URL! And just like pickleball’s promising growth in North America, the way it grows abroad could skew its trajectory and limit who ultimately benefits from the boom. Pickleball is booming worldwide. From the streets of Mumbai to the clubs of Ho Chi Minh City, the sport is experiencing explosive growth, just like […]
Are you too obsessed with pickleball? Here’s why that’s hurting your game
We all want to get better at pickleball. That’s part of the fun—improvement, competition, and chasing that next level. But what if I told you that your obsession with getting better might actually be the thing holding you back? The more time and effort you put in, the better you should become. And for a […]
OPINION: The problem(s) with betting on pickleball matches
Have you ever asked yourself why sports betting is not a big topic in pickleball? It seems like in every sport in the world has somewhere you can bet on it, but not pickleball. We’ve got people staying up until 3:00AM to see who won the Malaysian basketball game because they had a 15 team […]
Padel may beat pickleball in the Olympic race
As pickleball continues to break participation records in the US and globally, there’s a quieter—but arguably stronger—push from another racquet sport to gain highly coveted entry into the Olympics. The International Padel Federation (FIP) has its eyes set on Brisbane 2032, and the sport is ticking off boxes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers essential for […]
Why you should watch more pro pickleball in 2025
Maybe I shouldn’t admit this. After all, I work in pickleball, and I’d like to keep my job. But here goes nothing: apart from pickleball, I’m not a sports person. At least, that’s how I used to think of myself: more of a nerd than a bleacher creature. Then, I discovered pickleball, and therefore discovered what I […]
Does Sexism Exist in Pickleball?
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, […]
Pickleball Should be More Mainstream. This is How We Get it There.
Pickleball is the greatest sport in the world…or at least, it can be. The last year was an explosive one for the sport. We’ve seen more infrastructure built, records broken, and the continuing explosion of the player count. All of that speaks to the continued popularity of pickleball. The audience is there. So what’s the issue? Making pickleball […]
Is Outrage Justified Over the Plan for Pickleball Courts in Florida Parks?
UPDATE: As of 8/28/24, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the plans for construction of pickleball, golf, and other facilities across several state parks. UPDATE 9/4/2024: James Gaddis, a former cartographer for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, claims he was fired after leaking plans for golf courses, hotels, and other developments in state parks. Gaddis, calling […]
Should Pickleball Serve Rules Change? Data Says, ‘No Need’
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. […]
Zane Navratil Fires Back at Collin Johns’ MLP Letter
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 […]