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In the past year alone, we’ve seen a 79 per cent increase in registered members in the UK. 

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In the past year alone, we’ve seen a 79 per cent increase in registered members in the UK. 

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We’ve also seen explosive growth in competitive and social events. The appetite for leagues, festivals and tournaments has never been higher. Last year’s English Nationals attracted over 1,000 registrations, while the English Open welcomed more than 2,000 players – making it the largest pickleball event in Europe.

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Padel and pickleball are experiencing exponential growth | HCM trends

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With padel and pickleball experiencing exponential growth, how can health clubs tap into this golden opportunity? Padel’s Luigi Carraro and pickleball’s Karen Mitchell explain

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The relentless march of Pickleball ... into homes (FT Article PDF)

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The relentless march of Pickleball ... into homes (FT Article PDF)

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Financial Times Article 09.09.25 - Tara Loader Wilkinson

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A new pickleball and padel centre is moving forward in Farnham, following a lease agreement between Rainier Developments and Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club.

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A new pickleball and padel centre is moving forward in Farnham, following a lease agreement between Rainier Developments and Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club.

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The £2.75 million project will provide 13 indoor courts at the Farnham Trading Estate - 10 pickleball courts and three padel courts.

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Farnham’s new pickleball and padel centre takes shape with £2.75m investment

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A new pickleball and padel centre is moving forward in Farnham, following a lease agreement between Rainier Developments and Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club.

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Wimbledon's Louis Laville to play at European Championships

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Wimbledon's Louis Laville to play at European Championships

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The event is being hosted by the European Pickleball Federation and held at the Foro Italico Sports Complex, where up to 20 pickleball courts on a hard acrylic surface will be laid for the tournament.

England will enter the competition as defending champions, having won the inaugural European Pickleball Championships in Southampton last year.

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Wimbledon's Louis Laville to play at European Championships | Wimbledon Times

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Sport England and all Home Counties Sport Councils recognise Pickleball as a sport and SE recognise Pickleball England as its national governing body.

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Sport England and all Home Counties Sport Councils recognise Pickleball as a sport and SE recognise Pickleball England as its national governing body.

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Statement on Pickleball England | Sport England

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Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Northern Ireland and Sport Wales recognise pickleball as a sport and Pickleball England as its national governing body in England.

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Pickleball England awarded National Governing Body Status by Sport England

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Pickleball England awarded National Governing Body Status by Sport England

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Breaking: UK sports councils recognise pickleball, Pickleball England fend off LTA governance challenge - Pickleball 52

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UK pickleball is celebrating after the home nations’ sports councils have all recognised it as a sport in its own right. More than that, Sport England has also acknowledged Pickleball England as its governing body, and sportscotland have done the same for Pickleball Scotland – which bodes well for the other pickleball organisations in Britain. […]

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England crowned first champions of Europe - Pickleball 52

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England crowned first champions of Europe - Pickleball 52

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England are the very first champions of Europe following the inaugural European Pickleball Championship in Southampton.

The team won a medal in every single event over the course of the weekend and topped the table with two golds and four silvers.

They finished ahead of runners-up Spain and third-placed Italy.

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England are the very first champions of Europe following the inaugural European Pickleball Championship in Southampton.

The team won a medal in every single event over the course of the weekend and topped the table with two golds and four silvers.

They finished ahead of runners-up Spain and third-placed Italy.

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Scotland finished fourth in the women's doubles 50+, and reached the quarter-final of the women's doubles

Wales reached the quarter-final of the mixed doubles 50+; Ireland reached the quarter-final of the mixed doubles and the mixed doubles 50+ as well as the men's doubles 50+.

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England crowned first champions of Europe - Pickleball 52

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England are the very first champions of Europe following the inaugural European Pickleball Championship in Southampton. The team won a medal in every single event over the course of the weekend and topped the table with two golds and four silvers. They finished ahead of runners-up Spain and third-placed Italy.

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Team England Wins inaugural European Pickleball Championships

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Team England Wins inaugural European Pickleball Championships

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23rd-24th November, 2024 saw the first European Pickleball Championships take place in Southampton. Congratulations to the European Pickleball Federation for putting on such an epic event.

PickleballEngland's Team Selection was completed following the results of the English Nationals just 3 weekend's ago.

We fielded a 12 strong team (Senior women: Marcia Audibert, Anna Linton & Julie McCauley. Senior men: Lee Harper, Richard Love & David Youngs. Open women: Mollie Knaggs, Thaddea Lock & Mollie O'Donoghue. Open men: James Chaudry, Peter Hitchman & Louis Laville. Coaches: Sam Basford & Rob Williams Team Manager: Elaine Shallcross.

As the host country, we were anticipating an epic event, which it most definitely was. Team England dominated the Mixed Doubles event with Gold medals for the Senior and Open event. This really put England in the lead but there were four more events the next day, so the team needed to really play well again. And they did, all the teams made it through to the finals. 4 silver medals were won which was an awesome result that meant Team England won overall at the inaugural European Pickleball Championships. Well done everyone on a magnificent team effort. We are all proud of you. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 👏

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The Bristolian Thaddea Lock is set to represent England in the inaugural European Pickleball Team Championships.

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The Bristolian Thaddea Lock is set to represent England in the inaugural European Pickleball Team Championships.

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Pickleball ace Thaddea Lock charts rise to stardom after ‘stumbling’ into sport

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The Bristolian is set to represent England in the inaugural European Pickleball Team Championships.

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Since seeing the courts full of picklers and trying it for herself, Murray become one of the sport’s biggest advocates, helping to raise its profile in Scotland and beyond. A pickleball court has been installed at Cromlix, the hotel owned by Kim and Andy Murray.

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Judy Murray urges Scots to embrace fast-growing pickleball sport

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Judy Murray urges Scots to embrace fast-growing pickleball sport

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Judy Murray urges Scots to embrace fast-growing pickleball sport

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JUDY Murray is urging Scots to embrace one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, calling it a “perfect fit” for the country’s indoor…

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Rapid expansion over the last five years has prompted a battle for control of its future in Britain.

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Pickleball fans fear ‘hostile takeover’ by tennis chiefs

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Pickleball fans fear ‘hostile takeover’ by tennis chiefs

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Pickleball fans fear ‘hostile takeover’ by tennis chiefs

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The battle for control of the sport’s future in Britain is under way

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Promise of a new indoor Pickleball Facility in the SouthEast of England

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Promise of a new indoor Pickleball Facility in the SouthEast of England

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Pickleball aces set to make a racket in Farnham with exciting new sports hub

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Ambitious plans for THE HOPP pickleball and padel club given the green light by Waverley councillors

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Dunstable Hunters win funding from Babybel Summer of Sport

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Dunstable Hunters win funding from Babybel Summer of Sport

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Dunstable Hunters are celebrating winning £1000 from Babybel’s Summer of Sport competition.

They were one of the lucky runners-up, recognised for their outstanding commitment to inclusivity, fostering community spirit and encouraging active lifestyles.

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Top Pickleball stars set to launch courts and sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark

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Top Pickleball stars set to launch courts and sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark

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This exciting event will feature some of the UK's top Pickleball players and coaches, who will be putting on an exhibition match, coaching sessions and drills, as well as match play from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Pickleball stars such as Jess Wilson, the UK's number three female player, and Richard Love, the top-ranked UK player in the 50+ category and number three in Europe will be helping launch the courts at the iconic former London 2012 Games venue.

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Top Pickleball stars set to launch courts and sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark

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Invictus Games 2027 Instagram Reel (will include Pickleball)

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Invictus Games 2027 Instagram Reel (will include Pickleball)

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Invictus Games Foundation on Instagram: "Thank you to Birmingham for an incredible launch day! #iamhere 💛🖤

The countdown officially starts for the 8th #invictusgames and if today was a just a small taste of how incredible #ig27 will be, we are in for one incredible Games.

#veterans #recovery #invictus"

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646 likes, 45 comments - weareinvictusgames on July 23, 2024: "Thank you to Birmingham for an incredible launch day! #iamhere 💛🖤

The countdown officially starts for the 8th #invictusgames and if today was a just a small taste of how incredible #ig27 will be, we are in for one incredible Games.

#veterans #recovery #invictus". 

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ITV & BBC coverage of the announcement of Birmingham as the host city of the 2027 Invictus Games.  Pickleball will be included in these games. 

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ITV & BBC coverage of the announcement of Birmingham as the host city of the 2027 Invictus Games.  Pickleball will be included in these games. 

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Gaz Golightly, Michael de Groot and others held taster sessions throughout the morning.

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Pickleball will be included in Invictus Games 2027 hosted by Birmingham.

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“I like to see myself as an ambassador of the sport and try to lead the next generation into it and to give my absolute all to grow the sport as much as possible,” said Laville.

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“I like to see myself as an ambassador of the sport and try to lead the next generation into it and to give my absolute all to grow the sport as much as possible,” said Laville.

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Pickleball star Louis Laville believes the racket sport could be added to the Olympics within the next dozen years, as it continues to rapidly grow around the world.

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Host cities can add up to six new sports to an Olympic programme and, after being named America's fastest-growing sport for the third year running, pickleball is bidding to join the biggest party in sport.

The programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Games is already locked in, with flag football and lacrosse among the new sports, leaving Brisbane in 2032 as pickleball's earliest opportunity.

But Laville, one of the best players in Europe, believes 2036 is a more realistic prospect - and hopes to still be around to play.

"I like to see myself as an ambassador of the sport and try to lead the next generation into it and to give my absolute all to grow the sport as much as possible," said Laville.

"The sport's exploded over the last few years and it's super exciting where it is in Europe, England and worldwide.

"My hope is that it goes to the Olympics, whether I'm young or fit enough to play in that team is a good question, but ultimately, I would love for it to be in the Olympics.

"I think it will be an Olympic sport at some point. 2036 potentially if we can get it big enough. That's the goal for pickleball and that would be the epitome of the sport if you can win Olympic gold in pickleball."

A premier name on the pickleball tour, Laville first picked up a racket seven years ago after his mum discovered the sport while on holiday in Florida.

A devoted ambassador of the game, his dedication to the sport is second to none and he is also involved in coaching, owing to his mantra of fun above everything else.

But on the court, he is a fierce competitor. He has bene ranked European number one and this summer will be aiming to add the English Open title to his bulging trophy cabinet.

He added: "I like introducing people to the game because I want people to enjoy it as well. I like people on court enjoying themselves, which is ultimately why we play sport and that's what it's all about.

"I love that you can be fiercely competitive on the court, but you know they're your mates on the court. There's no bad blood between anyone, you have a good time and ultimately, we're all friends.

"I've met so many friends through pickleball that I'd classify as my best mates and people I spent most of my time with. That's what pickleball's all about. It's competitive but fun and that's why over the next few years it'll continue to explode as it has."

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Pickleball could be set for Olympic stage, says sport's star

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Pickleball star Louis Laville believes the racket sport could be added to the Olympics within the next dozen years, as it continues to rapidly grow...

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James Chaudry is enjoying the meteoric rise of pickleball in the UK

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James Chaudry is enjoying the meteoric rise of pickleball in the UK

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The Southampton-born professional was a promising tennis player in his youth, trading volleys with 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic as a youngster but was forced to abandon his tennis dream after repeated injuries.

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The Southampton-born professional was a promising tennis player in his youth, trading volleys with 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic as a youngster but was forced to abandon his tennis dream after repeated injuries.

And, after discovering pickleball while living in the United States, Chaudry revealed it was love at first serve.

