Pickleball date night in Lincoln: a plan that isn’t dinner and a movie

Dinner and a movie is fine. It’s also the date you’ve already been on a hundred times. Pickleball is a good swap. It’s easy to pick up, you’re close enough to talk the whole time, and there’s a built-in way to decide who’s paying for dinner after. Here’s how to plan it so the night actually goes smoothly.

Book the court

This part takes about five minutes, and you only set it up once.

1. You each make a free CourtReserve account. Every player needs their own account and a signed waiver, so your date needs one too. Sign up here. It works on the website or the CourtReserve app for iPhone and Android.
2. One of you books the court. Hourly court time doesn’t need a membership. Whoever books adds the other person’s profile to the reservation. Book a court here.
3. Pick your time. Evenings Monday through Thursday from 4pm, and all day Friday through Sunday, are prime time. Monday through Thursday before 4pm is off-peak. Check rates in CourtReserve.

We’re open until midnight every day, so you can also do dinner first and grab a 9pm court after. Your call which comes first.

What to wear (yes, even on a date)

• Clean, non-marking court shoes. These are required, and outdoor shoes aren’t allowed on the courts. Bring a pair you only wear inside.
• Clothes you can move in. You’ll be lunging for balls. Save the nice outfit for dinner.
• No paddles? No problem. Grab free ones at the front desk. If one of you gets hooked, there’s a pro shop on site.

How to play with just two people

Most pickleball is doubles, but two people works fine. A few ways to run it:

• Rally first. Spend the first ten minutes just hitting it back and forth, soft. The club’s own FAQ says most people are rallying within minutes, and it’s the easiest way to get a feel for the paddle.
• Play singles. The basics are the same as doubles: serve underhand and diagonal, let the ball bounce once on each side before anyone volleys, and no volleys in the kitchen (the red zone by the net). The score is just two numbers, yours then theirs. Serve from the right side when your score is even and the left when it’s odd.
• Make it a double date. Invite another couple and play doubles on the same court. Doubles is played up close at the net, so it’s the most social way to play.

New to the rules? Read pickleball rules for your first game together before you go. It takes five minutes.

Put something on it

Friendly competition is half the fun. Pick one before the first serve:

• Loser buys dinner. The classic. Non-negotiable once agreed.
• Winner picks the movie. Technically you still end up at dinner and a movie. Now there are stakes.
• Loser drives. Or does the dishes for a week.
• Level it out. If one of you has played before, they start a few points down, or they can only hit dinks (soft shots that land in the other side’s kitchen). It keeps the game close.

Play to 11, win by 2. Best of three if one game doesn’t settle it.

After the game

There’s a lounge right off the courts, so you can sit and hang out for a while before you head out. Parking is free and right outside the building, so there’s no circling the block either.

Then go to dinner. The loser knows what to do.

Hours and location

Pickl’N Pickleball Club has nine indoor courts at 2600 Kimco Dr, Lincoln, NE 68521. We’re open every day, 6am to midnight. Holiday hours can change, so check our social pages around the holidays.

Date night, sorted. Book a court on CourtReserve. First time? Read how your first visit works, then make your free accounts.