Among pickleball true believers, the Pickleball Station in Kent is the mecca to shop and try all things associated with this homegrown racquet game described as a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
The Station sells a huge selection of equipment, accessories and apparel, all designed specifically for the sport of pickleball. Offerings include specialized balls for both outdoor and indoor games, portable nets, rebounder nets, along with paddles made of composite materials, graphite, wood and aluminum. Customers can demo paddles on the courts to get a sense of grip and weight to see what feels racquet feels right. Additionally, the store carries breathable athletic shirts, specialty visors and USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) apparel.
In addition to the well-stocked pro shop, Pickleball Station offers instructional programs, tournaments and weekly leagues. The staff plays every day and is well versed in pickleball knowledge.
PHOTO: JOSHUA HUSTON |
“If we don’t have something on display in the pro shop, our staff has access to the thousands of additional products in our warehouse so they can find the exact model, color and size of any product desired,” said Karen Thomas, spokesperson for Pickleball Central.
The 18,000-square-foot building has four indoor pickleball courts and is home to the PickleballCentral.com shipping warehouse, along with the Pickleball Hall of Fame and Pickleball Museum.
In 1965, the McCallum family helped invent the sport of Pickleball on Bainbridge Island. A few years later in 1973, they opened Pickle-Ball Inc. to outfit the sport. Last summer, Pickleball Station opened with indoor courts and a dedicated retail area. The USAPA says pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. with more than 2.8 million players and nearly 16,000 Pickleball courts.
Pickleball Station, 22330 68th Ave. S., Kent, pickleballstation.com