"I got injured and retired from tennis at 23. I still wanted to play but I was injury-prone and had several surgeries. I found pickleball a little later when I moved to the US," said Chaudry," said Konta, who attended Pickleball England's Pickleball Slam alongside former British No.1s Greg Rusedski and Johanna Konta, and top British pickleball players Louis Laville, Thaddea Lock, and Pei-Chuan Kao in Kingston.

"The sport was exploding; I'd seen it a lot but not actually competed in it. I then moved back to the UK in 2019 wanting to play a form of racket sport outside tennis and pickleball came to me.

"From the moment I started playing, I loved it. I saw that it was so inclusive. I made an enormous network of new friends through it. It attracted me through the fun skills you learn, and it kept me through the community.

"I don't think there are many vehicles in your adult life that introduce you to a whole new group of people and friends. That's why pickleball kept my attention and I've made so many friendships.

"That diversity of player and person and personality in the sport is what keeps me coming. I love being part of the community."

You can watch the 4 players from this week's Pop Up Pickleball SLAM at the 2024 English OPEN 8-14 August at Telford International Centre. It's not too late to register - we still have some space for more!#pickleball #jointhepickleballmovement https://t.co/o8ZpOKcRL1 pic.twitter.com/bHxRykJQe0
- Pickleball England (@pbEKaren) June 16, 2024

Pickleball was invented as a children's backyard game in Washington, US, in 1965, combining elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis and is rapidly rising in popularity in the UK.

A fully-fledged pickleball convert, Chaudry won the 2023 English Nationals and is targeting more success at the English Open in August.

And he is encouraging others to hit the court and pick up a paddle, citing the sport's accessibility and inclusivity.

He added: "Barriers to entry are so low, there's no real excuse to not at least go down to your local rec centre and ask to play the sport.

"You'll be amazed how welcoming the different leisure sites and centres are and the community in general. There's so much encouragement to get people out there.

"It's one of the few active sports that you can look to and see people from the age of 5 to 85 playing consistently and I don't think you see that across other racket sports really.

"If you look at the player base and the membership base of Pickleball England, you'll see just as many people in their teens playing as people in their seventies, eighties.

"It's so cross-generational that kids can play with their parents and grandparents. The skill gaps aren't as large as you would see in other sports and the physical gaps aren't as extreme as you'd see in other sports.

"From a social level, the size of the court, the equipment, it's an equaliser. Everyone can go out there and have fun and be around different types of people."

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James Chaudry is enjoying the meteoric rise of pickleball in the UK

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Ex-tennis pro James Chaudry is backing pickleball to keep growing in the UK after falling in love with the American racket sport.

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South Suffolk Pickleball Club featured on BBC Look East (26 June 2024)

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South Suffolk Pickleball Club featured on BBC Look East (26 June 2024)

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Pickleball England's first Pop Up Pickleball SLAM featured Greg Rusedski and Johanna Konta and 4 of the best players in the country. 

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Pickleball England's first Pop Up Pickleball SLAM featured Greg Rusedski and Johanna Konta and 4 of the best players in the country. 

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James Chaudry, Louis Laville, Thaddea Lock and Pei-Chuan Kao. The Pop Up venue is at the site of a proposed 10 court Franklin Pickleball Club in Kingston, London.

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Mark Wright was given the run-around at Pickleball by rising star of the sport, Thaddea Lock.

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Mark Wright was given the run-around at Pickleball by rising star of the sport, Thaddea Lock.

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THIS hilarious video shows Mark Wright going head-to-head with the pros in a range of different sports.

As the summer of sport approaches, the TV star was challenged to get out of his comfort zone by trying gymnastics, football, and even pickleball to see how they fared against the professionals.

First up, he was challenged by Max Whitlock, an Olympic Champion, to perform a routine on a pommel horse.

Next, he got his gloves on for a penalty shootout against Lionesses Millie Turner and Toni Duggan - but only managed to keep out one of their many attempts.

And he was given the run-around at pickleball - the sport which combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong - by rising star of the sport, Thaddea Lock.

It comes after research found the average adult will be spending 25 hours glued to the TV this summer - as the sporting takeover begins.

Wright, who is working with Babybel, said: "I've always been passionate about sports and they've played a hugely important part in my life.

"With such an exciting summer of sport ahead of us, I was buzzing to rise to the challenge set for me, to get out of my comfort zone, and test my skills against some proper pros."

The study found 37 per cent will be spending half of their free time indoors between June and August watching sport.

Nearly nine in 10 (89 per cent) will be doing this at home while 31 per cent plan on enjoying it from the inside of a pub.
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Euro 2024 will be viewed by 76 per cent, with 69 per cent support the Olympics, and 56 per cent watching Wimbledon.

Despite this excitement, only 20 per cent plan to actually play sport this summer, while 45 per cent admit to never taking part in any sporting activity in general.

And 23 per cent don't remember the last time they tried a new sporting hobby.

However, 29 per cent would feel confident giving something new a go that was outside of their comfort zone.

Pickleball was voted the top sport those polled would like to try, followed by padel, squash, and golf.

It also emerged that of those who play a sport, they take part in two activities on a regular basis, with football, athletics, and badminton among the most played.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, found 73 per cent believe taking part in community sports positively impacts your mental and physical health a great deal.

While 82 per cent feel taking part in such things also has a positive impact on the wider community.

A spokesperson for Babybel, which is launching a grassroots competition to help people stay active and connect with others, said: "Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be a daunting prospect.

"But it can have huge benefits on our wellbeing.

"Our research showed that lots of us will spend time enjoying watching sport this summer, but we want to encourage people to join the goodness and get actively involved."

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Watch Mark Wright go head-to-head with pros with Olympic champion & Lionesses

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THIS hilarious video shows Mark Wright going head-to-head with the pros in a range of different sports. As the summer of sport approaches, the TV star was challenged to get out of his comfort zone ...

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Is pickleball on the cusp of transcending the village halls and leisure centres of the shires and becoming a commercial behemoth in the UK, as it has done in the States?

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Is pickleball on the cusp of transcending the village halls and leisure centres of the shires and becoming a commercial behemoth in the UK, as it has done in the States?

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Comment: is pickleball on verge of UK commercial breakthrough? - Pickleball 52

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Is pickleball on the cusp of transcending the village halls and leisure centres of the shires and becoming a commercial behemoth in the UK?

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...but the conversation soon switched to tennis, we guess the interviewers haven't as yet experienced Pickleball and stayed within their comfort zone. 😂

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Johanna Konta and Greg Rusedski talk Pickleball to Sky Sports live from the Pickleball Slam in Kingston upon Thames. [12 June, 2024]

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Johanna Konta and Greg Rusedski talk Pickleball to Sky Sports live from the Pickleball Slam in Kingston upon Thames. [12 June, 2024]

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"We're losing a few greats of the game" | Johanna Konta and Greg Rusedski on Rafael Nadal

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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports across England – and it’s easy to see why.

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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports across England – and it’s easy to see why.

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Inside the pickleball revolution taking Britain by storm

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Pickleball is bigger than ever in Britain and the growth of the sport is not slowing down, with a new facility soon to launch in London - backed by tennis stars Johanna Konta and Greg Rusedski.

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Mark Jones chats to BBC Shropshire Sports hour about the birth and growth of their new Pickleball club Oswestry Pickleball

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Mark Jones chats to BBC Shropshire Sports hour about the birth and growth of their new Pickleball club Oswestry Pickleball

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BBC Shropshire Sportshour - 31.05.24 - Mark Jones

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Oswestry Pickleball (Shropshire) is excited to announce the launch of its new community group, thanks to the efforts of local enthusiasts Mark and Julia Jones

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Oswestry Pickleball (Shropshire) is excited to announce the launch of its new community group, thanks to the efforts of local enthusiasts Mark and Julia Jones

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The Oswestry Pickleball group brings together people of all ages and abilities

Pickleball is sweeping the nation as one of the fastest-growing sports, and for good reason. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, Pickleball is easy to learn, inexpensive, and gentle on the joints, making it the perfect activity for everyone, from beginners to seasoned athletes.

Officially started on April 25 this year, Oswestry Pickleball is bringing together players of all ages and skill levels for a fun, social, and competitive experience that promises to be both addictive and life-changing.

"In March, Julia and I played our first game of Pickleball in Grand Cayman while visiting out daughter, little did we know our lives would never be the same," said Mark.

"On arriving home to the UK we said to one another 'right we need to find somewhere to play near us' the rest is history!" he added.

Pickleball is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular health, enhance balance, and boost hand-eye coordination and flexibility. It's a low-impact sport that helps prevent osteoporosis and keeps you moving without the stress on your joints.

The strategic and tactical nature of Pickleball engages your mind, offering a mental workout that can boost mood and improve mental health. The thrill of the game, combined with the joy of competition, creates a positive and uplifting experience.

Our Pickleball group fosters a friendly and inclusive environment where you can meet new people, make friends, and build strong social connections. It's a community where people of all abilities and backgrounds come together to share their love for the game.

Many find that joining a Pickleball group is transformative. The combination of physical activity, mental engagement, and social interaction can significantly enhance overall well-being and quality of life.

Pickleball is a sport for all ages and abilities. It's not ageist and welcomes everyone from young children to seniors. The ease of learning the game means that anyone can pick up a paddle and start playing, fostering a sense of achievement and community.

Mark and Julia have worked tirelessly to bring this exciting sport to Oswestry, creating a vibrant community that is already making waves. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of something special. Whether you're looking to stay fit, improve your mental health, or simply have fun and make new friends, Oswestry Pickleball has something for everyone.

Sessions at Oswestry Leisure Centre are: Sunday 10am, Tuesday 1pm and Wednesday 8pm.

For more details, visit our Facebook page at Oswestry Pickleball or contact Mark and Julia Jones via WhatsApp at 07375 075808, email: oswestrypickleball@gmail.com.
By Mark Jones - Contributor

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Oswestry Pickleball is excited to announce the launch of its new community group, thanks to the efforts of local enthusiasts Mark and Julia Jones.

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Episode 67: The founders son David McCallum- everything you wanted to know about pickleball!

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Podcast: Andy Kersh of EBTKD interviews David McCallum the son of one of the original co-founder of Pickleball, Barney McCallum 

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Podcast: Andy Kersh of EBTKD interviews David McCallum the son of one of the original co-founder of Pickleball, Barney McCallum 

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Episode 67: The founders son David McCallum- everything you wanted to know about pickleball!

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Listen to this episode from Everything But The Kitchen Dink - Pickleball Podcast on Spotify. Episode 67: The birth of Pickleball An exclusive interview with David McCallum This week on "Everything But the Kitchen Dink," join us for a rare and exclusive interview with David McCallum, the son of one of pickleball's original founders.

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Pei pick of the Brits at Reballution Cup in Cadiz - Pickleball 52

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A strong British contingent dominated the podium at last weekend’s Reballution Cup in southern Spain

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A strong British contingent dominated the podium at last weekend’s Reballution Cup in southern Spain

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Pei pick of the Brits at Reballution Cup in Cadiz - Pickleball 52

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A strong British contingent dominated the podium at last weekend’s Reballution Cup in southern Spain with Pei Chuan Kao the pick of the bunch.

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The president of the International Pickleball Association and chairman of the Prabodhankar Thackeray Krida Sankul in Mumbai on his vision for the sport, starting a pickleball league on the lines of the IPL, and the need for people with deep pockets to promote it at the grassroots. 

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The ultimate aim is to take pickleball to the Olympics: Arvind Prabhoo: Forbes India

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The ultimate aim is to take pickleball to the Olympics: Arvind Prabhoo: Forbes India

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BBC World Service - Sportshour, Could Pickleball be hitting an Olympic court soon?

