Innholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2024 i Pickleball Magazine

Seven years ago, my wife Lisa and I took the plunge and built a pickleball court in our backyard. To say it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made—both as pro players and as a family—is an understatement. Lisa and our three boys enjoy sports, so we knew a private court would be a natural fit for our lifestyle. We love to entertain and have made so many wonderful memories with extended family and friends, and pickleball has been at the center of each gathering. If you love the sport, and have space on your property and the resources, I encourage you to build your own court. Be sure to read “Home Court Advantage” on page 28, which features six stunning courts and advice from homeowners who made the…

dinksWhat’s News in Pickleball The M/V Aretha, a luxury yacht in the Adriatic Sea, offers a full-size floating pickleball court with a regulation net. Via Croatia, the company behind the venture, promises that the court is firmly attached, anchored down beside the ship so it stays steady on the water. It takes the crew approximately four hours to inflate or deflate the platform. Once it’s up, the court remains playable in calm seas for up to two days. If you’re wondering about pickleballs landing in the water, Gabriella Ribeiro, the company’s chief exploration officer, says, “The crew is extremely attentive and makes every effort to retrieve any stray balls from the water.”…

Nestled amidst the sun-kissed landscapes of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, PGA National Resort represents the perfect blend of world-class golf, engaging family activities, and a growing pickleball scene. This iconic resort, renowned for its golfing heritage, has evolved into a haven for families seeking a diverse and unforgettable vacation experience. The heart of PGA National’s allure lies in its five championship golf courses, meticulously designed to challenge and inspire players of all levels. The legendary Champion Course stands as a testament to the resort’s golfing legacy, with its demanding layout, undulating greens, and picturesque water features. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice eager to improve your game, PGA National’s courses offer an unparalleled golfing experience, set against the backdrop of South Florida’s natural beauty. But PGA National is…

FEATURE From the most dominant amateurs to the best pickleball pros, Nationals will feature the crème de la crème of the sport. With a history to be proud of, we invite you to look back in time at the longevity of our USA Pickleball National Championship. 2007 USA Pickleball established first National Tournament. 2009 Nationals featured 400 participants from 26 states. 2010-11 USA Pickleball Nationals were held at Sun City Festival in Arizona. 2012 What began as an event that drew mostly senior participants started to capture the interest of younger players and high-level tennis players. 2013-14 The event featured over 700 participants going head-to-head on 28 courts. 2015 Nationals expands to a larger venue in Casa Grande, AZ. 2016-17 This marked the first time Nationals was broadcast to a…

There were 365 players representing 24 countries converging in Brussels at the end of July for the second Belgian Pickleball Open. According to Pickleball Belgium President Kassandra Bourgeois, “All the preparation, including setting up 21 courts, was made possible through our amazing team of sponsors and volunteers. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to make this such a joyful, high-level competition for Europe. We were delighted to add 100 players this year alone, and invite everyone to join us next year!”…

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024, I’m pleased to share two new significant developments with our USA Pickleball community. Our organization has always been committed to the growth and development of pickleball, and this year, we’re taking additional steps to enhance both our membership experience and our National Championships. New Membership Types To meet the unique needs of our growing and diverse membership base, we’ve expanded our membership options. Whether you’re a tournament competitor, weekend warrior or fan, we now have a membership for you. We’ve gone from a single membership type to three options: Champion — for the competitive member, Challenger — for the recreational player and Casual — for fans or those who want to learn more before joining. Each tier features new perks and…

The Perfect Match This cozy, personalized pickleball blanket is the perfect gift for your doubles partner. Available in three sizes and woven from 100% cotton made in the USA, it’s ideal for snuggling on the couch, staying warm at outdoor events, or hanging on a wall to add personality to any room in your home.Price: Starts at $109 relatablebasic.com Play Pickleball Bucket Hat Stay stylish on the court with a pickleball bucket hat. Featuring an embroidered design on the front, side snaps for ear flaps, and an adjustable drawcord, this hat is both functional and trendy. The soft brim with a unique pattern underneath adds a touch of flair for pickleball players.Price: $34.99 chalktalksports.com Pickleball Paradise Puzzle Beginners and pros alike will have a blast piecing together the colorful details…

