Browsing: Pickleball News

Indoor facilities are all the rage at the moment but they’re not without their disadvantages when it comes to the planning and construction phases. Many present problems that weren’t apparent on the initial viewing and this has led to the establishment of a new trend. Not Every Location Is Feasible The surge in the popularity of national indoor facilities began around early 2023, coinciding with the departure of big box stores from sizable retail locations. These indoor spaces, often exceeding 40,000 square feet, presented ideal, flat concrete canvases suitable for numerous 20 x 44-foot pickleball court layouts. However, as Forbes…

The congenial atmosphere among the ever-expanding global community of pickleball enthusiasts was particularly evident during the opening day of the AARP U.S. Champions Cup at Pictona in Holly Hill.  None other than Ivan Lendl, the renowned tennis champion with 94 singles titles and eight major tournament victories to his name, dazzled the crowd with his pickleball skills as he partnered fellow ex-tenista Vicent Van Patten in the men’s doubles competition. How Much Pickleball Means To Him Lendl, now 63, has embraced pickleball and was a typically low-key addition to the 500 competitors in the 50+ age bracket tournament. Ivan Lendl…

North American chain of indoor pickleball facilities, The Picklr, has announced that Drew Brees, a 20-year NFL veteran and renowned quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, has joined them as an ambassador, investor, and franchise owner.  A Diverse Business Portfolio Brees, a Super Bowl Champion in 2009, will incorporate The Picklr into his diverse business portfolio, which already includes ownership in various multi-unit franchises. In his new role, he will act as the national brand ambassador and area developer, overseeing the development of 30 locations across the Midwest. Emphasizing his commitment to fostering a community and promoting a healthy lifestyle…

Our favorite sport seems to find all sorts of ways to affect and improve our lives. Here are two very different examples of that from Texas and Florida. Sport At The Fort Sports play a significant role in the military life at Fort Cavazos, Texas, so it was just a matter of time before pickleball started gaining traction with residents at the Great Place.  “We Hope It Takes Off” As its popularity grew, the Resident Advisory Board of Cavalry Family Housing decided to repurpose an aging tennis court in the Comanche II family housing area to give residents and pickleball…

Centerline Athletics, the performance-focused pickleball apparel brand set to debut in March 2024, is pleased to announce its inaugural sponsorship agreement with professional athlete Thomas Wilson, a top 10-rated pro pickleball athlete on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and a two-time Major League Pickleball Champion. Groundbreaking Collaboration This groundbreaking collaboration signifies a significant milestone for Centerline Athletics as it enters the realm of professional pickleball, with plans to unveil additional sponsored athletes in the near future. Thomas, a highly respected athlete who has already achieved outstanding things in pickleball, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the sport.…

The APP Tour is set to return to the Delray Beach Tennis Center from April 3 to 7, and the opening of registration for the event has been announced. The five-day event will feature high-level competition for amateurs, with a substantial prize pool at stake for the professional category. Various Skill Levels The 2024 APP Vlasic Classic will cater to various skill levels, from 3.0 through 5.0, including those playing at the professional level, across diverse age categories. Interested amateur and professional players can secure their spots by registering on theapp.global until March 24. Notably, as a premier APP Tour…

The second iteration of the 3rd Shot Pickleball has just opened in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The first of the company’s two indoor facilities opened 45 miles away in Longmont on November 18. An Avid Pickleball Player Adam Kahn, the proprietor of Meadow Creek Tennis and Fitness Club in Lakewood since 2004, and Max Ireland, a seasoned manager in the hospitality industry, joined forces earlier this year to conceptualize and pinpoint the Wheat Ridge location. Subsequently, Kahn sought potential sites for additional 3rd Shot venues and ended up meeting Dale Katechis, the founder of Oskar Blues. “Dale had become an avid…

Pickleball is one of the main attractions of the ever-popular Capital City Senior Games, which return March 1-14. Sponsored by the City of Tallahassee, these games play a crucial role in promoting an active and healthy lifestyle among the senior population of Tallahassee and beyond. With over 500 athletes from 10 states participating in 15 different sports last year, the event has become a notable gathering for sports enthusiasts aged 50 and older. Singles, Doubles, And Mixed Doubles The pickleball competition starts with the singles category on Tuesday March 5th. The event continues the following day with the doubles category…

Further proof of pickleball’s inexorable rise has been provided by the announcement that the Miami Open, presented by Itaú, will feature not only a wheelchair event but also the inclusion of Major League Pickleball (MLP), marking the inaugural occurrence of these events at any 1000 series tournament. MLP Set To Make Its Debut Scheduled to take place at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium in the city from March 17 to 31, the 2024 Miami Open aims to provide fans with an off-court experience that parallels the on-court excellence of the world’s finest male and female tennis players participating in this…

When I started playing pickleball, I must admit I was confused by the name. I thought it should be called Wiffle Tennis or something similar. For years, when somebody new to the game asked me why it was called pickleball, I’d say, “I’m not sure. I’ve heard a story that the people who created the game had a dog named Pickles who always stole the ball.” I admitted the name was silly and thought it should be changed. But now that I’ve played the game for so long, I’ve learned to accept and love the name. Here are some reasons…