Sure Shot Pickleball

The Brief

Sure Shot Pickleball was founded by a group of pickleball players from Wheaton, Illinois who saw a gap in the western suburbs: no dedicated, year-round indoor facility for the fastest-growing sport in the country. They needed a space that could handle competitive play, leagues, lessons, tournaments, and private events, all under one roof, with the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back after the game ends.

11 Courts, One Commercial Suite

The facility houses 11 climate-controlled courts with professional-grade flooring and lighting calibrated to reduce glare and eye fatigue during play. Court layout was driven by two priorities: maximizing playable space within the building footprint and managing acoustics so that play on one court does not overwhelm conversations happening ten feet away.

Beyond the courts, the program includes a retail pro shop positioned near the entrance for equipment and apparel, a private event room that flexes between corporate outings, tournament staging, and social gatherings, and a lounge and bar area where players can decompress after a session.

Fitting Regulation Play Into a Space That Wasn't Built for It

The core challenge was fitting 11 regulation courts, spectator circulation, back-of-house operations, and a full food-and-beverage program into a commercial suite that was not originally built for athletics. Ceiling height, column spacing, HVAC capacity, and acoustic separation all had to be resolved before the first court line was painted.

The bar and lounge were placed with sightlines to the courts, so the social experience stays connected to the action. The event room was designed with its own entry sequence so private functions can run without disrupting open play.

From Empty Suite to Illinois' Largest Pickleball Club

Sure Shot opened in 2023 and has since become the largest DUPR-affiliated club in Illinois, hosting leagues, tournaments (including The Dink Minor League Pickleball series and the Chicago Amateur Open), and community events year-round. No membership is required to play, a deliberate decision the owners made to lower the barrier and build the broadest possible player community in the Naperville area.