A 30-Hour Pickleball Marathon in London Smashes World Record

Two pickleball world record holders pose in England

Four Londoners just made pickleball history, setting a new Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Playing Pickleball (doubles). Recreational players may brag about their five-hour play sessions. But leader Tony Matharu and three others rallied through some very British weather for 30 hours straight. The team battled through on a pop-up court at Tower […]

How an Energy Drink Brand is Powering Pickleball’s Rise

A can of Reign Storm energy drink held by a pickleball player

The Kitchen team has been to its fair share of pickleball events — not to kick it in the stands, but to film content for hours at a time…filming every single point, trying to get that viral highlight of the day, often in the blazing sun. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a sweet gig, but it […]

Fixing The Biggest Mistake in Pickleball: Not Trying

Pickleball player reaches for a dink

You just pulled up to your local courts for rec play. After a long day of work, you finally get to play some pickleball. You grab your bag, your 64oz water bottle, and in the distance you hear that glorious sound of people playing the game you love. You walk up and get all checked […]

Returning Serves in Pickleball: All Your Options, Analyzed

Gabe Tardio returning a serve during a pickleball match

Returning a serve in pickleball should be considered one of the most important strategic elements of the game. The return is a shot that holds surprising power in shaping the flow of the rest of the point. From placing your opponent on their heels to positioning yourself perfectly for the next exchange, mastering the return is […]

Ben Stiller and Andy Roddick Team Up for Pickleball Comedy

A photoshopped image of Ben Stiller diving in the movie Dodgeball, with a pickleball replacing the dodgeball

Finally, pickleball gets a starring role on the big screen. Former tennis champ Andy Roddick is making his Hollywood debut in The Dink, a pickleball comedy produced by none other than actor Ben Stiller. In this sports flick, Jake Johnson (New Girl) takes the lead as a washed-up tennis pro who has no choice but […]

You Should Practice Pickleball With Lower-Level Players, Too

A pickleball player practicing his serve with partners of similar or lesser skill

Many players I talk to are worried about the level of their drilling partners. While it’s usually best to drill with someone of your level or even slightly better, it’s also wise to work with someone below your level from time to time. Aside from the confidence you can gain by repeatedly wiping the floor with your friend, […]

The Complete List of Pickleball Terminology

To the uninitiated, pickleball is a strange-sounding sport with some even stranger-sounding terms and slang. As the sport continues to gain loyal followers, its lexicon multiplies and evolves. Some of it comes from the USAP Rulebook, but most of it has evolved organically from pickleball communities & forums. We’ll do our best to keep track of […]

Violent Fights Erupt on Pickleball Courts

Violent fight happening on a pickleball court

Recent bouts of violent fighting on pickleball courts have us wondering: is the sport such a “safe space” after all? A suspect was arrested after an alleged assault on a pickleball court at Burnaby’s Confederation Park in British Columbia last weekend. According to the RCMP, the suspect assaulted the victim with a glass bottle and […]

Reddit Co-Founder Incorrectly Claims Pickleball Highlights Haven’t Gone Viral

A view of Reddit's logo as viewed full-screen on a phone, with hands holding the phone

Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder and husband of tennis icon Serena Williams, clearly isn’t spending enough time on other social media platforms. Despite the sport’s explosive growth and the existence of point highlights like this which received over 100 million views and counting, Ohanian said he’s not convinced pickleball is a “real sport” yet. Why? Because he “hasn’t seen […]

This is What Good Poaching in Pickleball Looks Like

Ben Johns poaching a pickleball opportunity from partner Anna Leigh Waters

“Poaching” in pickleball has almost become a bad word, one meant to insinuate a player should have trusted their partner. But the decision to poach or leave a ball doesn’t really have anything to do with trust…at least, it shouldn’t. There ARE situations where the player with a strong putaway or other shot should take […]