Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve certainly at least heard of pickleball by now, even if you’ve never picked up a paddle and don’t know your dinks from your drives or your drop shots from your volleys. Pickleball is a fast-growing sport, but possibly not nearly as “new” as you might think. It is believed to have been created back in 1965! We’ll cover a little bit of history, some rules, some benefits, and perhaps most importantly, a guide to pickleball courts in McHenry County.
Pickleball, What the Heck Is It?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played on a court similar to a doubles badminton court, typically on a court that is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. There aren’t a lot of doubles badminton courts around, so what this means in practice is either a dedicated pickleball court, or more likely, a tennis court (27 feet wide by 78 feet long) that has been marked up to also be used as a pickleball court.
It’s important to note that while the net is positioned at the center of the court, like tennis, a pickleball net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the middle, whereas a tennis net is taller, measuring 42 inches high at the sidelines and 36 inches high in the center.
Pickleball is played with a paddle and a plastic perforated ball, similar but not the same as a wiffle ball. It can be played both indoors and outdoors, as well as by singles or doubles. The objective is to hit the ball over the net and land it within the boundaries of the opposing side.
Pickleball has seen a surge in popularity, increased professional opportunities, equipment advancements, community growth, and inclusion in various institutions. These trends and developments have contributed to the widespread appeal and continued growth of the sport. We hope the information in this guide will help you along your pickleball journey, whether you consider yourself a newbie or a pickler!
Pickleball Courts Across McHenry County
We’ve pulled together a list of the pickleball courts that are available throughout McHenry County. This list includes both free and fee-based courts. Rather than detail the cost, number of courts available, whether it is possible or how to reserve a court, and other specifics, which may quickly become outdated, we’ve provided links for the court hosts.
We also anticipate that the number of courts in the area will continue to grow, and we’ll continue to update this guide as new information becomes available. We’d also appreciate your help as well!
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All information is subject to change and we always recommend contacting the specific locations to verify conditions and availability.
Algonquin
Life Time
Host: Life Time Algonquin
Address: 451 Rolls Rd, Algonquin, Illinois 60102
Phone: 847-458-6200
Information: Details
Pickle Haus
Host: Pickle Haus
Address: 1621 S Randall Rd, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 815-575-9570
Information: Details
Stoneybrook Park
Host: Village of Algonquin
Address: 1200 Huntington Dr N, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847-658-2700
Information: Details
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Crystal Lake
Feinberg Park
Host: Crystal Lake Park District
Address: 701 Juniper Ln, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-0680
Information: Details
Ken Bird Park
Host: Crystal Lake Park District
Address: 1800 Thomasville Ln, between Village and Miller Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-0680
Information: Details
Racket Club
Host: The Racket Club by the Crystal Lake Park District
Address: 9101 S Rte 31, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847-658-5688
Information: Details
Overview of Pickleball Rules
Serves must be underhand and diagonally crosscourt, bouncing once in the opponent’s designated service zone. Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air before it bounces) within the non-volley zone, called the Kitchen, which is an area extending 7 feet on both sides of the net.
The serve must be hit underhanded without striking the ground, must be served cross-court, clearing the net, and must bounce beyond the Kitchen, which is an area extending 7 feet on both sides of the net. The ball must not only strike the ground before the serve can be returned, but the serving team must also allow the ball to bounce once before returning it.
After that, either team can “volley,” return the ball without letting it bounce…as long as no part of them are touching a non-volley line or inside the Kitchen.
Of course, that’s a very general overview, so be sure to go over the official pickleball rules.
Only the serving team can score points and games are typically played to 11 points, with a win by 2 (winning team must be ahead by 2 points).
Sage YMCA
Host: Sage YMCA
Address: 701 Manor Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-4455
Information: Details
Spoerl Park
Host: Crystal Lake Park District
Address: 7610 Pingree Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-0680
Information: Details
Wyndwood Park
Host: Crystal Lake Park District
Address: 4201 Wyndwood Dr, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-0680
Information: Details
Benefits of Playing Pickleball
- Improved cardiovascular health and fitness levels.
- Increased hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
- A low-impact sport that reduces stress on joints.
- Social interaction and community engagement.
- Suitable for all ages and fitness levels
- Enhances balance, agility, and flexibility.
- Provides a fun and engaging way to exercise.
- Promotes strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Can be played indoors or outdoors.
- Opportunities for friendly competition and tournaments.
Huntley
Huntley Park District Rec Center
Host: Huntley Park District
Address: 12015 Mill St, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-669-3180
Information: Details
Northwestern Medicine Huntley Health & Fitness Center
Host: Northwestern Medicine Huntley Health & Fitness Center
Address: 10450 Algonquin Rd, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 815-444-2900
Information: Details
Lake in the Hills
Leroy Guy Park
Host: Village of Lake in the Hills
Address: 201 Lakewood Road, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone: 840-960-7500
Information: Details
McHenry
Knox Park
Host: City of McHenry Parks & Recreation
Address: 301 S Knox Drive, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-363-2160
Information: Details
Petersen Park
Host: City of McHenry Parks & Recreation
Address: 4300 Petersen Park Rd, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-363-2160
Information: Details
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Union
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Host: St. John’s Lutheran Church
Address: 6821 Main St, Union, IL 60180
Phone: 815-923-2733
Information: Details
Origins of Pickleball
It was invented by three dads from Bainbridge Island, in Washington state. Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum were looking for a fun way to keep their families entertained. They improvised with badminton and table tennis equipment, and thus, pickleball was born.
As for the name, the official story, according to Joan and Joel Pritchard, came from Joan, inspired by her experience rowing in “pickle boats” (crew boats with leftover or mismatched rowers), came up with the name “pickleball” as the new game was a mishmash of different sports.
Woodstock
Woodstock Recreation Center
Host: Woodstock Recreation Department
Address: 820 Lake Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: 815-338-4363
Information: Details
President and Founder of Identity Developments, LLC, the parent company of the McHenry Life website. My hope for McHenry Life is to create a resource and destination for the residents and businesses of McHenry County alike. A place where residents can discover new places to explore, fun events and ways to spend time, and then share those experiences with others. A place where businesses can connect with existing and potential customers, and not simply market their businesses, but share their own unique stories.
