Johor Bahru just turned the dial down on sweaty sessions. Pickle Friends, a new indoor complex at Lotus’s Plentong, has opened nine fully air-conditioned pickleball courts, positioning itself as one of the few climate-controlled venues in the city and an easy ~20-minute drive from the checkpoint. Court time starts from RM50 on weekdays and from RM70 on weekends, giving Singapore and JB players a cool, wallet-friendly option.
The space is built for volume and comfort: premium courts, and specialized training machines for solo or small-group drills. If you’re new to the sport or shaking off rust, those machines can help you groove timing and footwork before live play. Rental paddles are available for RM5 each, so first-timers don’t need to buy gear to jump in. Opening hours run 8am–11pm daily, which covers pre-work sweats and late-night dinks.
Court Capacity and Etiquette
Each court fits up to four players on-court (standard doubles), and the venue caps a maximum of eight people per court booking to keep rotations moving and rallies crisp. Beginners can start with easy cooperative rallies to get comfortable with the non-volley zone (the “kitchen”) and basic rally scoring, then scale up to full games.
How to Book and Amenities
Pickle Friends takes reservations through the AFA/Play Sports Together platform, which also lists current time-slot prices.
Beyond the chilled air, players will find lounge areas, shower facilities, and cold drinks on site—small touches that matter after a tight set. The complex’s industrial look—exposed beams, wide aisles, clean sightlines—keeps things bright and photogenic for team shots after match point.
Johor Bahru’s pickleball map is getting deeper and more player-friendly. Air-conditioned courts extend playable hours, reduce heat-related fatigue, and make the sport more accessible to families, beginners, and athletes who may prefer controlled environments. Together with other JB venues adding courts and programming, the city is shaping up as a cross-border hub for league nights, socials, and festivals.
