Browsing: Pickleball News

1. Stretch Before Playing When you first get to the courts and hear the pop pop pop of balls off paddles, it’s easy to get carried away and just jump on the court and start to play – but resist the urge. Warming up gets nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood to your muscles. According to Harvard Health, a good warm-up should be between 5 and 10 minutes long and work all the muscle groups. Start slow, and then if you want, speed it up. Find what works best for you! 2. Warm Up With The Basics Start at the kitchen, work your…

It’s a testament to the sheer pulling power of pickleball right now that a whole industry has been created catering to the needs of its players off the court as well as on. Real estate developers and investors all over the country are hurrying to create businesses based around the sport to cash in on its current surge in popularity. And Chicago is no exception. CBS 2’s Marie Saavedra examined three pickleball spots – one established for a year and a half, a recent opening, and one under construction. Seymour Rifkin “The game itself is fantastic,” exclaims Seymour Rifkin, president…

S.F. Opens City’s Largest Dedicated Pickleball Complex In This Neighborhood Park The rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of over a dozen hardy pickleball enthusiasts as they congregated on Monday to commemorate the launch of San Francisco’s largest dedicated pickleball hub, an eight-court facility at Larsen Playground in the Sunset District. Although the formal ribbon-cutting was scrapped due to the inclement weather, this didn’t deter Hans Carter and fellow players from staging an informal “mock ribbon-cutting.” “Improvised With An Adhesive Bandage” “Someone had an adhesive bandage, and we cut it,” recounted Carter, the founder of the Golden Gate Pickleball Club. “There…

Each year, the USA Pickleball (USAP) Rules Committee receives a list of proposed changes to improve the overall experience of playing pickleball. The list of changes comes directly from players and is vetted by the USAP Rules Committee, sent to the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) Rules Committee for further consideration, and then is finally examined by the USAP Board of Directors, who decide which rules will be changed. In 2023, the most significant change was seen in the banning of the spin serve, but each year typically sees about 4-5 impactful changes to the rules. With the release of…

The new indoor pickleball courts at Macon Mall in Macon, Georgia, that we reported on recently were busy this weekend hosting the Candy Cane Classic Tournament. This tournament marked the facility’s tournament debut and attracted attention from various regions. Macon’s Largest Event Paul Midkiff, a co-founder of Southern Pickleball, had anticipated a turnout of more than 650 participants from across 12 states, making it the largest event hosted in Macon to date. The economic forecast was promising, with Visit Macon estimating an influx of approximately $350,000. Participants registered for the tournament for a fee of $60, with additional opportunities available…

The coastal city of Milford, Connecticut’s decision to close its pickleball courts for the winter has sent shock waves rippling through its pickleballing community. The Public Works Department completed the removal of nets from most of the city’s courts on Thursday, with the remaining few expected to be finished in the coming days. Traditionally, Milford closed courts during winter, but since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the courts remained open year-round, offering a healthy outlet for the community. Potential Damage Bill Garfield, the Recreation Department Director, opted to reinstate the seasonal closure due to concerns about wear on…

Middle River, Baltimore County, Maryland, saw the new eight-court Pickleball House facility hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently to commemorate its opening.  Figures such as Sharon Kihn, President of the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, and Brent Howard, President and CEO of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, alongside partners and staff of The Pickleball House, were present at the inauguration ceremony. An Array Of Events The establishment boasts eight indoor regulation-sized pickleball courts and intends to host an array of events, including tournaments, clinics, and social gatherings, fostering a vibrant atmosphere and community engagement. They will also host open play,…

ESPN’s second Pickleball Slam, scheduled for February 4th at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, is following on the success of its inaugural event.  With tennis legends John McEnroe and Andre Agassi returning alongside first-timers Stefanie Graf and Maria Sharapova, this sequel boasts a prize purse of $1 million. It has consequently attracted key sponsors such as Hard Rock, State Farm, Brighthouse Financial, and Franklin Sports. Substantial Branding Rights The lineup of sponsors, announced by Horizon Sports & Experiences and InsideOut Sports + Entertainment, guarantees substantial branding rights for all sponsors within the court, benches, non-volley zone, and the…

Christopher Hardy used to compete regularly in PPA tournaments with his son, Christopher, now 12. However, that all changed when Christopher Jr. went from apprentice to master. “He’s playing 4.0 doubles now. He dumped me for another partner,” Christopher lightheartedly tells Andrew Gilman for Carvana PPA Tour. “It was hard getting coached on every point, and it wasn’t me coaching him. It was the other way around.” Softening The Blow The blow of seeing your child outstrip you physically has been softened a little by the success of Christopher Sr.’s day job. Hardy is a developer of health, cosmetic, and…

One of North America’s most rapidly expanding pickleball hubs, The Picklr, has revealed that Omaha, Nebraska, has emerged victorious in the “Picklr Your City” contest, securing an envied place as the next location of a Picklr facility. Eight-Week Online Contest After an intense eight-week online contest, pickleball fans cast more than 20,000 votes across the nation, all competing for the privilege of having a Picklr facility in their hometown. In a bracket-style showdown working its way through “ties” between 32 top locations, Omaha reached the final four alongside Anchorage, Alaska; Lake Forest, California; and Quincy, Illinois. Media campaigns and local…