Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2025 i Pickleball Magazine

Once considered a casual pastime played on neighborhood driveways and at local recreation centers, pickleball has exploded into a bona fide competitive sport. Its origins, dating back to the mid-1960s, were humble: a hybrid of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong designed for families seeking fun and accessible play. But what started as a leisurely activity has transformed into a phenomenon commanding national attention. Today, pickleball is more than a weekend hobby—it’s a high-stakes competition attracting professional athletes and drawing crowds in the thousands. National and international tournaments, including the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) World Championships, bring together the best players from around the globe. This marquee event has become a showcase of athleticism and strategy, drawing intense fan engagement and media coverage. The USA Pickleball National Championships showcases elite talent, rigorous…

As travelers start planning their 2026 adventures, there’s a coastal destination that perfectly blends pickleball, leisure and luxury—Wild Dunes Resort on South Carolina’s Isle of Palms. With six dedicated pickleball courts, world-class amenities, and a stunning seaside setting just minutes from downtown Charleston, Wild Dunes is the ultimate year-round getaway for families, friend groups, and corporate retreats alike. Set against the natural beauty of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Wild Dunes Resort has become one of the country’s premier pickleball-friendly destinations, offering guests the opportunity to play, relax, and recharge in an idyllic oceanfront setting. The six dedicated pickleball courts are a highlight for both beginner and advanced players. Guests can reserve court time, take part in daily open play, or join instructional clinics led by the resort’s professional pickleball team. Whether…

So what’s the secret for ensuring that your children or grandchildren have a positive first-time experience with pickleball, encouraging them to make it a lifetime activity they can love as much as we all do? First, remember your experience learning the game. Was it a friend or family member who got you started, or a dynamic pickleball coach who made it simple and easy to learn? Or maybe, with all the buzz around pickleball, you bought a couple of inexpensive paddles at Walmart or on Amazon and—with eager optimism—went out and played without even knowing the rules. Regardless of how you got started, you were able to experience playing the game immediately, even with unpolished swings and rallies. You were hitting balls, getting great exercise, and relieving stress and anxiety…

Why choose a USA Pickleball sanctioned event? Sanctioned events are held by tournament directors who have agreed to meet and abide by the sanctioning requirements of USA Pickleball, the sport’s National Governing Body. The tournament director and the players who participate in a sanctioned event are eligible to receive the benefits associated with sanctioning, including UTR-P ratings, approved formats and event insurance. Visit usapickleball.org/events for the full listing. Golden Ticket Tournaments JANUARY 21–25 USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Glendale, Arizona • Center Court Pickleball Club South DECEMBER 5–7 Florida-Pro Am Circuit – Stop 2 Seminole, Florida • Bardmoor Pickleball Club DECEMBER 19–21 Take AIM Series Melbourne, Florida • Jimmy Moore Park JANUARY 10–11 APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier Collegiate Series Cape Coral, Florida • The Courts JANUARY 24–25 APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier…

Home: Boynton Beach, Florida Age: 23 Marital status: Single Major and college: Communications at Florida Gulf Coast University Best shot: Backhand flick Favorite tournament: San Clemente Ranking: 37 in singles, 16 in men’s doubles, 16 in mixed doubles You received MLP’s Most Improved Award last year. What did you to do achieve it? I started as a rookie, nobody knew me, I played the MLP Challenge. I practiced and worked on my fitness with Simone Jardim. You are Brazilian. How does that influence your pickleball? I was born in Brazil. My dad played professional tennis. We had a tennis court at my house. I grew up with the energy and charisma of South America. We are 100 percent passionate in sports. South Americans have warmth. We express a lot of…

In early November, when the final ball dropped at the 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, Texas, it wasn’t just another title match being decided—it was a coronation. Anna Leigh Waters didn’t just win, she rewrote the record books, raised the bar for excellence, and once again demonstrated how far pickleball has come—and how electrifying its future feels. Waters sealed her 38th career Triple Crown (winning singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles) at Worlds, beating Kate Fahey in the women’s singles final—a match that officially pushed her to 168 career gold medals, making her the winningest player in PPA Tour history. Waters partnered with Anna Bright to take the women’s doubles title and teamed with Ben Johns for mixed doubles. In short, she walked into Championship Sunday with…

