Browsing: Pickleball News

Just before Superbowl LVIII kicks off on Sunday evening, Smirnoff will be hosting the first-ever Smirnoff SMASH Pickle Bowl  – a Celebrity Pickleball Tournament to be held on the Vegas Strip and hosted by media personality Speedy Mormon. The private event will feature Kay Adams and a whole host of celebrities, plus some very special local guests. Strutting Her Pickleball Stuff As we know, “Up and Adams” host Kay Adams lives and breathes the NFL. And while she’s getting ready for an epic Super Bowl encounter in Las Vegas between the Chiefs and the 49ers, she’s also gearing up for…

The Senior Pro Tour’s 20224 schedule is well underway, and with a total of 18 nationwide tour stops, there’s sure to be an event near you at some point during the year. “Very Grateful” Founder of The Senior Pro Tour, Mattias Johansson, says, “We are very grateful for the support we have from fellow senior pros, sponsors, RAQT, tournament directors, and club owners who all make this tour very special. “We are also very excited to continue our partnership with National Pickleball (NP).” Co-founder Dave Furman adds, “We will continue to strive to make every tour stop better than the…

The David Ensignia Tennis Academy (DETA), a prominent sports instruction and athlete development institution in South Florida, has unveiled DETA Friends, a nonprofit committed to offering sports programs and facilitating access to racquet sports, such as tennis and pickleball, for youth, adults, and families in underserved communities and those with special needs. “Powerful Tools” Co-founder of DETA Friends, David Ensignia, told Miami’s Community News, “We believe sports are powerful tools for education, social development, and community building. Through DETA Friends, we’re committed to making tennis and pickleball accessible regardless of ethnicity, sex, age, or economics.” View this post on Instagram…

Junior pickleball continues to blaze a trail across the nation, with more and more states picking up on the sport. Here, we investigate two examples of how South Carolina and Washington are initiating programs to benefit their younger participants. Mecklenburg, South Carolina The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department of Charlotte, South Carolina, is inaugurating a youth pickleball league in mid-April. Aimed at middle and high school pupils, registration for this co-rec league is open through March 1. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation (@meckparkrec) Showing Off Their Pickleball Skills! The league…

As we’ve reported previously, Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf are set to take on John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova in ‘Pickleball Slam 2’ on Sunday. The event follows the inaugural Pickleball Slam held last April at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. More Comic Relief Than Inspiring Cameo At one point during that encounter, an exasperated John McEnroe threw Stefanie (Sports Illustrated states she stopped using Steffi years ago) Graf a paddle and invited her onto the court to replace him in his and Andre Agassi’s match against Michael Chang and Andy Roddick. Although she eventually…

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.…