Should Pickleball Serve Rules Change? Data Says, ‘No Need’

Pro pickleball player Tyson McGuffin about to demonstrate his powerful serve.

Last week, there was a rumor floating around that the PPA Tour would be making rules changes regarding the serve. Key word there: rumor. A video posted by pro Grayson Goldin appeared to show a referee at a recent match explaining a rule that would force pros to serve into a box within four feet of the baseline. […]

You’re About to Play Your First Pickleball Tournament. Study This Guide

Pickleball players after playing in their first tournament.

Participating in your first pickleball tournament can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. And just about everyone who’s ever done it is going to tell you the same thing, which is a real shame. Telling you to just “focus on having fun” or “not worry so much” isn’t helpful. How do you do that, exactly? Especially […]

Pickleball Tournament Will Break Records in England

Pickleball in England is picking up steam. Consider this year’s English Open, August 8th to 14th, which closed registration with 1,976 registered players from 42 different countries. The OPEN features seven days of high-octane competition. Players from around the globe—including top professionals from America, Europe, and Asia—will be battling it out in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair, and […]

Are these the pickleball(s) of the future?

A 3D-printed, recyclable pickleball by Accel Sports

Pickleball is booming, and its manufacturers are struggling to keep up with demand. Research shows 500 million pickleballs are produced every year. That seems impressive — until you realize how much plastic will inevitably end up in landfills. Some estimates say 77 million pounds of it can be attributed to pickleball.  Then, there’s the noise issue. We’ve seen countless complaints […]

Zane Navratil Fires Back at Collin Johns’ MLP Letter

Zane Navratil playing in a Major League Pickleball (MLP) match

Earlier this week, a reportedly-leaked email from Collin Johns explaining his distaste for Major League Pickleball’s format contained quite a few points that explored the nuance of the league’s strengths and weaknesses.  I unpacked most of Collin’s opinions, agreeing with him regarding his points about the overall production quality and lighting but finding fault with most […]

Unpacking Collin Johns’ Leaked Statement About MLP

Collin Johns reaction after a pro pickleball point

Collin Johns, ranked world #5 on the PPA Tour, is rumored to say he “despise(s) MLP for a variety of reasons.”  That’s a bold thing to allegedly say: “despise.” In fairness, it seems as though Collin may have said it in a private email and the ensuing statement was leaked. Either way, the important part […]

Pickleball May Not Be in the Olympics, But Its Presence is Still Felt in Paris

Pickleball snuck into the 2024 Olympics logo

Why was pickleball not included in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games? We get this question a lot. Truth is, there are many reasons: Lack of Global Popularity: While pickleball has grown rapidly in the U.S. and parts of Canada, its global reach is still limited compared to more established Olympic sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) […]

Pickleball’s Best Stories Start Like This: How the ERNE Training Machine Was Made

The ERNE pickleball machine

Every good pickleball story starts with a courtside conversation. Ryan Rabidou – an avid athlete and father – was on his yearly winter sojourn in 2021 from Vermont to the Florida Keys, playing pickleball and overwintering with his family. While playing in Marathon Key, he met Dave Tribbett, a noted tinkerer and software engineer from Philadelphia, among […]

Auction Started to Benefit Victims of Rodney Grubbs’ $50 Million Scandal

Some of the items up for bid in the Pickleball Rocks bankruptcy auction

Thousands of pickleball paddles, hats, and other equipment are currently up for auction after an infamous business supported by community members was forced to file for bankruptcy.  Pickleball Rocks, called “The world’s most recognized pickleball apparel brand” by its founder Rodney Grubbs, accrued $47.5 million in debt after Grubbs issued promissory notes to investors typically worth […]

PPA Tour Will Go International Next Year

The PPA Tour will hold events in Australia, India, Canada, Asia, and Europe in 2025, giving local players an opportunity to compete against the top-ranked players in the league. The United Pickleball Association (UPA), the organization that operates MLP and PPA Tour, announced its UPA International Championship Series that will bring many top players to new territories abroad. The Series offers a platform for competition across […]