Pickleball Printed Soft Throw Blanket Brand: Leela and Lavender From the court to the couch, this 50" x 60" throw blanket is super‑soft and features a sporty and playful pickleball design. $59.95 leelaandlavender.com Laines London Neutral Boucle Slippers with Pickleball Lover Brooches Brand: Laines London available at Wolf & Badger Crafted from soft, plush boucle with shimmering gold trim, these slippers feature hand‑embellished removable brooches that can also be worn on clothing or accessories. $121 wolfandbadger.com “Paddle Game Santa” Wrapping Paper Brand: Aspen and Arlo Add extra holiday joy to your gifts with this tear‑resistant wrapping paper starring Santa playing pickleball. Printed in crisp high definition on luxurious 90 GSM fine art paper. $19.99 aspenandarlo.com Pickleball Christmas Sweatshirt Brand: Style Drop Shop Stay cozy and festive with this sweatshirt featuring…

As pickleball attracts more and more players from other sports, those new players bring shots from their former sports. There is much greater shot variety in pickleball than ever before. Some of the shots even have names, like reset, Erne, and dink. As overall play gets better, the need for variety, change of pace, additional spin, and deception increases. Why would you want to use a backhand serve? In the past, I have seen several players switch to a backhand serve when they got the yips. They couldn’t control their forehand serve, so they relied on keeping the swing close to the body with a backhand serve. It was an alternative. But now I see it used for variety, to mix things up and to catch an opponent off guard,…

FRANKLIN ACV PRO PICKLEBALL SHOE Look/Cosmetics: 3.75/5 These shoes have a straightforward, almost “old school” look. Would love to have seen a little more “flash” or eye-catching details to make the shoes stand out more on the court, but many may prefer this “no-nonsense” approach. These shoes currently only come in one color, which is mostly white with gray and blue accents. The Franklin “F” logo is on the side in the middle of the shoe. Comfort/Fit: 4/5 Franklin recommends sizing down a half size due to the roomier toe box, but I like a little extra room for my toes, so I opted for my usual size and they fit just right. If you prefer a snug fit, then go down a half size. The shoes were very light-feeling,…

As we close the chapter on this year’s USA Pickleball National Championships, I am filled with pride, gratitude, and renewed confidence in the bright future of our sport. Nationals has always been a celebration of elite competition and community spirit, and this year that spirit shone brighter than ever. We welcomed athletes from 47 states and 20 countries, each bringing their passion, skill, and love of the game to the courts. From our youngest competitor at 11 years old to our most seasoned athlete at 87, every player represented a unique story and a shared belief that pickleball is more than a sport, it is a movement. These numbers aren’t merely statistics. They’re living proof of our message: Pickleball truly is FOR ALL. Throughout the week, we witnessed thrilling battles,…

The USA Pickleball National Championships brings together all divisions—age groups, amateurs, and pros. It’s a celebration of the breadth of the sport. Qualifying is rigorous (via Golden Ticket tournaments) so players know they’ve earned their spot. On the pro side, the prize purse is meaningful—over $225,000 across singles, doubles and mixed. Whether you’re playing your first major bracket or watching the top pros, it’s a place where the “How I got here” stories meet “What’s next” ambition. This year’s championships took place at the Barnes Tennis Center in beautiful San Diego, California, Nov. 15–23. Unfortunately, rain delayed initial rounds of play, so some of the early action was canceled. But the spirit of pickleball—community, competition, fun—prevailed. Once the clouds parted, the tournament began to take shape as the organizers condensed…

This year’s Huntsman World Senior Games (HWSG) had a special blend of the “old guard” players and the newly-discovered-pickleball players. Both groups were equally enthusiastic about how wonderful the venue is, the welcoming attitude of the volunteers, the sights surrounding St. George, Utah, and the setting of this historic community. The old guard reconvened at the center court after traveling on Sunday as the 1,109 participants arrived from 39 different states. Hall of Famer Jim Hackenberg said, “Huntsman has a special environment. It is perfect. You can watch the athletes compete in other sports and you can try to play some of the other sports yourself.” He plans to play golf and bowl in a couple of years. Yvonne Hackenberg, Jim’s wife, has been playing the HWSG since 2010 and…

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by ALICE TYM Becoming a better player involves the ability to dictate play. Most pickleball players begin by being reactionary: “Just get the return of serve back into the court.” “Keep the ball in play.” “Just get the ball in to start play—the serve doesn’t matter.” If your play is in line with these comments, it means your game has no real substance. Other players control your ability to play the game. Where to start to build a game of substance? You should begin by identifying the shots that dictate play, and, perhaps more important, the court positions that dictate play. 01 The serve is of utmost importance because it initiates play and is required to win a point. Far from just “putting the ball in play,” your serve should…