Slicing the ball has many advantages because it helps you control the pace of the ball. Slowing the pace can give you time to get into better position. It can be defensive or offensive. Spin forces your opponent to calculate. The slice bounce stays lower, forcing your opponent to get up to the ball and to bend his knees more. You can slice your serve, your dink, your return… you have lots of choices. First, a slice is not a chop. A chop is when the energy of your swing goes down. The ball is short and sits up. It is ineffective for pickleball except as a dramatic drop shot because it sits up and allows the opponent to come to the net behind a drive. When hitting a slice,…

Select Series Tournaments SEPTEMBER 27-29 Select Series North Mid-Atlantic Manasquan, NJ • The Atlantic Club Pickleball Center OCTOBER 11-13 Select Series Great Plains Colorado Springs, CO • Monument Valley Park National Championships NOVEMBER 9-17 Biofreeze USA Pickleball Nationals Mesa, AZ · Arizona Athletic Grounds North SEPTEMBER 27-29 September Smash and Bash Warren, MI • Bash Pball Club OCTOBER 4-6 APP Women’s Open Presented by The James Columbus, OH • Pickle n Chill East SEPTEMBER 13-15 PickleBrawl in the Blue Ridge Salem. VA • Moyer Sports Complex SEPTEMBER 28-29 Catholic Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh Pickleball Tournament Cheswick, PA • Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena OCTOBER 11-13 Shake ‘em Up ShowDown Fredericksburg, VA • Univ of Washington Tennis Center OCTOBER 19-20 Kingswood Wicked Big Dill Pickleball Tournament Wolfeboro, NH • Kingwood Regional high…

The iconic Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, the world’s tallest building, served as a striking backdrop for the media launch of the most significant professional tour in pickleball history. The Pickleball World Rankings (PWR) World Tour will distribute an unprecedented $15 million in prize money across 500 global and regional competitions held on six continents. Adding to the excitement, tennis legend Andre Agassi appeared via video to announce that he will personally attend the PWR DUPR Indian Tour and League stop in India. “This is the highest prize money ever offered in the history of the sport,” said PWR CEO and founder Pranav Kohli. “We are thrilled to elevate pickleball to new heights, in partnership with India’s largest media conglomerate, The Times Group, through the Pickleball World Series,…

HEAD BOOM TOUR EX 2024 PADDLE REVIEW Look/Cosmetics: 3.5/5 All-black paddle face with a matching edge guard and grip give this paddle a classy and distinctive look. Raw carbon surface with a honeycomb core. Measures 16.5" x 7.5" and a thin 11mm. Highquality Head Hydrosorb™ grip with a tennis-like beveled handle. No word yet on additional colors. Grip length is 5.5" and the 4.125-inch grip size was a little small for me, but that is easily remedied. The paddle has a slight flare toward the top. Serves/Returns/Groundstrokes: 4.5/5 “Boom” is right! This paddle lives up to its name for sure. After hitting a few serves and groundstrokes long, I started dialing in the power and swinging up to add more topspin and was having a blast driving the ball. The…

Hometown: Richmond, Virginia; currently lives in Boynton Beach, Florida Marital Status: Single Employment: Full-time pickleball player Ranking: 10th in singles, 3rd in men’s doubles, 3rd in mixed doubles Favorite Tournament: Sacramento APP and Grand Rapids MLP You played tennis for Notre Dame. What’s the most important carryover? Discipline and structure. I learned to compete under pressure. These bring success in life and in pickleball. What brought you to tennis in the first place? I started playing when I was 4. My sister took clinics and I hit on the wall until they put me in tennis clinics, too. I played every sport, and at 11 or 12 I was all into tennis. What’s your favorite shot in pickleball? My two-handed backhand. It was my favorite shot in tennis. In pickleball,…

