Actor, singer, and Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron was recently spotted playing pickleball in Austin, TX, and he clearly came ready to compete.

Efron took to the courts at the Urban Pickleball Club, a standout venue that’s far from your average pickleball spot. The members-only rooftop club in downtown Austin features six courts and sweeping views of the city skyline.

The location is known for attracting top-tier talent. High-level players like Jack Munro and Camila Zilveti are regulars, and the courts have also become a low-key celebrity hotspot. Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness and his husband, Mark London, played there multiple times last year. The  Bachelor couple Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar hosted their wedding pickleball party at the venue. San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama has also been seen dinking around on these courts.

In short, it’s a place where elite pickleball and celebrity culture collide.

During his visit, Efron teamed up in a doubles match with Munro, a former University of Texas collegiate pickleball player. According to an Instagram video, Efron played the left side while Munro held down the right. For pickleball fans, that detail speaks volumes. Efron was more than just along for the ride. Holding the left side with a player of Munro’s caliber suggests Efron has legitimate skill and can more than hold his own.

Efron also showed off his touch with a beautiful third-shot drop—a textbook execution of one of the most essential shots in pickleball. It’s the kind of shot every serious player works to master, and it made one thing clear: Efron isn’t just dabbling. He genuinely understands the game.

His interest in pickleball shouldn’t come as a surprise. Efron is famously active, and a quick glance at his social media shows him constantly training, golfing, hiking, and wake surfing with his brother, Dylan. Physicality and athleticism have long been central to both his lifestyle and his career.

Many of his standout roles, including The Iron Claw and Baywatch, revolve around his elite conditioning and athletic presence. So it feels only natural that pickleball has found its way into his off-screen routine.

And perhaps the most headline-worthy detail of all: Efron played shirtless.

The Baywatch star showed off not only his pickleball skills, but also his famously sculpted physique. It’s a moment that’s undeniably great for the sport’s image—proof that pickleball isn’t just a backyard pastime. This is modern, high-energy, and undeniably cool.

Even when he kept his shirt on, Efron’s pickleball fit was effortlessly clean and masculine. He wore slate gray drawstring shorts, a dark green T-shirt, a black baseball cap, black sneakers, and white-and-black crew socks—a simple, polished look that’s easy inspiration for any guy wanting to elevate his on-court style. Of course, it probably doesn’t hurt if you’ve got Zac Efron–level abs underneath.

And on a personal note: as a woman who grew up with the High School Musical soundtrack on repeat, Efron is officially my favorite celebrity pickleball player yet.

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