[Written in partnership with Picklefox, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
There’s no doubt that pickleball has taken Malaysia by storm. We see courts popping up at every corner. Enthusiasts are complaining about certain courts being booked up days, if not weeks, in advance. Big corporations are trying to cash in on the hype.
One business that has been contributing and catering to this demand is Picklefox, a one-stop shop for all things pickleball.
Aligning with their vision to be the go-to name for pickleball enthusiasts, they’ve announced the launch of their dedicated pro facility, Mothership, set to open this year.
Welcome aboard the Mothership
Set to be a premium facility in Kuala Lumpur, Mothership envisions itself to be home to a dedicated pickleball community.
It claims to have the country’s only Six Zero sanctioned courts and hence one of the most performance-focused pickleball facilities. Six Zero is a notable Australian-based pickleball equipment company.
On top of seven pro-size, tournament-grade pickleball courts with professional lighting, there will be a pro shop with expert paddle customisation, a lounge area for socialising, training programmes for all skill levels, and event spaces for tournaments and corporate gatherings.
Their smart court involves smart tracking, performance analytics, and real-time coaching insights to help individuals fine-tune their skills innovatively.
Like Picklefox, Mothership was born out of a passion for pickleball and a recognition of the sport’s rapid growth in Malaysia and across Asia.
However, there is a growing number of court operators in Malaysia by the minute. What sets Mothership apart?
Janet, the founder of Picklefox, reasoned: “We saw a gap in the market for a premium, tournament-level, and smart court pickleball facility that caters not only to casual players but also to serious competitors and professionals.”
This observation is backed by not just Janet’s involvement with the pickleball scene through Picklefox but also her personal experiences.
“The validation came from the overwhelming interest we’ve seen in the sport, the increasing number of players, and the need for dedicated spaces designed with professional-level quality,” she determined.
More than satisfying a demand, it’s about imparting impact on the sport itself. As Janet previously shared with Vulcan Post, the existence of world-class facilities will lead to more people taking the sport seriously.
“That changes the perception from ‘just a trend’ to a legitimate, sustainable sport.”
Powered by international partners
But Picklefox isn’t doing this alone. As mentioned, they’ve partnered up with Six Zero.
Janet said, “The partnership came about naturally through shared connections in the industry and our mutual desire to grow the sport. Six Zero saw the potential in Mothership as a flagship location in Asia where players could experience and access their products firsthand.”
While Picklefox will provide the infrastructure, coaching expertise, and events to drive engagement, Six Zero will complement the experience with their cutting-edge pickleball equipment and brand credibility within the competitive scene.
“Together, we create an ecosystem where players can experience high-level play with the best gear, and Six Zero gets direct access to a growing and passionate customer base,” Janet said.
Dale Young, the founder of Six Zero, said, “We are very excited to partner with Picklefox to grow the sport of pickleball in Malaysia. We look forward to combining forces and showcasing our high-quality products to the fast-growing Malaysian community.”
Creating a launchpad
Like Janet emphasises, Mothership is truly more than a court facility, and this is clearly showcased through its programme called The Launchpad.
Set to launch in mid August, The Launchpad is a development programme dedicated to identifying and accelerating Malaysia’s next wave of competitive players.
The Launchpad is supported by notable title sponsors U Mobile and Leapmotor, alongside supporting sponsors LAC and Skechers. And of course, it’s made possible with the technical support of Six Zero.
The Launchpad sets the tone for Mothership’s core mission: to invest in talent, create structured opportunities, and build a stronger pipeline of Malaysian pickleball athletes.
Speaking to Vulcan Post, Janet revealed that many pickleball tournaments tend to be won by the same group of people, and while they deserve their flowers, it prohibits and bottlenecks a lot of players from being able to properly grow and find avenues to improve their competitive performance.
Thus, The Launchpad actually involves a scouting tournament, whereby intermediate-level players (as ranked by the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating or DUPR system) will be identified and sponsored by Mothership and its partners.
From there, there’ll be coaching sessions and structured practice, as well as “Titan Sessions” where they will spar with stronger opponents. Next in the programme will be partner matching, so players can be strategically paired with compatible doubles partners.
Participants will then be sponsored to participate in a series of local and regional tournaments to build experience and resilience. The whole programme will wrap up in a high-profile tournament as the final showcase.
Leading a new chapter in pickleball
Mothership is targeting an official opening in Q3, with plans of soft launch events leading up to the grand opening. According to the CEO, construction and setup are progressing on schedule.
After debuting their Kuala Lumpur location, though, the team has dreams of expanding to other key locations in Asia.
With a premium facility, cutting-edge equipment from Six Zero, and bold ambitions to develop the local skill levels, Mothership seeks to redefine the pickleball industry in Malaysia and beyond.
- Learn more about Mothership here.
- Learn more about Picklefox here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Picklefox
