Finding enough players is often the hardest part of getting a pickleball game going. DPC KOBE’s answer is a program it calls Open Play, which it says is built so that a person can turn up alone and still get a match.
Here is how it works. A player books a time slot, and the people who show up that session form rotating pairs, mostly for doubles. Courts are shared and everyone takes turns, so partners change from game to game. Between games, players can watch matches or talk with each other. The venue says the aim is to enjoy the space as much as the play itself, and that many participants sign up individually.
Session lengths depend on the day. Players may come and go within their reserved slot, which lets them play as much or as little as their energy and schedule allow. It also makes it easy to join before or after another clinic or event.
Levels, capacity and price
Sessions are split into Beginner, Intermediate and All Levels. Beginner slots give newer players a chance to go over the rules and basic movement while getting used to games. The other two are for more match-style play. Each session is limited to the first 16 participants, using two courts.
A 90 to 120 minute session costs 2,200 yen at the general rate, with a lower price for DPC Plus members. Anyone who plays outside their registered category is charged the visitor rate.
The release put the schedule for the first half of July, with slots on weekdays and weekends.
About the venue
DPC KOBE is the Japanese branch of the Diadem Pickleball Complex, an indoor facility that began in Florida. It is run through an exclusive partnership between the American racket sports brand DIADEM and ITC, an organization that has built tennis culture in communities across Japan.
