Browsing: Pickleball News

Pickleball’s surge in popularity, particularly among older demographics, has raised concerns among ophthalmologists who caution about potential eye injuries despite the sport’s seemingly innocuous nature. “Vulnerable To Eye Injuries” In a recent issue of the journal Eye, Andrew G. Lee, MD, from Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital, along with colleagues, highlighted the ocular risks associated with pickleball, particularly for individuals over 65 years old, who are “particularly vulnerable to eye injuries.” Lee explained to MedPage Today, “The smaller a ball is, the more it can fit into the eye socket without hitting the bone. That’s why smaller…

The National Pickleball League® (NPL) has announced it is entering into a partnership with GAMMA Sports, naming them the Official Ball of the NPL in 2024, as well as the Title Partner for the CBS Sports Broadcast of the GAMMA Sports National Pickleball League Championship. This broadcast originally aired on January 31st, 2024, at 10:30pm ET and will re-air on Friday, March 1 at 1:00pm ET. A Significant Step Forward The agreement represents a significant step forward as it is NPL’s most substantial sponsor to date and consolidates its intention to advance the sport of pickleball. GAMMA Sports received significant…

The Kansas City Stingers, among the six newly established U.S. expansion teams, are set to join the National Pickleball League in 2024. This venture is led by partners Julie Gibson and former pro tennis player Daryl Wyatt, who also owns SW19 Tennis and Pickleball in Leawood. “Everyone’s Caught The Bug” Wyatt shared with Startland News that pickleball has revitalized his passion for sports, and now he aims to elevate Kansas City’s involvement in the rapidly growing pickleball scene. “Everyone’s caught the bug,” Wyatt said. “Kansas City shows up for sports anyway. They’re very loyal to their sports teams. And I…

A Utah-based company has recently introduced “Mini Pickleball,” specifically crafted to cater to players of all skill levels with the aim of enhancing their game instantly. Designed to serve as a warm-up tool just before a match, the Mini Pickleball resembles a practice golf ball. It aims to strengthen player hand-eye coordination, consistency, and accuracy. “I Got The Bug” Ed Beazer recounts picking up pickleball roughly four years ago, just as the sport was gaining momentum across the nation and especially in Utah. “I got the bug;  started playing more and more,” recalls the man from Murray when speaking to…

Pickleball has solidified its position as the fastest-growing sport in the United States in recent years, and from February 8 to 11, Justin Maloof, the Chief Operating Officer of USA Pickleball, attended the 2024 Indian Open held at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai, a tournament with a prize pool of $100,000. “It’s Just Exciting To See” Maloof remarked, “It certainly demonstrates just the growth of the sport, the fact it’s being played now internationally. “(Pickleball) has got a ways to go to catch up to where we are here in the U.S., but this is the first…

Five-time Olympian and beach volleyball legend Natalie Cook, OAM, has joined the board of Pacific Pickleball, the parent company to Major League Pickleball Australia, as a Non-Executive Director. Gold At The 2000 Olympic Games Following the announcement of Steve Smith’s investment into the Sydney Smash, she has also taken an investment stake in the Gold Coast Glory, an MLP Australia team. Reaching the pinnacle of her beach volleyball career with a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic games, Nat is now concentrating on helping athletes make a living out of their sport. “With the rise of pickleball, and regularly playing…

After overcoming over a year of rejections, Barrett Worthington and Meg Charity had been trying to land an investor to help them establish their dream pickleball club. They finally secured him by steering him away from the office and onto the pickleball court. “It’s An Icebreaker” “It’s an icebreaker,” says Worthington. “It breaks down walls, and it sort of helps facilitate friendships and conversations.” The choice of meeting place wasn’t merely a tactical maneuver. It formed a crucial part of the pitch for their business concept: a pickleball social club. This vision, nurtured over five years, materialized last June when…

We’ve seen our fair share of exciting celebrity pickleball tournaments, like the recent Pickleball Slam 2, which featured the talents of tennis legends Maria Sharapova and Andrei Agassi, and the Whispering Angel Celebrity Pickleball Tournament, where surfer Rob Machado took on NFL quarterback Drew Brees. Well, Whispering Angel returns with another tournament, as they are presenting the Celebrity Chef Pickleball Tournament at this weekend’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF)! The festival, which runs from February 22-25, aims to showcase some of the most-renowned wine and spirit producers alongside famous chefs and other personalities within the food industry, including…

The Rotaract Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is thrilled to announce its premier fundraising initiative for 2024 – the Chattanooga Pickleball Classic. Scheduled for May 18 and taking place at the First Horizon Pavilion, this tournament is poised to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children residing in and around the Chattanooga region, with all proceeds directed towards supporting the esteemed Chambliss Center for Children. Fun And Competitive Pickleball Matching the Rotaract Club’s steadfast dedication to community service, the Chambliss Center for Children strives to enhance the well-being of its children, youth, and families. Through active participation in the…

The Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP) is driving the pickleball movement across Africa and, as we will see, has effectively rallied pickleball enthusiasts across various nations to grow the sport’s expansion on the continent. With a steady rise in popularity continent-wide, Africa’s response has been nothing short of remarkable. Dr. Kwabena Akufo Under the leadership of CAP President Dr. Kwabena Akufo from Ghana, grassroots initiatives have successfully introduced pickleball to communities, educational institutions, and sports facilities, sparking enthusiasm for the game among people of all ages. Babatunde Epoyun, the director of tournaments and events, faces a demanding schedule following the…