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BBC Sportshour - Pickleball growth in India, Olympic Sport by 2032, World Pickleball League

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BBC Sportshour - Pickleball growth in India, Olympic Sport by 2032, World Pickleball League

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Pickleball is played in over 80 countries, and is extremely popular in the Asia Pacific region, as well as in the United States.

According to the All India Pickleball Federation, pickleball is played across 18 states in the country with 8,000 registered players and over 30,000 amateur players, with a target to get over 1 million players playing in the country in the next five years.

As India launches the world's first professional pickleball league, International Pickleball Federation president Arvind Prabhoo told Sportshour's Shabnam Younus-Jewell about his hopes for the growth of the sport.

Photo: Prycen Haas prepares to hit a cross-court dink shot against Riley Newman and Christian Alshon on center court during the first round of the Pro Mens Doubles at the 2023 BioFreeze USA Pickleball National Championships held at the Brookhaven Country Club on November 8, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Credit: Getty Images)

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BBC World Service - Sportshour, Could Pickleball be hitting an Olympic court soon?

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International Pickleball Federation president Arvind Prabhoo outlines his future hopes

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Andre Agassi is Invested in Pickleball for Life

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Andre Agassi is a great ambassador for Pickleball - he has invested heavily in DUPR

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Andre Agassi is a great ambassador for Pickleball - he has invested heavily in DUPR

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The eight-time Grand Slam title winner discusses his love for and investments in pickleball, improvements to the televised product, and its coexistence with tennis.

Andre Agassi is one of the greatest tennis players of all time - a winner of eight grand slam singles titles and the coveted career grand slam. At a still fit 54 years old, he remains one of the sport's foremost ambassadors.

Yet, unlike many tennis luminaries and advocates who have denigrated and delegitimized pickleball as some sort of inferior existential threat, Agassi is not only bullish on the sport; he has invested millions in its future. In Las Vegas back in March, promoting the Netflix Slam between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, Agassi spoke to Boardroom about his pickleball investments, the future of the sport, changes he'd implement to make it more TV-friendly, and why tennis and pickleball should co-exist.

"First of all, I love it. That's obvious. It's a great outlet in my life," Agassi told Boardroom. "Secondly, it is a sport that, from a participation standpoint, I believe dramatically in the growth of the marketplace. There's a low point of entry from a skill perspective, and there's a quick and constant level of improvement. And then, there's an equitable management of skill levels that can actually be enjoyed as a community. And people put their phones away for two hours. So I'm fully bought into the growth of the sport from a participation standpoint."
Sent weekly on Fridays
A group led by Agassi, real estate executive and Major League Pickleball owner David Kass, and Raine Ventures purchased the DUPR pickleball ratings system in January, investing a further $8 million to further its global ambitions. Two months earlier, Agassi invested in pickleball equipment company Komodo, citing what he called a borderline obsession with the game at the time.

"While you don't have to love something you invest in, it's a double bottom line win if I do," Agassi said. "With pickleball, I know it internally. I have more belief in it, and I want to support its growth."

DUPR was a great example of that. If you can know your own pickleball rating and follow how your friends are progressing, he said, it improves the quality of play and experience when you go out on the court and play for 90 minutes or a couple of hours.

With Komodo, Agassi gravitated toward its people, a business plan that features giving back to communities, its mission, and helping build and design paddles and other equipment.

Agassi was a proponent of MLP 's merger with the Professional Pickleball Association, the sport's singles and doubles tour, to form the United Pickleball Association. He maintained that rising tides lift all ships and that pooling resources and partnerships will ultimately benefit the sport. He believes the jury is still out on how pickleball translates over television, which could ultimately determine its long-term commercial viability.

"The difference between participation and TV is the million-dollar question," Agassi said.

How would he try fixing it? While he's unsure whether this will solve the problem and it's only a theory, Agassi would try to eliminate one partner covering both sides of the net in doubles, forcing players to stay and commit on one side of the court. He thinks seeing the game express itself in a way so those holes can't be covered up could make it more interesting to watch.

Even at a tennis-centric event, Agassi's enthusiasm for pickleball was palpable, and tennis should not feel threatened in the slightest.

"Pickle, it's its own addiction, right? It's its own outlet of physicality, its own skill level, and point of entry. And it's a community," Agassi said. "You can't take four people in tennis and go feel like you're experiencing time together. It's not that way with pickleball. If you get four people out there, you're immersed together from the circumference, the logistics, the distance, the proximity.

"Tennis has given me my life. I love it. Pickle is going to be part of the rest of my life."

More Inside the Boardroom:

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Andre Agassi is Invested in Pickleball for Life

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Andre Agassi discusses his love for and investments in pickleball, improvements to the televised product, and its coexistence with tennis.

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Free-to-use public pickleball courts open in Kent - Pickleball 52

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Partnership in Kent opens 4 Pickleball Courts for (FREE) public use. 

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Partnership in Kent opens 4 Pickleball Courts for (FREE) public use. 

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Four pickleball courts have been opened to the public free of charge in Kent thanks to a successful partnership project.

The courts at the Memorial Ground in Broadstairs have been fully refurbished and were officially opened on Friday 17 May. The project was a joint effort between the Thanet Community Safety Partnership, Thanet District Council's Open Spaces team, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit and local Pickleball group, the Baypoint Pickleball Club.

As part of the refurbishment, Thanet District Council's Open Spaces team cleared and painted the courts, updated line markings and installed permanent nets.

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The project was supported with funding from the various partners as follows:

Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent (£2,670)

Thanet District Council's Community and Open Spaces Teams (£2,000)

Kent and Medway Violence Reduction unit (£1,500)

Baypoint Pickleball Club (£171.00)

The four refurbished, free to use courts are available on a first come, first served basis and players are required to bring their own racquets and balls. They were first opened to the public on Tuesday 9 April, at the Thanet Community Safety Partnership's Park Life family event.

Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "I am delighted that the pickleball courts are now open to the public, free of charge.

"Pickleball is an ideal activity for players of all ages and fitness levels. Sport is a fantastic way to become physically active and also supports positive mental health and wellbeing. Delivering a free resource like this is just one way that we are supporting the wellbeing of local people.

"We hope that by providing updated and well maintained sporting facilities, more residents and visitors will be encouraged to use the park, reducing instances of antisocial behaviour."

Sergeant Sheena Maclean-Bell of Thanet's Child Centred Policing Team said: "We are pleased to see this public space refurbished and revitalised for local children and residents.

"High-quality public spaces deter anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, but more importantly we hope to arrange events using the courts to give young people in the area an activity to concentrate on and keep them away from potential crime."

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Free-to-use public pickleball courts open in Kent - Pickleball 52

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Four pickleball courts have been opened to the public free of charge in Kent thanks to a successful community partnership project.

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It's got George Clooney, the Kardashians, Emma Watson, Bill Gates, and even Leonardo di Caprio amongst its fans. Now Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the US with almost 50 million players, is hitting the courts of London, and I went along to try it out myself!

The question that hit me as I donned on some trainers, leggings and was faced with a 'paddle' was - what is pickleball? Fans described it as a racket sport that is a mix between tennis, table-tennis and badminton which can be played both indoors and outdoors.

A 'giant version of table-tennis' is how one player described it to me. Played on a badminton-sized court with a net that is lower than in tennis, it is usually played with two pairs who use solid paddles to hit the polymer Pickleball over the net.
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There is a 'kitchen' which is the non-volley zone that you can't go inside when you're volleying the ball (often a beginner's trap I'm told). Points are only won by the team when they are serving, and the game is played up to 11 points, with two attempts to win the point.

Why is it so popular with celebrities and Londoners?

I went along to Decathlon sports store in Surrey Quays, which has set up pickleball courts for the local community. Francisco Agullo Campoy, Events Manager, Decathlon Surrey Quays, spoke about how he got involved, and said: "I was introduced to it by someone who works for the company and I fell in love with it.

"At Decathlon we want to bring sports to everyone. In Surrey Quays we are lucky enough to have this massive space and wanted to provide even more sports to Londoners and build a community in Canada Water."

There is a Whatsapp group for Pickleball enthusiasts to find other people to play with, and the Decathlon have even provided free classes to people who want to play Pickleball. Francisco revealed people can get crazy playing Pickleball and said: "It takes the best of a few racket sports into one single one."

Oliver Rawlings, a Pickleball enthusiast who works at the Decathlon, got into Pickleball when he visited his grandparents in America and was keen to find somewhere to play when he moved to London.

He agreed with Francisco and said: "Pickleball is a fun easy-to-pick-up sport that anyone can play - it's very social." He rejects the idea that Pickleball is a sport for old people and said: "A good game of Pickleball is just like any other sport - you can really get into it."

He's certainly not the only one - Pickleball England estimated there were 15,000 players last year whilst venues increased almost 60% to 449 in 2023. Pickleball England are aiming to get to 25,000 players by 2025 and, at the pace it's going, it definitely feels like they might hit it.

Why is it called Pickleball?

Of course the question we all want to know is - why is it called Pickleball? Oliver said: "Legend has it the dog of one of the inventors was called 'Pickle' and that gave rise to 'Pickleball'." A very different name for a very different game.

What was my verdict?

Even for this incredibly uncoordinated person, it was actually surprisingly easy to get into. Fun, social, accessible to all - it's definitely worth a go! You can check out the sport at Decathlon Surrey Quays , or head to Pickleball England to find your nearest court.
Stay up to date with London's most exciting events, newest restaurants and latest deals with our What's On newsletter, Going Out Out. You can sign up HERE.

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'I tried Pickleball for the first time and found out where the name comes from'

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t's got George Clooney, the Kardashians, Emma Watson, Bill Gates, and even Leonardo di Caprio amongst its fans

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Congratulations to RAQT, Captained by James Chaudry (Pictured) winning Season 1 of the Franklin Premier Pickleball League

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Congratulations to RAQT, Captained by James Chaudry (Pictured) winning Season 1 of the Franklin Premier Pickleball League

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Indoor Pickleball courts in England on the rise...

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Indoor Pickleball courts in England on the rise...

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Doncaster in South Yorkshire could be set to get a permanent three-court indoor pickleball club.

Plans have been submitted to create the club in a vacant warehouse at Shaw Wood Business Park in Wheatley, north of the city centre. The unit comes with 15 parking spaces.

City of Doncaster Council has not yet set a date to consider the proposal, but no objections from neighbouring businesses were lodged with the authority.

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The courts would each be bookable for one-hour time slots and the site would be open to the public from 9am-8pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturdays and 10am-4pm on Sundays.

The units at Shaw Wood Business Park currently feature a beauty salon, ladies' fitness centre and community centre.

A design and access statement forming part of the application said: "This proposed change of use will allow us to complete a facility that will give access for many to potentially improve their health and wellbeing, fitness, a positive impact on mental health, a new form of socialising and the ability to continue to play a sport competitively or non competitively regardless of ability and age, all whilst conducted in a safe and secure location."

The three-court venue would match the facilities at Telford Pickleball which also has three indoor courts and opened last November.
(Main pic: Paul Currie)
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Three-court indoor pickleball club set for Doncaster - Pickleball 52

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The city of Doncaster in South Yorkshire could be set to get a permanent three-court indoor pickleball club.

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Online searches for Pickleball increased by 131% in the UK. 

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Pickleball England is registering new members at an incredible rate.

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Pickleball England is registering new members at an incredible rate.

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Online searches for Pickleball increased by 131%

Pickleball England is registering new members at an incredible rate. New clubs are popping up in the UK every week and the number of pickleball events seems in endless supply.

With a background in digital marketing, I got interested in how this translates to the number of people searching for Pickleball online. As you can see from the graph above, the number of Google searches is only trending in one direction, up! Last month approximately 57k searches were registered on Google for people searching 'pickleball' in the UK, up 131% in the last 12 months. We can see from this graph the accelerated growth in searches which corroborates the anecdotal evidence in the real world.