As pickleball continues to explode in popularity, players are increasingly seeking ways to improve their skills and strategies. The LevelUp Pickleball app aims to address this by providing a comprehensive platform for tweaking your specific needs to reach your full potential. The core of the LevelUp Pickleball app is its extensive library of training modules. These modules cover a wide range of topics, from basic techniques for beginners to advanced drills and games for the seasoned players. Here’s a breakdown of each module Beginner: Getting Serious 2.0-2.9 skill level – Basic skills and core-level shots, such as the return of serve, serving, dinking, third shot drop, volleys and overheads. Intermediate: Break Out 3.0-4.0 – Review the five key shots to more advanced shots such as Ernes, ATPs, lobs and roll…

↘ We’d Like to Hear From You! Send your questions to rules@pickleballmagazine.com. Q. I have noticed that many tournaments have adopted “Pool Play” instead of the usual Double Elimination format, which seems to be an effort to provide all players with more than two matches, but why are there so many different scoring options? I’ve seen best two of three but also single games to 11, 15 and 21. Why is there no standard format? A Two challenges every tournament director (TD) faces are player satisfaction and court availability. If the pools are large, players must play many matches to get into the playoffs. If the TD simply divides the teams into more pools, the time required by the playoff will increase. A TD must look at the number of…

Improving your pickleball game requires more than just playing matches—it’s about dedicating time to structured, purposeful training. By focusing on consistent practice and targeted drills, you can refine your skills, build confidence and become a more formidable player on the court. In this article, we’ll outline a series of drills and training methods that will help you systematically improve key aspects of your game. The Importance of Consistency in Pickleball Consistency is the foundation upon which all other skills are built. While flashy shots and aggressive play can win points, it’s consistent performance that wins matches. Consistent play reduces unforced errors and forces your opponents to earn every point. Before you can confidently incorporate aggressive tactics into your game, you need a solid foundation of consistency. Once you’ve established that,…

She played pickleball on an ice rink in Alaska and a wooden church floor in Hawaii. She dinked in Delaware, lobbed in Louisiana, sliced in South Dakota, and got pulled over in Wyoming. Playing at least one game of pickleball in all 50 states had topped Lorraine Rupper’s bucket list for years. She fulfilled her goal, after a two-month adventure, on June 25 at 9:03 a.m. in Brunsdale Park, Fargo, North Dakota. It wasn’t easy but it was exhilarating, with many surprises along the way. She drove alone to 45 states over the course of two months. In only 19 days in June, she played at least one game in 36 states! She put more than 8,000 miles on her 2014 Honda Civic and estimates the trip cost her at…

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We all know that time is a valuable part of life. Time with friends, time with family, time for hobbies, etc. I am sure you have all sorts of thoughts on the importance of time. As a pickleball player, do you also know that seconds in a pickleball rally are also important? Players of all levels generally understand that every shot has purpose. It might be as simple as starting the point or keeping the ball in play. Or more strategic like creating an opportunity to hit a clean winner or force an error from the opponent. What you may not realize is that a key factor in accomplishing any of the above is TIME. When choosing a shot, time is your friend. Time can be thought of in two…

With the surge in pickleball play and venues across Africa, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a year since the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP) was founded in August 2023. Dr. Kwabena Akufo is at the helm as founder of CAP, also serving as a continental director on the board of the Global Pickleball Federation. In its first year, CAP highlights include: • AASC membership (Association of African Sports Confederations). • Inclusion of pickleball for the first time in the 13th African Games, Accra, Ghana. • Member countries expanded from 11 to 25. • Up to 10,000 estimated pickleball player CAP members across Africa. To pay tribute to these achievements, the inaugural #AfricaPickleballDay was held Aug. 17, celebrating health, wellness, social connections and the spirit of competition. CAP members…