Village-Neuf is bringing a hybrid court sport to the French border as the badminton club V3F launches a series of weekly recreational sessions dedicated to picklebad, a localized variant of the rapidly expanding American paddle sport, L’Alsace reported.
The sport combines elements of badminton, tennis, and padel. It is played on a badminton court using a low net set at 90 centimeters, solid paddles similar to those used in padel, and a hard plastic ball perforated with holes. While the discipline officially gained affiliation with the French Tennis Federation in January, its local adoption in the Haut-Rhin region stems directly from the badminton community.
How V3F Adapted the Sport for Local Players
Thierry Stempfel, vice-president of both the French Badminton Federation and the V3F club, first examined the discipline after noting its international growth. Following a conversation with a former club member who had taken up the sport, Stempfel found that the nearest existing facilities were located in Guebwiller on the French side and Basel across the Swiss border, both carrying significantly higher membership costs.
“I found this sport very interesting, I was sensitive to its development and I wanted to go further,” Stempfel told L’Alsace, adding that potential demand clearly warranted a local option.
The club hosted an initial discovery evening at the end of August, drawing approximately 40 participants, a strong majority of whom had no prior affiliation with V3F. That turnout prompted organizers to schedule further programming, establishing four weekly sessions across multiple venues in the region.
Where and When Sessions Take Place
Because the standard court markings for pickleball differ slightly from those of badminton—specifically involving a shorter baseline trace—V3F organizers chose not to pursue competitive play under official national regulations. Instead, the club markets the offering explicitly for leisure under the portmanteau “picklebad.”
“We are not offering pickleball, we are offering picklebad,” Stempfel said. “This also responds to our club orientations in terms of health sport since it is a little gentler, less traumatic and less physical, it is playful and accessible to all.”
The weekly schedule spans three municipalities:
- Monday afternoons at La Comète in Hésingue
- Monday evenings at Sportenum in Saint-Louis
- Wednesday evenings at Cosec in Village-Neuf
- Friday evenings at Sportenum in Saint-Louis
An open introductory session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, running from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time at the Cosec venue in Village-Neuf, featuring free admission and equipment loans provided on-site.
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