Worldwide there are 1 million searches for pickleball, up an incredible 52% over the last 12 months.

I repeated the same exercise for several other countries and the the data was interesting. Whilst search volumes in Argentina were quite low at 10k searches a month, this did represent a 595% increase over the previous 12 months.

The United Kingdom recorded the second-highest number of searches after the United States, more than Canada, Australia or India, all reportedly hotbeds for pickleball.

I'm tracking a number of countries and you can see the data I have captured here. I'll be adding to this in the future to see how this picture changes over time. Are there any other countries you think I should be tracking? If so, drop me an email at [email protected] .

Visit the Pickleball Addiciton Store

For a wide range of paddles, nets, and accessories at great prices, visit the Pickleball Addiction store.

Use code NEWS10 for a 10% discount.

PPL Season 2 Draft Registration Opens

Want to be part of Season 2 of the Premier Pickleball League? The draft registration has now opened and will close on the 26th of May.

Season 2 of the Premier Pickleball League will take place over 6 weekends with four venues confirmed:

This year the Premier Pickleball League will increase from 1 division to 3 which will include a second tier called the Challenger Division and a 50+ age group division called the Masters Division. For more details, see this post on Instagram.

Introduction to Two-Handed Backhand in Pickleball

In pickleball, players often start with a one-handed backhand but soon discover scenarios where a two-handed backhand could be more effective.

Understanding when to use a two-handed backhand can significantly enhance your gameplay, providing both stability and power in challenging situations. Here are two specific scenarios where adopting a two-handed backhand can be advantageous.

Scenario One: Playing on the Left Side

For right-handed players on the left side, fast shots down your line can be challenging to return effectively with a one-handed backhand. Often, you may find yourself stretched out and only able to play defensively.

The solution? Adding your left hand to the paddle. This adjustment not only stabilises your paddle but also allows you to deliver a more powerful counter-strike. Instead of merely blocking, you can actively engage and control the rally, making it difficult for your opponents to dominate.

Scenario Two: Facing Crosscourt Shots on the Right Side

When positioned on the right side, you might notice opponents frequently accelerating shots across your body. This move can catch players off-guard, particularly if they rely solely on a one-handed backhand.

The natural response to a crosscourt attack is often a reciprocal crosscourt return, which can be predictable and easy to counter. By using a two-handed backhand in these situations, you gain extra control and the ability to handle higher-speed balls more effectively.

This technique enables you to respond with force and precision, turning a defensive moment into an offensive opportunity.

Conclusion: When to Adopt a Two-Handed Backhand

Switching to a two-handed backhand is not just about coping with difficult shots; it's about turning defensive play into an assertive, strategic advantage. This style offers better paddle stability and increased power, which are crucial in high-speed exchanges.

Whether you're dealing with fast down-the-line returns or crosscourt volleys, a two-handed backhand could be the key to enhancing your performance on the court. Give these strategies a try to see how they transform your game.

See the two-handed backhand in practice here.

UK Pros take on the US Open

Thaddea Lock, James Chaudry, Pei Chuan Kau, and Louis Laville have traveled to Naples, Florida to compete in the 2024 US Open.

At the time of writing, we are halfway through the tournament and the UK contingent has produced some great results.

On the first day, Thaddea and Pei competed in the Woman's Pro Singles main event. Thaddea lost in the first round in 3 sets to Milan Rane. Pei also went out in the first round after getting a tough draw against number 1 seed, Megan Fudge.

After traveling all the way to Florida, Pei and Thaddea played each other in the first match of the back draw which Pei won 15-6. Pei went on to win 3 more games in a row beating the number 6 seed and the number 12 seed along the way before losing 15-13 to number 8 seed, Mari Humberg, just 2 games away from the Bronze medal match. This fantastic run saw Pei finish 7th out of 32 participants.

See the final standings here.

In the Men's Pro Singles Louis had a tough draw losing the first game 11-2, 11-0 against number 3 seed and eventual finalist Christopher Haworth and then losing the first game of the back draw to number 19 seed Matthew Mead.

James had a similarly tough first game against number 2 seed Hunter Johnson, losing 11-4, 11-1. However, in the back draw James went on an incredible run winning 4 straight games before losing 15-12 to number 10 seed, Brandon Lane just 2 games from the bronze medal match.

James's scalps along the way included Megan Fudge's husband and number 6 seed, Ryler DeHeart winning 15-13. James's run had him finish 9th out of 32 participants.

See the final standings here.

Men's Split Pro Age Event

On Monday in the Men's Split Pro event Louis Laville teamed up with Martin Clark and they won their first game convincingly before losing to the formidable number 5 seed, Jose Derisi and Andre Mick.

Louis and Martin had a good run in the back draw winning twice before losing to the number 11 seeds, Alex Guy and Paul Olin 15-13.

James Chaudry teamed up with Silvio Martin who also managed to win their first game before losing in the second round to number 6 seeds, Spencer Lanier and Stefan Andren. James and Silvio managed another win in the back draw before losing to number 22 seeds William Brown and Matthew Mead 15-10.

See the final standing here.

Women's Split Pro Age Event

In the Woman's Split Pro doubles, Thaddea Lock teamed up with Jennifer Gallwas. Unfortunately they were unable to make it through the 1st round losing in 3 sets to number 11 seeds, Ellen Novoseletsky and Alexa Schull. They were also unable to get a win in the back draw, losing to Mae Brown and Jenny Marcos.

Pei teamed up with Marilynn Kilgore and managed two great wins in the main draw vs. number 10 seeds Shannon Pretorius and Renee Hollander 11-8, 11-3 and number 7 seeds, Janey McKenna and Riley Bohnert 6-11, 11-7, 11-3.

Pei and Marilynn lost their 3rd round match to number 2 seeds and eventual gold medalists Sheri Courter and Mari Humberg, 11-3, 11-1 in the quarter-finals.

Entering the back draw, after their first opponents retired, Pei and Marilynn lost another tough match against number 3 seeds and eventual bronze medalist Suzanne Leblang and Milan Rane, 15-6.

See the final standings here.

Mixed Split Pro Age Event

In the Mixed Split Pro Event Thaddea teamed up with Jose Galan, putting in a great performance in the first round against number 18 seeds, Brandon Contratto and Jennifer Gallwas, winning 11-9, 11-5 before losing in the second round to the 15 seeds Scott Moore and Averee Beck.

Thaddea and Jose won a game in the back draw before losing to Margaret Corcoran and Brandon Lane.

Pei teamed up with Angel Davila and they won their first 2 games in the main draw including a win against 11 seeds, Ryler DeHeart and Marina Anderson, 11-2, 11-3. Pei and Angel put up a fantastic performance against 6 seeds Patrick Cote and Susannah Barr in the round of 16, eventually losing a hard-fought match in 3 sets 6-11, 11-9, 7-11.

Pei and Angel won 1 game in the back draw before getting knocked out by Spencer Lanier and Sarah Mitten, 15-4.

James teamed up with Marilynn Kilgore and lost in the first round to tough opposition, number 13 seeds Spencer Lanier and Sarah Mitten, 11-3, 11-6.

However, they had a great run in the back draw winning 3 games in a row including a win against number 10 seeds Kelly Stroble and William Sobek 15-12. They eventually lost to number 9 seeds Arielle Butler and Jose Derisi, 15-7.

Louis teamed up with Taylor Taylor winning their first game in 3 sets 8-11, 11-3, 11-5 before losing in the second round to the extremely tough opposition, number 1 seeds, Mircea Morariu and Jorja Johnson, 11-1, 11-2.

Louis and Taylor faced tough opposition again in their first game of the back draw losing that match to 11 seeds, Ryler DeHeart and Marina Anderson, 15-4.

See the final standings here.

Great performances so far by the UK players competing in the US Open with Mixed Pro and Gender doubles to come on Thursday and Friday this week.

Upcoming UK Tournaments & Festivals

9 new events added this week!

Thanks to everyone using the Pickled Events website to promote their events.

If you'd like to promote your event for free in the Pickleball Addiction newsletter and on the Pickled Events website. Go here .

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Online searches for Pickleball increased by 131% | PPL Season 2 Draft Registration Opens

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In this edition, we discuss the increase in online searches for pickleball, the PPL Season 2 draft, UK Pros at the US Open and the two-handed backhand.

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Pickleball England's Coaching Pathway was a success in early testing.

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Pickleball England's Coaching Pathway was a success in early testing.

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The first pilots of Pickleball England's eagerly-awaited new Club Instructor workshop have received glowing feedback from students.

The Club Instructor qualification (equivalent to an IPTPA Level 1) was created by the UK's only IPTPA Master Teaching Professionals, Sam Basford and Rob Williams, over a period of nine months. The course marks the first stage of the launch of Pickleball England's new, bespoke coaching curriculum.

Previously, the International Teaching Professionals Association (IPTPA) Certification Curriculum was the only way to become a qualified pickleball coach. Pickleball England wanted to develop its own coaching pathway which better suited the specific needs of players and coaches in this country.

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The new Club Instructor course is designed for club players wishing to help new members improve within club sessions by understanding best practices for developing skills and drills. It is the second stage on PbE's new coaching qualification pathway - the first being the Club Leader course.

After attending the new Club Instructor workshop, students must also take on online exam to demonstrate their understanding of pickleball and instructing fundamentals, as well as completing a safeguarding tutorial and assessment, and clearing an Enhanced DBS check. Only then will they secure a pass, be listed on the Pickleball England website and receive public liability insurance.

It is recommended that students who pass this stage should hone their instructing skills for at least six months before going to the next [third] stage of the pathway, becoming a Pickleball England Certified Coach.

Before its upcoming nationwide roll-out, the Club Instructor course was road-tested in early April at The Triangle in Burgess Hill, West Sussex and Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, north-west London. Both workshops sold out despite only three weeks' notice.

Feedback showed that 73% of students were 'very satisfied' and 27% 'satisfied' with the course. 91% said the course materials were 'very comprehensive and useful'.

The pilots were delivered by Rob and Sam themselves. Rob has won multiple medals at the English Open and Nationals, is co-founder of Aldershot and Farnham Pickleball Club and coaches under the Advanced Pickleball and Rob Williams Pickleball brands. Sam is a former Pickleball England Regional Director and Tournament Director of the English Open and English Nationals. In 2022, he set up SB Pickleball to give players access to coaching and events.

Pickleball England commissioned Sam and Rob to create the curriculum, which leverages some of the IPTPA's key concepts. In doing so, they conducted research into other sports and consulted sports coaching experts Richard Cheetham MBE and Richard Millman.

Rob told Pickleball 52: "I pulled in Richard Cheetham MBE as a highly respected voice completely removed from pickleball and Richard Millman as a pickleball player but with experience developing coach education for squash in America.

"Their insights were invaluable into our thought process on the delivery methods and future coach education pathways. We also needed the agreement from Seymour "Rif" Rifkind to incorporate the global standard IPTPA methodologies into our courses."

Of the two pilots earlier this month, Rob said: "They were incredibly valuable for allowing us a chance to put all the theory and work into a live setting. As expected, we needed to make some minor adjustments on the fly and reflected afterwards between the two pilots on how to enhance the student outcomes by adjusting delivery and content.

"Sam and I are confident moving into the full roll-out that we have refined the course so that it meets the brief and delivers strong outcomes. We will continue to develop the delivery over time, built upon the core foundation of the course: clearly, as we deliver more workshops, we will discover new ways to communicate concepts to the attendees.

