People across North Texas have gotten plenty of workouts from pickleball in the last few years, whether at sprawling indoor facilities or on their local city courts. But now there’s a new way to “dink” your way to fitness—with a new “phygital” pickleball fitness studio coming to Dallas this summer. 

Called Playkout, the “first-ever” concept is the brainchild of co-founders Bahigh Acuna—a former tech executive at Amazon who worked at Spotify, Ancestry, and Postmates “during their early or growth stages”—and Jorge Guerrero, who has driven strategy and financial planning in the consumer tech, insurance, and wellness spaces.

Photo: Playkout

Located at 3501 McKinney in Uptown Dallas, the studio will swap out traditional cardio machines with proprietary, custom-designed pickleball stations. Using play-based methodology, the stations are designed to “transform workouts into play.” The solution merges the physical energy of a group workout with “digital gamification” using advanced pickleball simulators and custom-designed training studio, the company said. 

The high-tech simulators are located indoors in a climate-controlled environment, allowing for year-round play without the crowds that often pack large facilities like the ones popping up all around Dallas-Fort Worth, the company added.

Photo: Playkout

Playkout’s lab in Plano found its simulators increase ‘calorie burn’

Playkout has a lab in Plano, where it tested its proprietary methodology In trials with “over 300 playtesters.” The company found its simulators\ led to a 15% increase in calorie burn compared to traditional fitness studios.  

“Additionally, players felt sharp and focused after the workout because tracking each ball serves as cognitive training for the brain,” the company said. “Repeat players, after only two sessions, noticed an enhancement in their athletic ability.”

Taking the ‘work’ out of ‘workout’

Co-founded by Bahigh Acuna and Jorge Guerrero, Playkout brings a unique ‘phygital’ experience to fitness, blending the physical energy of a group workout with digital gamification. [Photo: Playkout]

“At Playkout, we’re redefining what it means to work out,” Acuna, one of the two co-founders, said in a statement. “We believe in the power of motion, seeing that the happiest and healthiest people are those who are constantly moving. However, finding the motivation to move can be a struggle. This led us to create an environment where fitness feels like play. Our goal is to make exercise something people look forward to, not a chore. We take the ‘work’ out of ‘workout’ and replace it with play, which is the essence of the Playkout brand.”

His co-founder, Guerrero, says they want people to “rediscover the joy of fitness” with their innovative concept.

“We created a fitness experience that blends pickleball, technology, and strength training to deliver workouts that are both fun and effective,” he said in a statement. “Not only does it yield fitness results, but it also enhances skill development for those looking to improve their game. Even if you’re not a pickleball player, this is the most enjoyable workout you will encounter because engaging with a ball is a universal joy that has united communities for centuries.”

While Playkout will offer pickleball-inspired group fitness sessions, customers will also be able  book stand-alone simulator sessions. 

Expansion planned

Playkout’s flagship Uptown Dallas location is intended to be “just the beginning” of the brand’s rollout. The company said it plans to expand to other areas “in Dallas and beyond,” offering “a full-body workout that boosts cardio, strength, and cognitive performance in an engaging, community-driven environment.”

Playkout is currently offering simulator booking credits, fitness session packages, and memberships. During its launch, the company says it’s providing a limited number of founding memberships with a “lifetime discount lock” on membership prices.

You can see a video of the workout in action on Playkout’s website here.

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