Why do they call it ‘pickleball’? You’d think the origins of such a distinct name would be easy to trace. But the history of pickleball’s name is fraught with contention. Since the sport’s creation in 1965, two popular theories have emerged: the boat theory and the dog theory. Fans of the sport are likely already […]
It’s mind-blowing to think that most companies that manufacture pickleball paddles have only existed for less than a decade. Six Zero, the Australian company known for shaking things up in the world of paddle engineering, is no exception. Founder Dale Young formed his company in 2022, and within a short time, released multiple paddles that […]
The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) announces they’ve solidified their UPA Certification Program in partnership with the third party and independent equipment testing organization Pickle Pro Labs (PPL). The certification will also involve input from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, known for its work with Major League Baseball on bat and ball testing. “This partnership aims to […]
Pro pickleball players have some of the most unique day-to-day schedules in all of sports. Competition is more intense than it’s ever been before. Sponsorships require players to provide more value than just tournament wins. Coaching keeps us out of debt. And when you’re not practicing, you’re looking for other opportunities. Add travel between pro events to the mix, and […]
What happens after your third or fifth shot is critical in taking control of the rest of the pickleball point. There’s lots of advice out there about transitioning from the baseline to the kitchen, but one of the most important tips is simply: don’t just rush up to the non-volley zone. Top pro Catherine Parenteau recently […]
There’s an expression you’ll hear at pickleball courts around the world: “I just got beat by a grandpa/grandma,” or something to that effect. Sometimes, it’s said with an ageist attitude, as if the younger player could not possibly believe they were defeated by someone older than them. But mostly, it’s uttered in respectful awe of […]
The kitchen is no longer for dinking! Back in the day, when pickleball paddles were ultra soft and had no power or spin, all players could do was drop, dink, and wait for a 90% pop-up. As we’ve seen lately, that’s no longer the case. We’re now able to pull the trigger from places old […]
You may not be surprised to learn that the top men’s pickleball player, Ben Johns, is a multimillionaire. Ben recently revealed his 2024 salary is over $2 million, and that’s not including endorsements. While the audience for pro pickleball is significantly smaller than the total number of recreational pickleball players, being the best at anything is bound to get you […]
As if reaching skill levels over 5.0 wasn’t already difficult enough, pickleball players aspiring to go pro have another obstacle to contend with: the costs of entry. Fan and aspiring pro Tanner Wallace recently tallied up the bare minimum cost to play professional pickleball for a year and posted his results in our Facebook Group. […]
Across the pond, England is preparing for a major milestone in the development of pickleball. The nation’s largest dedicated pickleball club is coming to Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London in early 2025. Franklin Sports, the American brand known for sponsoring pickleball athletes like The Johnsons and for their signature X-40 pickleball, teamed up with MCMX for the state-of-the-art […]