"All educators should be self-analytical, searching for better ways to improve outcomes and life long learners: we will continue to develop both the Club Instructor course and the future additional pathways with this continuous improvement mindset."

Pickleball England is currently working on defining its conversion process for other pickleball coaching qualifications to be recognised as a Club Instructor qualification within its pathway.

Pickleball England Chair, Karen Mitchell, said: "PbE has now been established for five years. In our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, we stated our intention to introduce our own coaching curriculum as we grow and scale. I am thrilled that 2024 is the year we transition to our own curriculum. We are incredibly grateful to Rif and the IPTPA for getting us to this point and for allowing us to base our curriculum on their foundations."

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New Pickleball England coaching workshop gets rave reviews - Pickleball 52

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The first pilots of Pickleball England's eagerly-awaited new Club Instructor workshop have received glowing feedback from students.

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Is Pickleball Kingdom Franchise the way to grow indoor Pickleball around the world?

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Is Pickleball Kingdom Franchise the way to grow indoor Pickleball around the world?

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, April 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It was just a matter of time before the fastest growing sport, pickleball, became America's most popular export. A new era has begun. Pickleball Kingdom, the nation's premier and largest entity of indoor pickleball facilities, has just become the world's first international indoor pickleball franchise company.

Pickleball Kingdom has signed a deal with Franchise India Group, the leading company in the world of bringing US brands into the Middle East. Their agreement will lead to Pickleball Kingdoms initially opening in , India, and Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the UAE to follow.

Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues exclaimed, "This is a dream come true. Global expansion was part of the plan from day one, and now we're here. Currently we have 140+ locations in queue in the United States. With this partnership, we will double that number almost overnight. And this is just the beginning."

Chairman of Franchise India Group, Gaurav Marya added, "Pickleball is taking the world by storm and Pickleball Kingdom is leading that charge. We're excited to partner with them and head up this international expansion."

Franchise India Group is now accepting applications from interested parties to participate in this global movement as franchisees. Venus Barak, CEO of FranGlobal explained, "We are looking for seasoned businesspeople who understand the value of having first market mover advantage. We will have these key stakeholders in place for each territory that we open."

Pickleball has seen a growth rate of over 224% over the last three years, resulting in an estimated 36.5M pickleball players in the United States alone. And remarkably, 45% of them say they plan on playing more pickleball over the next year, according to YouGov. Universally, the biggest complaint against pickleball is that there aren't enough courts to meet the demand to play...

Enter Pickleball Kingdom's franchise model. These climate controlled, indoor facilities offer lessons, leagues, tournaments, parties, team building events, and refreshments. Members and visitors have the option to reserve courts or participate in open play sessions.

Rob Streett, Pickleball Kingdom's COO, stated, "Partnering with Franchise India Group gives us the immediate scale and reach to maximize our brand's immediate entry and impact in the Middle East. We have been very methodical and intentional with our growth. This is just phase one of our expansion plan."

CEO Ace Rodrigues concluded, "The time has come. This is our entry onto the international stage. We will be in every country in the world inside of 5 years. One of our value statements is, 'Pickleball is good for you physically, socially, and spiritually.' I can't wait to hear, 'Welcome to the Kingdom!' spoken in every language on the planet! Teammates, get ready, the Kingdom is coming!"

For media inquiries, please contact:
COO Rob Street
888-788-0999
[email protected]

SOURCE Pickleball Kingdom

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Pickleball Kingdom Takes the Throne Becoming the First Global Pickleball Powerhouse

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PRNewswire/ -- It was just a matter of time before the fastest growing sport, pickleball, became America's most popular export. A new era has begun....

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How Pickleball Is Changing 'Active Aging' by DUPR.com

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How Pickleball Is Changing 'Active Aging' by DUPR.com

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DUPR - The World’s Most Accurate Pickleball Rating

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Pickleball is having a transformative effect on thousands of Baby Boomers, allowing them to rediscover their zest for sport, physical activity and social interaction — or, in some cases, experience it for the first time in their lives.

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Team Europe, led by GB’s Thaddea Lock and Louis Laville, fell to an agonising 5-4 defeat to the USA in the inaugural APP Atlantic Cup in Miami on Sunday.

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Team Europe, led by GB’s Thaddea Lock and Louis Laville, fell to an agonising 5-4 defeat to the USA in the inaugural APP Atlantic Cup in Miami on Sunday.

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Europe slip to final-day defeat to USA in APP Atlantic Cup - Pickleball 52

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Team Europe, led by GB’s Thaddea Lock and Louis Laville, fell to a 5-4 defeat to the USA in the APP Atlantic Cup in Miami on Sunday.

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Ever heard of pickleball? It's the trending fast-paced sport played and loved by high-profile names around the world, from Shaquille O'Neal to Emma Watson.

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Ever heard of pickleball? It's the trending fast-paced sport played and loved by high-profile names around the world, from Shaquille O'Neal to Emma Watson.

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The game is a unique blend of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, played on a smaller court with paddles and a plastic, perforated ball. While it may have started as a leisurely pastime for retired individuals of a certain age, it has quickly evolved into a serious sport with a loyal following.

How did pickleball begin?

In 1965, a group of friends on Bainbridge Island, Washington, invented pickleball with improvised equipment. The original court was created by painting lines on a badminton court, and the net was lowered to accommodate the lower ball height. The sport has evolved and grown over the years, with official rules and equipment now in place.

Many will get pickleball and padel confused as they are very similar-looking sports, however, the main difference is that in pickleball, players have rackets made of wood that they use to hit a perforated ball over a net, similar to tennis. Whereas in padel, walls are seen around the court that the ball can be hit against, similar to squash.

Why is it so popular?

The popularity of pickleball can be attributed to a variety of factors. Firstly, it is an incredibly inclusive sport that can be played by individuals of all ages and skill levels. The smaller court and slower ball speed make it accessible to beginners, while the fast-paced action and advanced strategies keep more experienced players engaged.

Additionally, pickleball is a highly social sport, with players often forming tight-knit communities around the game. The sport is played in doubles format, which allows for team bonding and camaraderie. Tournaments and events are also a great way for players to connect with others who share their passion for the game.

However, don't be fooled by the friendly and social nature of the sport - pickleball is highly competitive, with skilled players exhibiting lightning-fast reflexes, strategic shot placement, and impressive athleticism. Top players can hit the ball at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, and matches can often last for hours. This is why former tennis professionals such as Noah Rubin and Sam Querrey have excelled in the sport.

Is pickleball a professional sport?

Pickleball has gained significant recognition in recent years, with the creation of professional pickleball leagues and tournaments. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) is the governing body of the sport and has established an official rulebook, equipment standards, and a ratings system for players.

Why is pickleball the new craze amongst celebrities?

The sport has even caught the attention of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Tennis legend Serena Williams has been spotted playing pickleball, and former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has become a vocal advocate for the sport. Pickleball was even featured on the popular animated series, Family Guy, as Brian was seen playing the game to a large crowd. With its rapidly growing popularity, it's no surprise that pickleball is making its way into the mainstream. Others who have played pickleball include: The Kardashians, Bill Gates, Michael Phelps, Kelly Rowland and Emma Watson to name a few.

Is pickleball played in the UK?

UK players like Thaddea Lock and Louis Laville are now sweeping Europe in competitions - with Laville most recently taking a singles title at the Pickleball European Open in Rota, Spain. As talent levels continue to increase here in this country, it is only a matter of time until large television networks begin to broadcast competitions nationwide.

Should I give it a go?

Why not give pickleball a try? Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just looking for a fun new hobby, the sport offers something for everyone. Grab a paddle and a ball, find a court, and join the millions of people around the world who have fallen in love with this exciting and addictive game and we here at Sky Sports News will be looking to feature more pickleball content for your viewing pleasure in the near future.

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Pickleball: The fast-paced sport loved by LeBron James and Bill Gates

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Ever heard of pickleball? Its the trending fast-paced sport played and loved by high-profile names around the world, from Shaquille ONeal to Emma Watson.

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Challenges and Autonomy: Unveiling the Battles of Niche Sports against Established Governing Bodies while Pickleball Seeks Independence

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Challenges and Autonomy: Unveiling the Battles of Niche Sports against Established Governing Bodies while Pickleball Seeks Independence

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Challenges and Autonomy: Unveiling the Battles of Niche Sports against Established Governing Bodies while Pickleball Seeks Independence

In the realm of niche sports, the journeys of Futsal and Padel unfold against a backdrop of institutional challenges and limited support from established governing bodies. As Futsal grapples with the English Football Association's (FA) reluctance to invest in international endeavours and Padel faces a dearth of support under the purview of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Pickleball emerges as a beacon of autonomy, fighting to chart its own course within the sporting landscape, a decision Sport England will make in a forthcoming board meeting.

Main image source: British Universities and College Sport (BUCS)
Padel's Integration into the LTA
The narrative of Padel's integration into the LTA's domain in 2014 echoes the struggles faced by Futsal within the FA. Despite promising prospects for growth, Padel's development has been hampered by a lack of investment and strategic guidance from the LTA. Private initiatives have driven the expansion of Padel courts across the UK, underscoring the community's disillusionment with the governing body's tepid commitment to the sport's advancement.
Futsal's Financial Struggles under the FA
Similarly, the FA's decision to withhold financial support for their international Futsal programme mirrors the challenges encountered by Padel under the LTA's auspices. While England Futsal strives for recognition on the global stage, the burden of self-funding places a considerable strain on its resources, highlighting the FA's reluctance to invest in niche sports other than the traditional football domain. This revelation has cast a shadow over England Futsal's aspirations, highlighting the stark reality of the financial hurdles it faces.

The absence of financial backing from the FA underscores the challenges inherent in developing a sustainable futsal programme. Without adequate funding, England Futsal is left scrambling to cobble together resources from alternative sources, risking the stability and longevity of its endeavours. England Futsal was set up in 2022, as a new independent venture, which would partner with The FA over an initial five-year period, with the aim of providing long-term stability and growth for Futsal in England. The new venture is led by experienced sports administrator Stephen Mitchell and sees England Futsal become their official delivery partner for the format.

England Futsal will deliver the grassroots development of Futsal, including coach education, referee development and mentoring, regional youth leagues, and the talent inclusion programme, to support Futsal participation for boys and girls. England Futsal also announced the launch of the England Futsal National Youth Cup for the 2023/24 season; this competition builds on the foundations built by The FA Pokémon Youth Cup in previous years.

The FA and its Futsal Committee will maintain overall responsibility for the governance of Futsal in England including sanctioning, discipline, and Futsal regulations. The Association agreed for England Futsal to set up and manage the Under 19 Men's and Women's national teams based on a two-season trial period. Though, the women's U19 has yet to be launched and despite approving the launch a men's and women's senior teams, recent revelations from England Futsal paint a bleak picture of the FA's reluctance to invest in the development of senior national futsal teams. Despite the FA's mandate to oversee football in all its forms, its refusal to allocate financial resources for futsal raises serious questions about its commitment to fostering the growth of the sport.

By turning a blind eye to the needs of futsal, the FA undermines the efforts of dedicated individuals and organisations striving to elevate the game to new heights. The lack of funding not only hampers England Futsal's ability to compete on the international stage but also sends a disheartening message to aspiring futsal players across the country.

The English FA, however, would contend this perspective by highlighting their support for Futsal development in England since 2009. They would likely point to significant milestones such as the launch of the first-ever FA National Futsal League (Although much like England Futsal, this was a separate company linked to people with FA roles), and a men's national futsal team until 2020 (Now, responsible of England Futsal, thus the FA has slowly shifted responsibility for futsal outside their organisation, first the league - FA National Futsal League and FA National Futsal Series, and now the national teams among other activities - England Futsal).

