Ace Pickleball Club Championship Series: First Event

What you need to know about the first event of the APC Championship Series

Are you ready to compete in the Ace Pickleball Club Championship Series? Whether you're a seasoned player or just getting started, here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Men’s and Women’s Doubles Pickleball Championship event at APC Roswell.

What is the format of the first event?

The event features Men’s and Women’s Doubles competitions across various skill levels (2.5-5.0+) and age groups (<50 years and 50+ years). Teams will engage in at least 3 Pool Play matches followed by playoffs for qualifying teams. 

When is the first event?

Mark your calendars for April 20th and 21st, where different skill levels will compete on specific days. Each bracket will complete its matches in a single day. Specific Gender/Skill/Age bracket days/times will be set, and players will be notified by March 31st. All open APC Clubs will participate in the same event over the month. Please contact your local club for exact dates.

Will there still be Open Play for other Members during the first event?

No, the Club will be closed to all other play on APC Championship Series days.

How many players will have the opportunity to play?

Over 500 Members can participate over the 2-day period.

How much does playing in the APC Championship Series cost?

There's no cost for APC Members to participate.

Do I need to find a partner?

Yes, you must find and confirm your partner for the tournament. Both players must agree to play together and be Members of Ace Pickleball Club.

Who is eligible to play?

Any APC Member as of March 8th with an active Membership on the first event date. (Those with Mid-Day Memberships are not eligible to play in the Ace Pickleball Club Championship Series.)

How do I register?

Register for the Lottery process from February 24th to March 17th at ApcChampionshipSeries.com.

What skill level should my partner and I register for?

Register based on the higher of your two DUPR ratings.

What other Registration requirements are there?

Players 50+ can opt for the <50 age category but can't play in both. Each person can register for only one skill level/age category.

Can I register for future events if I get into this one?

Yes, with first priority given to those not selected for the April event.

Does my registration status affect future event chances?

No, each event's registration is independent.

When will I know if I got in?

Teams will be announced on March 31st, with confirmations due by April 4th.

What happens if a team cancels after April 7th?

Teams canceling after this date face potential bans from future 2024 APC events.

How many top finishers will be invited to the APC National Championships?

1st and 2nd place finishers earn invites to the APC National Championships in January 2025.

What will the winners receive?

Winners get bragging rights, medals, a one-of-a-kind Champion hat, and a shot at the APC Member-only $250k prize pool National Championship!

Get ready to showcase your skills and compete for glory in the Ace Pickleball Club Championship Series!

Drop-In Policy Update

APC Roswell Members and Guests:

To optimize the experience for our Members, we have made the following updates effective immediately:

• New Drop-In Hours: Monday - Friday from 6am - 3pm only. Weekdays after 3pm and all day Saturday & Sunday is restricted to Members Only access.

  Members will continue to have unlimited access and be able to check-in to the Club during all open hours.

• Drop-In 10 Pack Passes: If you have Drop-In Passes, you may continue to redeem your Drop-In Passes during all open hours subject to capacity restrictions. If you plan to visit the Club during peak hours and/or inclement weather, please call ahead to confirm Drop-In availability for Drop-In Pass Holders.

  10-Packs are no longer available for purchase.

• Drop-In Pricing: The Daily Drop-In rate has increased from $25 to $30 effective January 11, 2024.

• Registered Events: If you have already registered for a future clinic, mixer, or other event, your registration will be unaffected so you can still attend as planned.

We look forward to seeing you in the Club again soon!

Win SEC Championship Tickets!

We are giving away two sets of tickets to the SEC Championship between Georgia and Alabama on December 2, 2023.

FOR EXISTING MEMBERS: To enter the raffle, please leave us a Google Review by November 30th, 2023. All Members that post a review by the end of the month will have an equal chance of winning two (2) tickets to the SEC Championship! The winner will be announced and contacted directly on December 1st, 2023. Limit one (1) entry per Member.

FOR NEW MEMBERS: To enter the raffle, all you need to do is Join as a Member at Ace Pickleball Club Roswell! All New Members that join between November 21st and November 30th will have an equal chance of winning two (2) tickets to the SEC Championship. The winner will be announced and contacted directly on December 1st, 2023. Limit one (1) entry per New Member.

Pickleball’s Identity Crisis

It’s hard being the “new sport.” Now, before we throw pickleball a pity party, everyone knows it’s the fastest growing sport in America. Long gone are the days when people had never heard of pickleball. It’s hard to turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or even walk down the street without being greeted by some reminder of the game.  

That said, the one thing that continues to plague pickleball and hinder it’s already meteoric growth is a case of mistaken identity. For example, the sport was invented way back in the 60s, but until recently it was considered almost exclusively the domain of retirees. It’s been extremely refreshing seeing younger players flood into the sport in recent years, and it’s exciting to dream of where these future stars will take us. 

And where exactly is that future? It’s pretty common to hear pickleball compared to probably 10 other sports, almost all of which are played with a racquet: 

“It’s like you’re standing on a ping pong table.” 

“Did you play tennis growing up?” 

“Ever played racquet ball or squash?” 

“Did you ever try badminton as a kid?” 

