For the past two years, I’ve been in the ready position, pickleball paddle in hand. I love any chance to get a game in, and with temperatures rising, it’s a good time to take it inside—conveniently, the region has seen a recent influx of indoor options.
Amid the rise of air-conditioned courts, Fort Myers’ Ace Pickleball Club opened last June as a members-only facility. Enrollment is capped annually to prevent overcrowding, and its 12 courts are divided by skill level to streamline open play.
Just off the main courts, a warm-up area with a stationary bike, stretching bands and foam rollers keeps players loose between matches. Two half courts are reserved for drills and solo work, while clinics and tournaments round out the weekly schedule. Paddle rentals from brands such as RPM and CRBN are available for players testing new equipment.
Entering the main facility, I hear plastic balls slamming into paddles and scores chanted with “three-one-two.” Owner McKinley Cooper and general manager Camryn White walk another player and me toward the intermediate courts, where we pair up for a doubles match. On public courts, I often have to wait 20 minutes for an open spot, but here, during the lunchtime rush, I jump right in.
Ace’s membership model—$99 per month for access to tournaments, open play and clinics for all levels—is designed to keep court time flowing and instruction personal. The five-layer hard courts are cushioned to ease joint strain during extended play while still providing tournament conditions. Cameras and QR codes on advanced courts allow members to review game footage for additional training.
After an hour of open play on the intermediate courts, I’ve barely broken a sweat—the air conditioning keeps me cool. From there, I join instructor Everett Hill for a prescheduled Starter Series lesson focused on lighter, controlled shots and soft game.
We start with dinking drills in the kitchen, near the net, focused on hand-eye coordination and wrist and paddle positioning. From there, Everett leads us into a movement drill where we work on foot placement and ball tracking. As a hobby player, this is my first formal training in the sport. After 15 minutes, I’ve traded grapevining across the court and overextending my arm for side-stepping along the kitchen line and better follow-through on my swings. Everett matches my pace, challenging me with more complex shots when my forehand is good and slowing down to reposition my angles when my backhand needs work.
We end with a scrimmage to test what we’ve learned, nearly two hours after I first walked in. I’m usually spent after 60 minutes outdoors, but here, I’m still steady on my feet. Though I know I’ll be sore tomorrow, my stamina is up, and I’m proud of my new cross-court dink.