If you’ve not noticed the pickleball craze that’s been sweeping the globe for the past few years, you can’t ignore it for much longer – especially since there are now cocktails involved. The Jar have opened their first Sydney pickleball court (and second in Australia, after their South Melbourne venue opened last year), and you’ll find it in Pyrmont. Having caught wind of the opening, we dug out our sports gear, practiced our serve, and headed down for a visit to the city’s newest sporting arena.
The Jar Pickleball, Pyrmont
At its heart, pickleball is designed to be a fun, engaging way to get your body moving; there’s no smashed paddle or McEnroe-esque temper tantrums over line calls here. Played at a relaxed pace, pickleball is as much a social activity as it is a competitive one, making it ideal for group activity, or for colleagues to sneak away from the office and get a break from your desk.
The Jar Pyrmont features two courts in stylish, soothing shades of green. What’s got us equally excited, however, is the addition of the courtside bar, which is currently serving up Aperol Spritzes and beers on tap to reward your sporting triumphs. Take a seat in the comfy orange deckchairs, drink in hand, and watch the action unfold on the court – perhaps even picking up some pointers to hone your own pickleball skills in the meantime.
The venue has changing rooms, showers, and a hydration station too, so if you’ve worked up a sweat chasing serves, you can freshen up after your game’s over. With a laidback vibe, the emphasis is on socialising as much as it is playing to win (though if you’re anything like me, the competitive mist will inevitably descend at some stage), and The Jar are as keen to welcome newbies as much as seasoned professionals. Plus, with group bookings and event planning available, it’s an excellent new birthday party idea or team-building activity for Sydneysiders. Will you be picking up a paddle and trying out pickleball?