But I’m here to tell you...pickleball, at it’s finest, is a doubles sport, played and practiced as a team, in ideal conditions. And with that in mind, the two sports that pickleball most closely resembles are Basketball and Volleyball. 

Basketball and Volleyball, two sports that tens of millions of kids grow up playing, rely heavily on teamwork in order to drive success. Sure, you may have a great shooter on your basketball team, but someone has to get her the rock. You might have a great outside hitter, but he needs a teammate to set him the ball. And the more reps that we get as a team, the better we perform as a team. In a sport where the set-up shot is often more important than the put-away, it's easy to see why a lot of those same principles are critical to success in pickleball. 

And the most important parallel between these 3 sports? They are all fabulous to play outside if the conditions are perfect, but they are best suited to be played year-round indoors.  

Ever stroked a 3-point shot that was destined to find the bottom of the net and instead clanked off the side of the rim from a gust of wind? Frustrating, right? That's why all organized basketball from youth to professional is played indoors. Unlike tennis, which is played almost exclusively outdoors, pickleballs are light enough to be easily redirected by wind, causing frustration and poor competition. 

Look, I love nothing more than playing beach volleyball on a 72-degree day with no wind. Shooting some hoops on a really well-designed outdoor court can produce some of the best games ever. And of course, I love playing pickleball outside when the conditions are pristine. 

But for reps, for practice, for tournaments, for leagues, for the cold and wet winter, for the hot and sweaty summer...basketball and volleyball are mainly indoor sports for a reason, and pickleball will be too. That’s right: Pickleball, just like Basketball and Volleyball, is an Indoor Sport...it just doesn’t know it yet! 

-The APC Team 

Pickleball 101

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America (still!). But despite the astronomical numbers of people who are trying the game for the first time every single day, there are even more people who are intrigued but, for one reason or another, still haven’t picked up a paddle.  
 
“0-0-2!“ 
“Stay out of the kitchen!” 
“You can’t volley that ball!” 
“Whose serve is it?” 
“What planet am I on?” 
 
Trying something new can be intimidating. The learning curve for many sports is incredibly steep. And for most of us, it’s been a long time since elementary school when we were surrounded by our peers learning a game for the first time. After all, who wants to walk out onto a court full of “experts” speaking a language you don’t understand? Why would anyone willingly subject himself to the embarrassment of looking like an unathletic dork who doesn't know even the simplest of rules? 
 
At Ace Pickleball Club, we’re not gonna let that happen to you. We’re committed to ensuring that every single person that walks through our doors, regardless of gender, age, or athletic ability, walks back out of those very same doors as a pickleball player. That’s why we’ve introduced Ace Pickleball Club’s free Pickleball 101 Clinics. That’s right, FREE. Our expert coaches have developed a very deliberate, simple, and effective curriculum for these 1 hour sessions to provide everything the beginner needs to begin her pickleball journey with confidence. PB 101 students will learn: 

• Keeping Score 

• Serving 

• Returning Serve 

• Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) Rules 

• 3rd Shot Drops and 3rd Shot Drives 

• Dinking 

• Why Pickleball Is The Greatest New Thing In Your Life 

So enough of the excuses. No more hearing how your coworker is dominating his local courts or why your spouse is having a ball competing. Leave your insecurity at home, throw on your dusty old sneakers, and come on down to Ace Pickleball Club for a Free Pickleball 101 session. You don’t even need to bring a paddle...we have everything you need to start an adventure that you can enjoy for the rest of your life! 
 
-The APC Team

Welcome to Ace Pickleball Club!

Welcome to the Ace PickleBlog! If you’ve made it here, you likely know a bit about us, but we’d like to take this opportunity to properly introduce ourselves. Ace Pickleball Club is the fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise in the world, and our mission is very simple: Expand the sport of pickleball by inspiring new players and providing enthusiasts of all skill levels access to a welcoming community, optimal playing conditions and opportunities for growth.  

As part of that mission, this blog will strive to keep the Ace Pickleball Club community in the know for all the latest and greatest happenings at Ace. We’ll discuss things like our on-court technology, emerging stars who are training at Ace, our expansion plans, and much more.  

So where to start? Pretty easy decision on our end. Everything we do here at Ace is guided by our Core Values. The rapid growth of our sport has created a remarkable opportunity for innovation, and we’re committed to these Core Values in order to guide how we operate and reinforce our dedication to our members: 

 
Force for Good 

• We're welcoming, friendly and kind to members, teammates and everyone around us 

• We act with integrity and do what's right for the community and each other 

• We are ambassadors for the sport of pickleball  

Serious about the Sport, not Ourselves 

• We compete to win, but always with great sportsmanship and a spirit of fun  

• We are relentless in our desire to provide optimal playing conditions, so our members can enjoy their games to the fullest 

• We create an atmosphere where people want to be, and where they feel free to be themselves  

We Grow, Together 

• We create opportunities to become better players and better versions of ourselves 

• When unexpected problems arise, we step up and solve them 

• We take calculated risks, support each other's efforts, and celebrate wins together 

Hopefully this gives you a sense of who we are and what we’re building. And for the most part, we stick to these values, although some team members may have a different definition of “great sportsmanship” (not naming names!).  

We’re excited to welcome you all to Ace Pickleball Club!  

-The APC Team