Additionally, they could emphasise initiatives like the Fast Forward with Futsal strategy launched six years ago (although no longer being advanced), the decision to create the National Futsal Series (again a separate company) five years ago and helping to secure BT Sport as a broadcasting partner nearly three years ago (although how much involvement they had initially is debatable, it is known that they later were involved in saving the deal when BT Sports wanted to pull out after the first year. Whether the deal will continue after this season, which is the end of the 3 years, is still unknown.). Moreover, they could highlight the establishment of new Futsal regulations two years ago and the creation of England Futsal (a separate company).

The FA could argue that they have made considerable efforts to support and foster autonomy for Futsal as a sport and assert that they have provided platforms and opportunities for clubs to commercialise themselves. However, critics counter this by pointing out the lack of commercial and marketing support these platforms have received from the FA, placing the burden solely on the amateur clubs, which don't have the resources or expertise to fully capitalise on these opportunities. Furthermore, while the FA, this year, has agreed to establish men's and women's teams to compete in international competitions, they have provided zero finances and zero resources to England Futsal for these endeavours. This contrasts starkly with the support provided by other associations in UEFA. Therefore, despite the FA's claims of support, the lack of tangible assistance and resources raises questions about their commitment to fostering the growth and success of Futsal in England.

A striking contrast emerges when we examine the treatment of mainstream football, particularly the Women's Super League (WSL). The English Football Association (FA) has not only overseen the development of the WSL but has also made significant investments to propel it to a point where private investors now express interest in its management and operation.

In stark contrast to the challenges faced by Futsal, the FA's proactive involvement in the WSL has garnered widespread attention and interest, demonstrating the potential impact of dedicated support and investment from governing bodies. While the FA's efforts in promoting women's football underscore a commitment to inclusivity and growth within the sport, questions arise regarding the disparity in treatment between niche and mainstream sports within the FA's purview.

The success of the WSL serves as a notable example of how strategic investment and support from governing bodies can elevate a sport to new heights, domestically and on the international stage, whilst also attracting private investors and fostering long-term sustainability.

After detailing the challenges faced by England Futsal and the criticisms levelled at the Football Association (FA) for their perceived lack of support, it's essential to consider the FA's perspective. A spokesperson for the FA, spoke with Futsal Focus, and highlighted their efforts to support England Futsal, stating: 'In December 2022, we announced the launch of a new partnership with England Futsal, an independent venture with the aim of providing long-term stability and growth for Futsal in England. Since then, The FA has provided support for England Futsal to run Futsal CPD for coaches and referees as well as running a mentoring programme. The FA has also funded a National Youth Futsal Cup competition which will be taking place again during the 23/24 season.

The launch of England Futsal has also seen the U19s men's team compete in the UEFA EUROs 2022, and FA approval and endorsement for them to enter the senior England Futsal Teams in upcoming UEFA and FIFA competitions, based on the programme being funded and delivered by England Futsal.

We look forward to continuing to work with England Futsal to support this format of the game."

In analysing the statement provided by the Football Association (FA) regarding their support for England Futsal, it's crucial to contextualise it within the broader narrative presented in the article. While the FA highlights their efforts to bolster Futsal development since the establishment of England Futsal as an independent venture, there remains a backdrop of historical reluctance towards significant investment in Futsal. This juxtaposition invites scrutiny into the disparity between the attention and resources dedicated to mainstream football, like the Women's Super League (WSL), compared to niche disciplines like Futsal. Thus, the FA's assertion of support for England Futsal should be considered within this larger framework of institutional challenges and limited backing for niche sports under established governing bodies.
Pickleball's Pursuit of Autonomy
Amidst these struggles, Pickleball emerges as a symbol of independence and resilience, poised to carve its niche within the sporting landscape. With Pickleball England advocating for autonomy from established governing bodies, the sport's enthusiasts envision a future untethered from the constraints faced by Futsal and Padel. The cautionary tale of Padel's tribulations under the LTA serves as a stark reminder of the perils of relinquishing control to established authorities, fuelling Pickleball's determination to chart its own destiny. However, it is important to state that the resistance futsal faces in England and across Great Britain, does not reflect other Associations under FIFA and its governing bodies around the world.

As Pickleball England navigates the complexities of governance and seeks to establish its autonomy, the lessons gleaned from Futsal and Padel's struggles serve as guiding beacons. The pursuit of independence amidst institutional inertia demands unwavering resolve and strategic foresight. As niche sports continue to carve out their identities on the fringes of mainstream athletics, Pickleball's quest for independence represents a testament to the enduring spirit of sporting innovation and autonomy. However, the current predicament of England Futsal underscores the challenges inherent when given independence and met with a lack of support from their governing body. Additionally, securing commercial backing for niche sports presents further hurdles.

With a forthcoming board meeting of Sport England to consider pickleball's fate, the new breed of racket sports - which also include the related discipline of padel - are entering an intriguing few weeks.

The awkwardness stems from a simple question: who should run pickleball in this country? Should it be the Lawn Tennis Association, which has been administrating padel - with debatable results, according to many insiders - since 2019? Or should it be the band of enthusiastic volunteers who established Pickleball England in that same year?

This is the choice facing Sport England, which is expected to take another look at it in late March. The issue was referenced in the House of Commons, with Conservative MP Andrew Selous asking: "Can we recognise pickleball as a national sport?" and under-secretary of state Stuart Andrew replying: "Anything that gets people active can only be a good thing."

According to James Chaudry, a three-time national champion and Pickleball England board member, this short exchange raised some important points.

"We met the LTA several times last year and their proposal didn't recognise pickleball as its own sport," Chaudry told Telegraph Sport. "They want it to be part of their 'Tennis Opened Up' strategy, aimed at younger and older players. Our contention is that pickleball deserves to be treated on its own, not as a feeder sport. It's easier to pick up than tennis and doesn't require the same court coverage. All of which makes it incredibly inclusive, and potentially beneficial to the Government's Get Active strategy." (Taken from the Telegraph newspaper - UK publisher)

In the context of the comparison between Pickleball and Futsal's struggles for recognition, the quotes from James Chaudry and the perspective on Futsal's treatment by the English FA shed light on a recurring theme: the tendency of established governing bodies to view niche sports through the lens of their existing frameworks rather than acknowledging them as standalone disciplines deserving of independent support.
Comparison and Conclusion
Chaudry's remarks reveal the frustration felt by Pickleball enthusiasts as they seek recognition for their sport. The LTA's inclination to integrate Pickleball into its "Tennis Opened Up" strategy reflects a common approach taken by governing bodies, where niche sports are often seen as supplementary to larger, more established ones. However, Chaudry's contention that Pickleball should be treated as its own entity underscores the unique attributes and inclusive nature of the sport, which warrant distinct recognition and support.

Similarly, the perspective on Futsal's treatment by the English FA mirrors this pattern of viewing niche sports as mere extensions of their mainstream counterparts. By regarding Futsal primarily as a development tool for football rather than as a sport in its own right, the FA demonstrates a lack of respect for Futsal's distinct identity and potential. This narrow focus on Futsal's utility within the football pathway neglects the broader spectrum of opportunities and benefits that a fully supported Futsal programme could offer, from grassroots to international levels.

Thus, the comparison between Pickleball's struggle for recognition and Futsal's treatment as a developmental tool highlights the systemic challenges faced by niche sports in garnering support and respect from established governing bodies.

For further reading, you can visit the original article on the Telegraph website here.

This link provides additional context and insights into the topics discussed in this article, particularly regarding Padel and Pickleball.
Author of the Interview
Stephen McGettigan was born in the Republic of Ireland but grew up in Belfast. He is the founder of Futsal Focus, a Football Industries MBA graduate from the University of Liverpool Management School, and he has worked in the Football and Futsal industries for 15 years.
Organ Donation
Futsal Focus is a supporter of Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family's campaign to raise awareness of Organ Donation. We encourage our readers to learn more about Organ Donation: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
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Navigating the Fringes: Futsal and Padel's Struggles under Established Governing Bodies Amid Pickleball's Quest for Independence - Futsal Focus

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Explore the challenges faced by niche sports like Futsal and Padel within established governing bodies, contrasted with Pickleball's pursuit of autonomy.

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LTA fears Pickleball will cannibalize Tennis!

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LTA fears Pickleball will cannibalize Tennis!

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“To grow it [pickleball] in a complimentary way to tennis, that’s important, we don’t want Pickleball to cannibalize tennis. We want them both to grow in a complimentary way.“

Oliver Scadgell - Participation Director at the LTA

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LTA wants Pickleball for Tennis older demographic

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The Battle for Pickleball’s future in Britain?

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The Battle for Pickleball’s future in Britain?

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Pickleball rallies the troops with a petition in LTA battle.

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Pickleball rallies the troops with a petition in LTA battle.

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The UK pickleball community is throwing its support behind Pickleball England in its battle with the Lawn Tennis Association over guardianship of the sport.

Pickleball England has effectively run the sport in England since its inception in 2019 and has submitted a bid to Sport England to become the sport's official National Governing Body. However, the LTA has submitted a bid of its own as it seeks to build on its acquisitions of padel and beach tennis.

The pickleball community's vehement opposition to the LTA's potential governance has seen an online petition signed by almost 2,500 people in its first 10 days.

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The petition was created by Alex Richards who, ironically enough, is a former US college-level tennis player and current tennis coach and referee. He plays pickleball and padel recreationally in his hometown of Cardiff.

Alex told pickleball52.com: "I don't think the LTA being in charge would be good for pickleball because the LTA are mainly focused on tennis. As shown in their takeover of beach tennis, which I used to play, it wasn't really a success.

"To say that all pickleball players are now just playing a subcategory of tennis would be wrong. Pickleball needs its own dedicated governing body run by people who are passionate about the sport.

"There has to be a reason why the LTA are making this move. If it's just to increase participation numbers or to control the growth of rival racket or paddle sports that are posing a threat to their core interest, these are not good enough reasons to become a governing body.

"I'm hoping that the petition can be used to show Sport England that there's a groundswell of support for Pickleball England's campaign for governing body status."

Pickleball England's cause has also received support from Katherine Knowles, who is part of a seven-strong committee seeking to be recognised as the official pickleball governing body in Wales. She says they have received positive initial feedback from Sport Wales and have the support of the European Pickleball Federation.

Katherine told us: "What Pickleball England's directors and its network of regional leaders and clubs have done voluntarily to grow pickleball to its current position of strength is remarkable. To have the results of all that hard work snatched away from them by the LTA would be a crying shame.

"Pickleball is a sport in its own right, not a form of tennis. Pickleball is the most inclusive and social sport I've ever come across - it's a sport that can change lives. We would like to protect pickleball and its unique community from the control of the LTA."

The battle to run pickleball became public last month after Conservative MP Andrew Selous raised the question of its status in the House of Commons and an article in the Daily Telegraph highlighted its governance 'custody battle'.

It has prompted the pickleball community to take a keen interest in the LTA's governance of padel since the federation took control of the sport in 2019. Padel has exploded in the five years since then, but how much credit the LTA can claim for that growth is hotly debated.

Unlike pickleball, which has seen organic growth in the leisure centres and village halls of the shires, much of padel's rapid development has been driven by huge private investment, with new clubs opening up in the big cities, in addition to smaller numbers of courts added at private tennis clubs (as well as golf, rugby and football clubs).

After taking over padel, the LTA initially offered interest-free loans of up to £250,000 for existing tennis venues who wished to add padel courts. The offer stipulated that non-members must be given permission to use the courts too.

The padel chairman of one tennis and squash club, who wished to remain anonymous, has revealed his experience of applying for one of these LTA loans to build padel courts. He says the process became weighed down by the addition of unexpected extra conditions on the loan being approved - including dictating the price at which the courts could be offered for hire to members of the public.

