Playing against bangers can feel like you’re constantly under siege. It’s no wonder why so many new pickleball players are afraid to approach the kitchen line. Defending fast shots in pickleball begins with mastering the drop volley. Let’s dive into how you can execute this shot, take the steam out of bangers, and create openings that lead […]
A struggling industry is looking to pickleball for resuscitation. Over the next three years, the top eight movie theater chains in the U.S. and Canada are investing more than $2.2 billion to revamp their cinemas, adding not just plush seating, top-notch sound systems, and high-tech projectors, but also pickleball courts. Chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark […]
The pickleball community touts itself as the most inclusive sport in the world. “Accepting,” “approachable,” and “welcoming” are all words commonly associated with it. But what happens when hundreds of women report condescension and, in some cases, flat-out harassment from male counterparts on the court? Do those positive words above still reflect pickleball? A couple months ago, […]
As you start becoming more competitive in pickleball — whether that competition is exclusive to rec leagues or in tournaments — there is one skill you can adopt that you can enact before even stepping foot on the court. Game planning for matches gets easier the more consistent your opponents and partners are, and knowing this can […]
“A lotta people [on the pickleball court] have fire in ’em.” Maybe that’s why Major League Baseball’s Mookie Betts says pickleball is “his jam.” The same guy who set a Dodgers record for leadoff home runs, who rolled out MVPs, World Series rings (plus a couple of 300 games in bowling) just casually dropped this gem […]
If you’re like me, improving at pickleball isn’t just a goal. It’s a mission. Playing in tournaments should be considered part of that mission. After first picking up pickleball, I put in the work and got better (or so I thought). Competing at your local club is great. It’s where everyone starts and you typically […]
If your child said they were serious about going pro in pickleball, how would you react? Obviously, if you’re reading this website, there’s a chance you’d be thrilled. If my son told me this, I’d be out on the court every single day with him. So naturally, this highlight from the recent PPA Tour stop […]
The wheelchair pickleball event at USA Pickleball Nationals used to be classified as an exhibition event – a nod to the accessibility pickleball is known for, but not quite in the spotlight. Now, USAP announced wheelchair divisions as part of the competition at this year’s event. Come November, wheelchair players will get the same chance to compete for […]
Most people care about only one number when buying a pickleball paddle: its weight. You’ll see numbers like 7.8oz or 8oz listed in the specs. But that’s static weight, or what it weighs just sitting on a scale. It goes without saying that pickleball isn’t played with a static paddle. There’s another number you should know before spending […]
Every beginner in pickleball asks one very basic question: how do I get better? This question is answered in a number of ways. Start playing more, drill, find better people to play against; the list goes on and on. What isn’t talked about a lot is how intermediate level players take that next step. The […]
