One of the advantages of a Life Time membership is that it’s more than just a place to play pickleball — it has dozens of amenities and services to support your well-rounded routine as a player.
Yes, there are plenty of courts to reserve for play (signature members can reserve a court for up to 1.5 hours at a time and play as many games as they’d like with the other(s) they come with), but you may be surprised to learn how this one place can offer both best-in-class pickleball facilities, as well as a number of noteworthy off-court offerings to elevate your game and overall health and wellness.
1. High-Quality Pickleball Courts
Dedicated indoor pickleball courts at Life Time are typically designed with the Laykold Masters 5 cushion system, which features a five-millimeter cushion mat beneath the acrylic playing surface to enhance player comfort. Outdoor pickleball courts utilize the Laykold Masters hard court acrylic surface system.
For the indoor pickleball courts that were converted from basketball courts, those feature a Laykold acrylic playing surface applied over a hardwood sports floor with an integrated shock absorption system.
“We build our courts and pickleball spaces at the same high standard as the rest of the club, and if you’ve ever stepped foot inside of a Life Time, you know the bar we hold ourselves to for quality,” says Ryan Brister, vice president of racquet sports at Life Time.
2. Use of the Official Pickleball of the PPA Tour
All pickleball programming at Life Time exclusively features use of the LT 48 Pro Pickleball. This pickleball, which was an innovation by Life Time, prioritizes durability, sustainability, and consistent play for all levels.
“A lot of other pickleball facilities require players to bring their own balls for play,” explains Brister. “Not only do we not require that, but you’re playing with the official ball of the PPA Tour. You can play like a pro when you play with the ball the pros play with at a facility the pros play at.”
3. Open Play Time
There are a series of set open play times on club schedules each week where you can reserve a spot to mix in and play, whether with friends or other members. Open play is available by DUPR rating for all ages and skill levels.
4. Pickleball Programming
Intro to Pickleball is Life Time’s adult beginner program for those who are new to the sport. In this 60-minute, curriculum-based class, participants learn the basics of playing pickleball, including the need-to-know rules, as well as elements of technique, strategy, shot selection, court positioning, and scoring. They also learn the differences between singles and doubles gameplay.
(Life Time also offers regular clinics and lessons taught by pickleball professionals and hosts a variety of pro-level pickleball tournaments at its clubs throughout the year for an additional cost.)
5. Access to Nearly 900 Pickleball Courts Across the Country
Life Time is the nation’s largest operator of pickleball courts, offering places to play not only in your home area but also as you travel. As a Life Time member, you pay for access to a certain club and then automatically get access to other clubs with the same-priced dues and below, even across state and county lines.
6. Executive Locker Rooms
Life Time athletic country clubs feature executive locker rooms that include complimentary daily lockers, showers with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and fresh towel service, including for both bath towels and athletic towels (athletic towels are also available throughout the club in workout spaces).
The lockers offer a secure place to store your bag and personal belongings while playing pickleball, and the athletic towel is the ideal size to bring with you to the court to wipe off sweat between games.
“One huge perk, quite frankly, is being able to shower and clean up at Life Time after playing pickleball,” says Aleks Westlund, avid pickleball player and team member on the corporate pickleball team at Life Time. “When playing at a local park, for example, you have to drive home all sweaty.”
The locker rooms are also where you’ll often find hydrotherapy suite amenities, such as whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and cold plunges (may vary by club location).
7. Recovery Spaces and Tools
Life Time clubs feature LT Recovery zones, where you’ll find high-tech recovery equipment to support your recovery needs. Options include CryoLounge and HydroMassage chairs, Normatec compression technology, Hyperice percussion devices, and more (may vary by club location).
“The recovery spaces are a core part of every one of my pickleball sessions,” says Westlund. “I foam roll and spend time using the Normatec compression sleeves on my legs. I also prioritize the sauna and cold plunge. This is a huge perk of being a part of Life Time that you can’t find when playing elsewhere.”
(Life Time also offers Dynamic Stretch, hands-on, 25- or 50-minute assisted-stretch sessions, as well as metabolic testing, recovery treatments, and nutrition coaching at an additional cost.)
8. Workout Floor with State-of-the-Art Equipment
The expansive workout floor features free weights, state-of-the-art cardio and resistance-training machines, and designated stretching areas — giving pickleball players everything they need to build strength, boost endurance, and improve mobility and flexibility for better performance on the court.
“Weightlifting is essential for maintaining my fitness level for pickleball,” says Westlund. “Warming up before play is also very important to me. I prioritize a dynamic warm-up, and at my home club, there’s a track that I jog around before heading to the pickleball court. If I play at a club that doesn’t have a track, I use a treadmill. I also put a mat down in an open area and stretch. It’s so convenient that I can do this, walk a few steps, and be on the court.”
He adds, “It may sound small, but if you’re playing at a local court instead of at Life Time, you won’t have access to equipment and space to warm up and will be lucky if you can squeeze in some leg swings. You don’t want to put yourself at risk of injury because you can’t effectively warm up.
(Members seeking more individualized fitness experiences or added guidance and accountability can connect one-on-one with a Dynamic Personal Trainer at an additional cost.)
9. Fitness Classes
For pickleball players, cross-training with activities that improve strength, endurance, movement patterns, mobility, and stability can all be beneficial. Life Time offers a variety of group-fitness class formats — including cardio, strength, yoga, mind-body training, barre, dance, and indoor cycle options — to support your efforts. These classes are taught by top performers with options for all fitness levels.
Many Life Time locations also offer CTR (“Core, Tone, Reform”), an athletic reformer workout, as well as MAT Pilates (private and semi-private Pilates is also available at an additional cost).
“This is an appealing benefit as we’re seeing more pickleball players incorporating Pilates work into their routines,” says Brister.
For a structured and progressive workout experience, try GTX, Alpha, or Ultra Fit signature group training classes. GTX is a 50/50 blend of cardio and strength work; Alpha is centered around Olympic weightlifting and metabolic conditioning; and Ultra Fit combines sprint-interval training with balance and strength moves.
(Learn more: “Up Your Pickleball Game: 5 Classes to Add to Your Fitness Routine.”)
10. Care for Kids in the Kids Academy
Some perks that often surprise members are those that come with having their kids on a Junior Membership. When you play pickleball (or use the club in any other way), your kids can engage in healthy and active (and supervised!) play at the Kids Academy for up to 2.5 hours daily. You also have access to unlimited monthly kids and tweens events, including Parents Night Out, where parents can enjoy an evening to themselves — at the club or elsewhere.
11. Easy Access to Healthy Eats in the LifeCafe
Life Time clubs feature LifeCafes with nutritious meals, shakes, snacks, and beverages — a convenience for when you need to fuel up for energy before a pickleball session or want a protein-packed post-workout shake to recover.
“The LifeCafe has become a staple stop for me on my way out of the club, especially after playing two and a half hours of pickleball,” says Westlund. “My go-to order is the Vegan PB and B Shake.”
12. Use of the Life Time Work Club Lounge
For pickleball players balancing work and time on the court, the Life Time Work Club Lounge offers a place to stay productive before or after play. These open-plan, community-style spaces inside select Life Time clubs are complimentary for members to use whether you need to take a phone call, answer emails, or check off a few tasks.
It’s a practical perk for players who want to make the most of their time at the club and move more seamlessly between work, wellness, and recreation.