He said: "It became untenable and we moved forwards as a club on our own. The whole experience left a very bad taste in the mouth. The LTA are the governing body so we will have to work with them in future to some extent, but I would do so grudgingly and only so far as we have to. If any other options for future bodies to work with were put forwards, I would choose those first."

When contacted by pickeball52 about its application for governing body status of pickleball in opposition to that of Pickleball England, an LTA spokesperson said: "We believe that the LTA's relationship with over 15,000 registered venues, 1.5m tennis fans on our database and an existing infrastructure around coaching, safeguarding, facility investment and workforce could be hugely beneficial to pickleball and help it to grow and flourish.

"We were open to collaborating with Pickleball England on any application to Sport England for NGB status and approached them to explore this, but ultimately they chose to put in a separate application."

Pickleball England Chair Karen Mitchell said: "To be clear, we had already submitted our application to Sport England in April 2023 and our first meeting with the LTA was June 2023. We have always wanted our application to be reviewed on its own merit. We are still open to collaborating with the LTA in the future."

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Pickleball rallies the troops in LTA battle - Pickleball 52

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The UK pickleball community is throwing its support behind Pickleball England in its battle with the Lawn Tennis Association over guardianship of the sport. Pickleball England has effectively run the sport in England since its inception in 2019 and has submitted a bid to Sport England to become the sport's official National Governing Body.

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Naples, Florida Resident Cassidy Phillips shows the aftermath of a preventable eye injury. More on ... [+]
Courtesy of Cassidy Phillips

As many of my readers may know, I came to pickleball from the racquetball world. I have written in the past about some of the parallels there are between the current pickleball gold rush and the rise of racquetball in the late 1970s. Today, I want to talk about another historical tie-back to racquetball that is becoming more and more of an issue in pickleball today: the use and mandating of protective eyewear on the courts.

The national governing body for racquetball was established in 1969, and it took the group a decade to begin requiring eye guard usage on the courts for juniors, enacting the mandate in 1979. It took the group nearly another decade before it mandated eye guard usage for adults in its sanctioned, after an ugly incident at the 1987 Pan American Championships when USA's #1 player was badly injured by a shot to the face. It took the prevailing pro tour of the time another two years after that incident to adopt the mandate, by which time oversized racquets and 180mph ball speeds were the norm.

Waiting 20+ years to solve a problem is not a luxury that USA Pickleball should spare when it comes to mandating eye protection. Our sport features frequent hand battles at the net where players take heavy swings at the ball and send full-force forehands directly at their opponents, standing a mere 14-feet away across the net. There's an increasing number eye injuries reported amongst our playing groups, we are hearing more and more pros beginning to advocate for the mandate, and we are hearing influential pundits in the sport agreeing (read here for The Kitchen's Jason Aspes' treatise on the same topic posted just a few days ag0).

My personal experience agrees with this sentiment. I've now been hit twice in the eye. The first time was at my very first tournament, when I got waxed by a drive that tipped off the edge of my paddle. The second time was last fall, and it's left a much more permanent impact. I took a full overhead slam from the net to my right eye, and I have a persistent "floater" to this day from the impact. Needless to say, I wear a pair of eye guards every time I play now. But it's too late; the damage has presumably been done.

My story isn't nearly as harrowing as that of Cassidy Phillips (pictured at the onset of this story). He took a ball directly to the eye in January that left him blinded in his left eye for days. Says, Phillips, "I ended up having to have surgery on my eye to drain the blood because the pressure increased to the point where it wasn't healthy and they really needed to be able to see the retina and the ocular nerve. Both the retina and nerve now seem to be OK and I've gotten my vision back. It isn't 100%, but it is back." Post surgery, he continues to see flashes of light, has some worries about a possible detached retina, and will need cataract surgery eventually. The experience has Phillips (an entrepreneur) considering starting a new company focused on eyewear and awareness based on his experiences.

As for the pros; we have been watching power come into this sport by leaps and bounds over the last two years, whether it is at the hands of athletic tennis players pouring into the sport and swinging for the fences, more lively balls being preferred for tournament play, or the constant pushing-the-envelope power coming from paddle manufacturers. Pro player Megan Fudge articulates the problem simply, "Power in pickleball has drastically changed in last nine months. Paddle technology has really sped up the game. We're pros and we're training for hand speed, but things happen. Balls ricochet off your paddle and I got hit several times last year." A scary incident with her husband (fellow pro player Ryler DeHeart) led to her reaching out to RIA to try a pair of protective lenses. She loved the feel of the glasses, which then led to her sponsoring the brand and appearing in their social media campaigns.

Senior pro Rick Witsken initially pursued eye wear to mitigate the sun glare during outdoor events. He approached Craig Chasnov of the Dink Eyewear, who was an early supporter of Witsken's National Pickleball League. "My desire to try his product is based out of loyalty to someone who expressed faith in our league," said Witsken. "I can really spot the ball well without sun glare in Dink's glasses. I also appreciate the impact protection."

Fudge estimates that just 10% of current pros wear eye guards, while Witsken estimates that about 20% of senior pros wear them. That's a start, but it's not nearly enough. I believe, like a lot of people, that it is just a matter of time before we see a very bad eye injury in a pro match, on camera, which forces the issue. But we don't have to wait until someone's career is ruined; the national governing body USA Pickleball can take action now. The process to solicit rule change suggestions opens on March 1st and I plan on submitting a rule change request.

But USAP can do out-of-schedule rule updates as they see fit, and I believe they need to consider a mandates for its sanctioned events. Same with the pro tours, and perhaps especially for the pro tours, whose athletes can use the opportunity to set an example for other players and who can use this as another endorsement opportunity like some are already pursuing.

A reminder: DO NOT just wear regular corrective eyeglasses or drug-store sunglasses and think you'll be ok. The lenses are not guaranteed to be rated for impact at the speeds you'll need to be protected against, and if they shatter you may do more harm than if you just took a ball to the eye. If you're not sure, read the product information page and look for the key phrase "impact resistant." There's an ANSI standard established named " Z87-1: 2020 " that ensures the best manufacturing techniques for protection against impact.

I've also heard of players who are taking the lenses out of cheap sunglasses and just wearing them as is under the assumption that a pickleball won't compress enough to reach the eyeball. This assumption fails to take into consideration the force of impact on the frame itself, which will bend inwards upon impact and is absolutely not guaranteed to protect your eye. I would highly recommend not trusting this as a solution for eye protection, and just invest a few dollars in one of the solutions below.

If you're sold on the need for eye guards but don't know where to begin, here's options to consider:

If you have a pair of racquetball (or squash) goggles around, they'll do just fine. Racquetballs are faster, heavier, and travel nearly three times as fast as a pickleball, so you'll be just fine with a racquetball-rated set of protective eye goggles. Racquetball vendors in the space include a couple that are big into pickleball (Gearbox and Pro Kennex), plus a few others (Head, FormulaFlow, Python, and E-Force) who have eyeglass offerings on their websites. I still have an older pair made by Wilson called Nvue that I'm a big fan of and which you can find in older inventory sites here and there on the internet or at Amazon.

RIA Eyewear sponsors several touring pros like Megan Fudge and her husband Ryler DeHeart, the Brascia sisters, and Erik Lange, and has a nice line specifically for Tennis/Pickleball.

Dink Eyewear is a new business line founded by long-time industry veteran Craig Chasnov, and he's already got several pros using and endorsing the product (Sarah Ansboury, Rick Witsken, and Ivan Lendl among others).

Shady Rays is featured on Pickleball Central, but not all their offerings are impact-related. Go to their site and visit the safety section for the ANSI Z87 rated glasses.

Oakley, perhaps the most famous name in sunglasses, also has an entire line of impact-rated/Z87 compliant eyewear.

The Rudy Project has been in business since the mid-1980s and is a leader in sports eyewear. They started in the cycling industry but have now expanded to include a line of pickleball sunglasses that are impact rated.

Tifosi makes affordable impact-rated clear and sunglasses.

Zenni has a whole line of Z87 rated impact glasses that can also take your prescription.

Brioti is a brand new line launched in December 2023 that has a unique color boosting technology in addition to Z87 rated impact protection. Look for sponsored players to be rolling them out soon.

Pickleball Central has an eyewear section that has multiple brands to choose from, some of which are repeated here. Same with Pickleball Superstore and other online aggregator sites.

Lastly, many of the larger pickleball paddle brands are branching out and now offering glasses. Since there's hundreds of brands, I'd check with your favorite brand website, but I have read recommendations for CRBN and Onyx brands specifically in social media posts on the subject, in addition to the manufacturers already mentioned above.

These products range anywhere from $25 to $200 or more. The nicer brands can include your prescription into the eyeglasses, whereas the lower-end brands act more like safety glasses you'd wear in the shop.

Either way, I hope you read this article and at least consider putting them on the next time you hit the court.

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It's Time To Start Wearing Eye Guards In Pickleball

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With a rise in eye injuries and ever increasing paddle power, now is the time to consider wearing eye guards and making them mandatory.

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Pickleball & Padel's battle for existence against the LTA

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Pickleball & Padel's battle for existence against the LTA

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Grass-roots organisation that has driven growth of pickleball in the UK fear takeover by tennis' governing body as padel's concerns rise

Ever heard of pickleball? A fast-paced, low-impact cross between tennis and ping-pong, it is America's most up-and-coming sport. Celebrity fans include former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, fashion diva Kim Kardashian and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

So far, pickleball remains in its infancy on this side of the Atlantic. We have perhaps 12,000 regular participants, as against the United States' nine million. But it has obvious potential for growth, which may explain why it has become the subject of a prickly custody battle.

With a forthcoming board meeting of Sport England to consider pickleball's fate, the new breed of racquet sports - which also include the related discipline of padel - are entering an intriguing few weeks.

The awkwardness stems from a simple question: who should run pickleball in this country? Should it be the Lawn Tennis Association, which has been administrating padel - with debatable results, according to many insiders - since 2019? Or should it be the band of enthusiastic volunteers who established Pickleball England in that same year?

This is the choice facing Sport England, which is expected to take another look at it in late March. The issue was referenced in the House of Commons on Thursday, with Conservative MP Andrew Selous asking: "Can we recognise pickleball as a national sport?" and under-secretary of state Stuart Andrew replying: "Anything that gets people active can only be a good thing."

According to James Chaudry, a three-time national champion and Pickleball England board member, this short exchange raised some important points.

"We met the LTA several times last year and their proposal didn't recognise pickleball as its own sport," Chaudry told Telegraph Sport. "They want it to be part of their 'Tennis Opened Up' strategy, aimed at younger and older players. Our contention is that pickleball deserves to be treated on its own, not as a feeder sport. It's easier to pick up than tennis, and doesn't require the same court coverage. All of which makes it incredibly inclusive, and potentially beneficial to the Government's Get Active strategy."

This feels like a David and Goliath story. On the one side, the amateurs, led by retired former American Express executive Karen Mitchell, who have run three well-attended national championships. On the other, the LTA, with its £80 million income and 325 employees.

The bigger organisation says it has the resources and know-how to grow pickleball's player base. The outsiders reply that the two "Ps" will always be the poor relations in any notional LTA family of racquet sports, and suggest a potential conflict of interest.

According to this theory - which is strenuously denied at the LTA's Roehampton headquarters - there is an incentive to avoid a sudden explosion in either padel (as happened in Spain and Sweden) or pickleball (as happened in the US). Better to keep the younger sports under control, ticking along without taking too big a bite out of tennis's traditional player base. Otherwise, the LTA could be accused of nurturing a cuckoo in the nest.

