Dill Dinkers
Indoor Pickleball and Pro Shop Now Serving Stone Oak
By Amy Morgan
Pickleball – it’s the fastest growing American pastime since rollerbladers stormed the sidewalks in the 1990s. In case you are one of the few who’s not heard of it, the game is similar to tennis but played on a smaller court, involves a paddle rather than a racket and uses a perforated ball. While tennis courts are being reconfigured to accommodate pickleball’s smaller footprint at private clubs and neighborhoods parks, it has remained surprisingly difficult to find public court access close to Stone Oak.
That’s all about to change. This month, Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club will open a brand new 15,000 square-foot facility in Stone Oak. Located on Blanco Road north of 1604 next to the PGA pro shop in the space Tuesday Morning once occupied, Dill Dinkers offers five indoor courts, event space and a pro shop to provide the best public pickleball play experience, according to owners Brian and Karen Birdy. The interior has been carefully designed to enhance the game. Courts are 30 feet wide by 60 feet long, with plenty of space surrounding to give players room to serve and chase balls. Each court has been configured and individually fenced to keep the ball inside the court – eliminating cross traffic and stray balls that slow a game down. They also offer Pro-Cushion surfacing, which consists of a 6mm rubber pad under a sealing coat that enhances comfort. Pro-Cushion’s motto is, “Punish your opponents, not your body,” Brian enthused.
Carpeting between courts adds noise deafening capabilities and contributes to quieter play. Sport lighting designed for indoor pickleball provides just the right illumination without being overly harsh or disruptive. Black painted background and walls make balls pop.
“We control weather, lighting, temperature, wind, perimeter and surface,” Brian said. “These little changes make a big difference. This is a place you can learn to love to play pickleball!”
Brian and Karen were introduced to pickleball in 2020 when the sport took off during the pandemic. While they enjoyed playing outside initially, when Chicken & Pickle came to town, they realized they preferred indoor play, especially in San Antonio’s variable weather. As popularity has grown, it has become almost impossible to book a court in San Antonio.
“We realized our area was underserviced in pickleball courts both indoor and outdoor, and it sparked our entrepreneurial spirit,” Brian said. (The couple also run PMI Birdy Properties, founded by Brian’s father, Barry). Karen and Brian researched different pickleball clubs and were so impressed by Maryland-based company Dill Dinkers they purchased the company’s first franchise and regional developer licenses. The location on Blanco Road is just the first of what they hope will be many Dill Dinkers serving the pickleball-passionate public across Bexar County.
The Birdys have planned Dill Dinkers’ calendar to attract and appeal to players of all skill levels — from newbie to advanced. “The largest number of players are between a 1.5 and 3.0 skill ranking,” Brian said. “We want to create programming that allows everybody to have a place to go and have fun. Youth and beginners are the future of pickleball, and we are going to celebrate them!”
The Dill Dinkers’ team has recruited top local professionals to provide lessons, lead clinics and playtimes, and support structured open play by skill level.
“We’ve gone out of our way to find qualified certified instructors, both male and female, of different ages who speak English and/or Spanish,” Brain said. They’ll run clinics or open play like Friday night BYOB events where 30 participants can rotate in on the five courts and mingle in the Dill Dinkers’ event room that includes a kitchen and vending machines. The space, located adjacent to court five, makes Dill Dinkers the perfect venue for a birthday party, family gathering or corporate meet-up.
Clinics are planned to teach specific skills like dinking (from which the name, Dill Dinkers, originates), serves, or the third shot drop, Brian said. Leagues and open play will allow enthusiasts to continue with those of the same skill level as they advance.
Another bonus feature, play sight cameras located at the
kitchen line and court back end allow players to record
coaching, practice or play. Competitors can download and
watch their video through the PlaySight app to see how
to improve their game.
Players also use the app to book courts or sign up for events. Play is open to the public and membership is not required. Excited about pickleball? You can choose to purchase a membership, which offers half price play, free ball machine and booking privileges five days before non-members. Court costs are determined by a sliding scale that varies by time and popularity. Like golf, it will cost less to play off-peak. Members can play for as little as $3 for a non-prime hour, non-members $6.
Membership also provides a discount in the fully equipped pro shop, powered by Pickleball Central. Dill Dinkers will serve as the brick-and-mortar location of the largest online pickleball retailer, owned and run by the professional PPA and MLP pickleball organizations. While Pickleball Central will supply all the latest gear and merchandise, individual franchise owners can customize their stock. Karen is especially excited about selecting unique Blanco Market items with local flare.
Dill Dinkers Blanco Market location will open later this month, and all play will be free for the first week. Get updates by following them on Facebook or Instagram. Download the Dill Dinkers app so you’re ready to book your court or open play spot and take advantage of launch specials.
