There’s a problem with the way most pickleball players serve, and it’s part of a learning curve that looks something like this: Beginners rely on slow, looping serves with no topspin to keep the ball in play, but these serves are easy targets for skilled opponents who can easily position for a strong return. More […]
Bob Gress has always been a man of action. At 66 years old and towering at 6’6″, his life had been filled with physical work and sports. From building cabinets in the aircraft industry to managing production at a toaster factory, he had spent his entire career on his feet, using his hands to create, […]
We’ve seen countless “picklin’ for charity”-style events pop up nationwide in the last few years. So we couldn’t help but wonder: what are the best practices for organizing pickleball events, particularly if their aim is to fundraise? Organizing a pickleball fundraiser involves more than booking courts and inviting players. It requires thoughtful planning, targeted promotion, and the […]
As a journalist who only truly loves one sport (you can guess which), I never gave pro athletes much thought. After all, they’re paid more than I’ll ever see in my lifetime to play, what, 25 games per year? But then I talked to some pro pickleball players. They have a much different schedule than your […]
Juan Benitez and Claudio Quinones just won $25,000 by coming in first at The Kitchen Open (TKO) 2024 in Austin, Texas. While many former tennis players bring an aggressive mindset to pickleball, Benitez and Quinones chose to outlast their opponents, relying on patience, control, and timing. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t plenty of action-packed, […]
You may know 17-year-old Anna Leigh Waters as “the Young GOAT,” the number one ranked player on the pro pickleball circuit. Now, you’ll know her as the sport’s biggest earner. According to her agent, she’s set to rake in over $3 million this year, surpassing even her Mixed Doubles partner Ben Johns’ $2.5 million salary. If you ask her […]
Rachel Stuhlmann cringes when she says the word “influencer.” But she admits that’s part of what she does and who she is: a social media star who made a name for herself in tennis before adding pickleball to her content plans. Rachel was already a standout athlete at the collegiate level, but now she’s translating her influencer interest […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
