is very inviting, and the people who play typically know you by name after the first visit. Each week I meet a new person that adds to the community atmosphere. Hopefully things progress, and we start to see tournaments and events at this club that's in the heart of the city.

a month ago

I am giving 5 stars, to help the business but the facility is not 5 stars yet. With that review I hope to give feedback to the owner and to help the facility improve. It is so dusty in the court I could not breathe. I had to wear a mask to protect my lungs from the dust. Please find proper solutions on this matter. Maybe some machine that clean the surface with water but only vacuum won’t be enough. Thank you

2 months ago

Chi-Pickle is awesome! The owners are incredibly nice and accommodating. The courts are great and the skill level of players here makes it a really fun experience.

a month ago

Facility has 10 courts, they tried to maximize space by putting the courts extremely close to one another which is a safety concern. The main thing is, they never turn on the heat. Even after complaining to the person at the front they refuse and replied that people “say it’s too hot.” You’re paying a premium to play indoors at 50 degrees, can’t stand or sit comfortably in there. Will consider my review if they decide to change things

2 months ago