Terrance Zhang 3 months ago

Slate is advertised as an upscale facility with a unique culture but our experience there unfortunately fell short.The courts were well-maintained but felt borderline claustrophobic. The space behind the baselines and to the sides of the court were technically within parameters but felt far too narrow for comfortable movement and play. The ceilings were also too low for our liking: There were a lot of tubes and conduits near the ceiling that would trap balls. Some of the nets were also not properly cinched in the middle. Aside from that: The courts are well-constructed and feel great to play on. Acoustics here are phenomenal. The glass dividers are nice and I really appreciate how easy it is to access other courts.The overall atmosphere was liminal and artificial. The air was heavy and stagnant, almost as if there was zero circulation or cooling/heating. The lighting was, by far, the dimmest of any pickleball facility that we've played at. That, combined with the courts' dull color palate, made everything feel melancholic and eerie. Between the AI-generated art, fake plants, and strange paintings, the entire experience felt artificial. It felt like I was trapped in The Backrooms (i.e. a fever dream). Though, I will say that they have the nicest bathrooms that I've ever seen in a Pickleball facility (or maybe even in general).They also have a bar with drinks/food but we didn't see anyone utilizing it.The player base was, for the most part, friendly but lacked a community-centered feel that we were used to seeing at Frog Pickleball, Pickledilly, Pickleball4All, and Pickleball Clubhouse. Half of the players there were courteous and engaging while the other half seemed standoffish and arrogant. Groups would often rotate on/off select courts and had their own cliques (very little cross-pollination).Slate also utilizes a confusing in-house rating system (Apprentice/Intern/Manager/Director/VP/President/Professor) without reference to established systems like USAP and DUPR. I assume the direct translation to USAP skill level ratings would be 2.0/2.5/3.0/3.5/4.0/4.5+, respectively, but they do not make that evident/clear. This is not entirely accessible for those who are "outside" of Slate's ecosystem because the translation between Slate's system and outside standards is a bit arduous.Overall, I appreciate the affordability of your social play and the opportunity to try your facility, but it's unlikely that we'll return in the future.

Matthew Brash 4 months ago

We recently hosted my 8-year-old son’s birthday party at Slate and the kids had an absolute blast. The mix of fun drills and live games kept everyone engaged, and the staff went above and beyond to make the event special. They truly care about the experience and treat your event like it’s their own. We had such a great time that we’ve now joined as members and look forward to hosting more events there.

Trinh Tran 4 months ago

My new favorite place to hang out on weekends for open play or public play. Love that they have a bar. Patricia and JuJu (spelling?) are so welcoming. Coach Brandon and Redouane keep classes fun and engaging. Awesome vibes 😎

Lauren Sadofsky 5 months ago

Last year at the end of the summer my husband and I joined Slate and we really love it. The coaches are so friendly and helpful. There’s a good variety of leagues to join. They have improved our game.

Dan Tauriello 2 years ago

I have known Sam for 15 years and been watching his teaching career develop for almost a dozen. Sam has taught all skill levels and age groups at clubs in both Cincinnati and Chicago, and is constantly seeking novel -- and proven -- education methods for both tennis and pickleball as it's grown in popularity. I've even picked up a few things from him remotely, and have seen him in action several times when visiting in Chicago. His style is positive and encouraging while still providing a challenge through experiential learning.I've been so excited to watch his vision for Slate develop over the last few years, and to see it finally come to fruition! Looking forward to hearing about how the club's classes are progressing and hoping to take a few when I'm in town again soon.