54 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} When choosing a paddle, Monica advises beginners not to buy one “until you’ve had a chance to try a few different paddles and you find one that feels just right for you.” WHERE TO PLAY From public courts to private clubs, there’s no shortage of places to play pickleball on the Peninsula. Mitchell Park in Palo Alto is regarded as one of the best public facilities, offering designated courts for beginners and singles. In Redwood City, drop-in outdoor courts can be found at Red Morton, Andrew Spinas, Marlin and Mezes parks; Red Morton Community Center also has several indoor courts. At Nealon and Kelly parks in Menlo Park, pickleball courts can be reserved online, as can Alexander and Hallmark parks’ courts in Belmont. San Mateo also offers plenty of places to play, both indoor and outdoor. Central Park has six dedicated pickleball courts, while Bayside/Joinville Park and Los Prados both have dual-use MITCHELL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MONICA WILLIAMS them a more suitable choice for intermediate and advanced players. Paddles also come in three different sizes: standard, the most common type; elongated paddles, for athletes seeking greater reach and control; and wide-body paddles, the easiest type for beginners to use. Local tennis shops on the Peninsula like Tennis Town & Country in Palo Alto, Tennis Station in Burlingame and Swetka’s Tennis Shop in Mountain View all offer a broad range of high-quality paddles for players of all skill levels. Not confident about which paddle to purchase? Tennis Town & Country and Tennis Station both allow you to “demo,” so you can try out a paddle to make sure you’ve found the perfect fit. All three stores also sell balls, shoes and any other equipment you might need.
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