Sport England - which told Telegraph Sport that "it would be pre-emptive to comment further at this stage" - will effectively be the referee in the fight over pickleball's future. In all probability, it is hoping for a repeat of the amicable merger that saw the LTA swallow up padel: another tennis-based hybrid which incorporates elements from squash.

Extremely popular in Europe, padel was an earlier visitor than pickleball, arriving on our shores when Tom Murray - a former Futures-level tennis player from Kent - formed a nascent British Padel organisation in 2014.

But then, after five years of sustaining his new body in his spare time, Murray agreed to something resembling a corporate buyout: the LTA would henceforth run the sport with him as its head of padel. "It was a dream come true," he told Telegraph Sport last week.

The success or otherwise of the LTA's padel project has obvious relevance for its American cousin. At Pickleball England's AGM, held on Feb 18, Chaudry recommended that members should "speak to people within the padel world, see what the impact is of the LTA having taken over padel, and come to your own conclusions."

So, how do we assess the sport's performance over the five years since the Murray merger? In that time, the number of courts in the UK has grown roughly sevenfold, from around 50 to approaching 350. Yet this has been driven almost entirely by private investors, while the LTA has erected only three courts in Roehampton and handed out £3.9 million in padel-related building loans to tennis clubs.

When Telegraph Sport approached those private investors, there was little warmth expressed towards the LTA. Inflexible rules and poor communication were cited several times, even if no one wanted to be quoted by name for fear of reprisals. As one source put it, "I've had this conversation with everyone in padel from club operators to top players, juniors, parents and tournament directors. I get a pretty consistent message back: the LTA get in the way more than they help."

Asked about these misgivings, Murray replied: "A lot of people might not see a lot of the work that's going on behind the scenes, because padel is growing slowly, if you compare it to other things. But I don't think it would be where it is today without the LTA having integrated it, because it wasn't officially recognised."

Murray also said that the next three years will constitute stage two of the project, now that "every team at the LTA is now delivering on both tennis and padel. When it comes to the private operators, they might be entrepreneurs who haven't come from a sports background, so they're not used to the tennis ecosystem: registering venues, safeguarding standards, making sure it's safe to play."

One curiosity about Murray is that everyone Telegraph Sport spoke to said that he lives in Alicante in southern Spain - an international padel hotspot - with one person adding: "It's a strange and unsatisfactory situation, as if the head of English cricket were living in Pakistan."

Murray replied that this is no more than a rumour, born out of his wife's Spanish nationality. "I'm a UK tax-payer," he said, "based down in Kent." But the very existence of the rumour says something about his visibility - or lack of it - around the national padel circuit.

For the moment, the dominance of tennis - which last year recorded its best participation figures in more than a decade - is not being seriously challenged in the UK. The LTA has identified 5.6 million tennis players, it says, as against 175,000 padel players and those 12,000 pickleballers we mentioned earlier.

Yet these are highly committed communities, as Mitchell demonstrated when she built a back-garden pickleball court during the pandemic. According to Chaudry, there are already 1,200 people signed up for August's national championships in Telford. And there is plenty of bustling activity behind the scenes: after considering cases from other sports, including walking football's fight to be run separately from the Football Association, Pickleball England recently filed freedom-of-information requests into Sport England's decision-making process.

For the moment, the passions at play exceed the numbers involved, but that could change quickly if pickleball finds its groove. The next moves in this saga will be closely watched.

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Racquet sports at war: Pickleball and padel take on the LTA

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Grass-roots organisation that has driven growth of pickleball in the UK fear takeover by tennis' governing body as padel's concerns rise

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McEnroe is defeated again in Pickleball by Agassi...

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McEnroe is defeated again in Pickleball by Agassi...

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - John McEnroe threw a couple of fits. And Maria Sharapova eased him away from throwing a few more.

But the tennis legends were no match for the sport's most popular couple.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf defeated McEnroe and Sharapova to win a $1 million purse in Pickleball Slam 2, which was broadcast in primetime on ESPN at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on Sunday night.

"I'm sure we got some good ideas," Graf told USA TODAY Sports when asked about their plans for the winnings.

The four former world No. 1s, who combined for 42 Grand Slam singles titles in tennis, embraced the stage in pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

Agassi and McEnroe starred in the event last year with former tennis pros Andy Roddick and Michael Chang.

But the additions of Graf, Sharapova and former tennis players turned pickleballers Jack Sock and James Blake expanded the event's range with an effort to bridge the passionate divide between the sports.

"To me, tennis is always the king. But it's easy to play this. That's why my friends play with me all the time," McEnroe said of pickleball. "But the better the level [of competition], you better practice."

Added Agassi: "The sports themselves, they can live and play happily in the sandbox. There's no reason why a tennis player can't have a paddle in their bag and pull it out at any time. Courts are everywhere now, and I think that's less and less."

Agassi and Sock, who plays professionally in Major League Pickleball, won the first match against McEnroe and Blake, a team owner of the MLP's Milwaukee Mashers, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. Graf and Sock won the second match against Sharapova and Blake 9-11, 11-8, 17-15.

Agassi and Graf won the third and final match 11-7, 13-11 to sweep the event.

McEnroe says he prefers singles matches in pickleball for a better workout, while he felt exposed with doubles matches with dink shots - returns closer to the net which require players to lower their bodies to make contact.

McEnroe only slammed his paddle to the ground twice during the event in patented frustration.

"I'm probably more frustrated, but I am getting older," McEnroe said. "So, I'm trying to come up with something new, you know?"

Graf said she's been playing pickleball "seriously" for about six months with Agassi, who picked up the sport more frequently after last year's event.

Despite being the most accomplished player in her house, Graf said she felt some nervous jitters before the event.

"Before we started, I had a lot of nerves and I haven't felt that way in many years," said Graf, who retired in 1999 with 107 singles titles. "It's a great crowd and it's really special."

There will be three matches:

∎ Match 1: Agassi, Sock win first match against McEnroe and Blake 11-7, 9-11, 11-8

∎ Match 2: Graf and Sock win the second match against Sharapova, Blake 9-11, 11-8, 17-15.

∎ Match 3: Agassi and Graf won the third and final match 11-7, 13-11 to win the event over McEnroe and Sharapova.

Graf and Sock win the second match against Sharapova, Blake 9-11, 11-8, 17-15

Team Agassi is up 2-0. But the final match is worth two points. Next up are the four tennis legends.

Graf and Sock stormed back down 10-7, to win the final set 17-15.

"It's been a lot of fun. Before we started I had a lot of nerves and I haven't felt that in many years," Graf said after the match. "It's a great crowd and it's really special."

Agassi, Sock win first match against McEnroe and Blake 11-7, 9-11, 11-8

Agassi's side is up 1-0 on the event after a win in the first match. And he didn't pass up an opportunity to poke fun of McEnroe post match.

"You know he's gotten definitely more comfortable. He just has to stop hating on Pickleball. He's going to improve dramatically," Agassi said of McEnroe.

During the same interview, Sock said this event helps bridge the negativity between tennis and pickleball because "there's room for both and they're both amazing in their own way."

John McEnroe slams his paddle on first point loss

McEnroe didn't waste any time making his presence felt on Sunday, slamming his paddle after he and Blake lost the first point in the first match. Then, McEnroe was upset at his first foot fault.

"You can't challenge the foot call?!" McEnroe yelled.

The referee then told McEnroe "we can trade places if you want to."

When explaining the point system before play even began, the referee told McEnroe: "I'll hold your hand the entire match, don't worry."

What are foot faults in pickleball?

Players are not allowed to step into the squared off area closest to the net where they can commit foot faults. The area is called the non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen, on the pickleball courts.

Scoring at the Pickleball Slam

The first match will be scored in pro-legend doubles format: Rally scoring (every point counts), best two out of three games to 11 points, win by 2.

The second and final matches will be mixed doubles format: Rally scoring (every point counts), best two out of three games to 21, win by 2.

Who won Pickleball Slam 1?

Agassi and Andy Roddick earned a $1 million purse after beating McEnroe and Michael Chang in a winner-take-all doubles match 21-15, 21-23, 12-10.

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Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf defeat John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova in Pickleball Slam 2

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Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf defeated McEnroe and Sharapova to win a $1 million purse in Pickleball Slam 2

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But we desperately need more facilities in the UK!

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These Business Strategies Are Blowing Up The Indoor Pickleball Club Market

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After interviewing more than a dozen indoor club operators, owners, and franchisors, some distinct business strategy patterns emerged that will drive the industry going forward.

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Maybe Paddle prices will come down as a result!

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Here Comes the Great Chinese Pickleball Revolution

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If pickleball is in the throes of taking over America, then China is on the cusp of—no exaggeration—taking over pickleball.

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Is tennis under threat as pickleball surges in popularity?

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Is tennis under threat as pickleball surges in popularity?

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https://news.sky.com/story/is-tennis-under-threat-as-pickleball-surges-in-popularity-13037566

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Inside the controversial world of America's fastest growing sport

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Inside the controversial world of America's fastest growing sport

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Fans say Pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton and ping pong but to critics, the sport is a never-ending irritant. It has become America's fastest growing sport and many predict it will soon take hold in the UK too - as Sky's US correspondent Martha Kelner reports.

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Pickleball: Inside the controversial world of America's fastest growing sport

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The 2023 Year In Review In Pickleball Part Two

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The 2023 Year In Review In Pickleball Part Two

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The Year In Review In Pickleball Part Two

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We just finished one heck of a busy year in the pickleball world. Here’s part 2 of my 2023 recap, starting off with the latest Tour Wars salvo in August.

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The 2023 Year In Review In Pickleball Part One

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The 2023 Year In Review In Pickleball Part One

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Santa on the move to the kitchen after delivering all his gifts.
Online meme

Happy Holidays to all my pickleball-loving readers!

We just finished one heck of a busy year in the pickleball world, especially when it came to the multi-million dollar industry that professional pickleball has now become.

I maintain a running list of "newsworthy events" that happen throughout the year in the sport, and now as we get ready to turn the page, here's a look back at the crazy year we just saw in Pickleball. I offer some editorialization and follow-up along the way.

This turned into such a massive post that I've split it up into two parts. First Part today, then the second part on the 31st. Read on for noteworthy items in the pickleball world up until Mid-August or so; we'll pick up with Part 2 starting with the Tour Wars in Kansas City.

1/1/23: Carvana officially becomes the Professional Pickleball Association's official Tour Title Sponsor. The Tour has been renamed to the "Carvana PPA Tour." This deal was announced in October of 2022 but started officially with the new season. Tom Dundon, majority owner of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), also holds a stake in Carvana, so the synergy of the two companies makes sense.

1/1/23: USA Pickleball (USAP) releases new rules go into effect that change the way the game is played. We covered these rules in detail last year; the biggest change was the banning of the "spin serve" (not the Chainsaw serve, thanks to Jason Aspes for the correction). While some lamented the loss of the serve (ahem, Zane Navratil), others saw the serve as a gimmick that took away from the purpose of the serve in this sport.

1/1/23: PPA makes some rule changes for its competitions related to Service Motion, Let Serves, Spin serves, Drop serves, Player-position errors, and Video replay. Not all of these rules are in line with the USAP's rules, especially around the let serve, which leads to some confusion with casual viewers when watching the pro tour.

1/2/23: When the PPA releases its 2023 schedule, it becomes clear that they have scheduled a competing event against the Minto US Open, historically the biggest and most prestigious event on the annual pickleball calendar. More than 60 PPA players signed exclusivity contracts in the lead-up to 2023, and negotiations with the US Open never materialized to include provisions for the PPA contracted players. The net effect drastically reduces the talent in the pro divisions in Naples when it is held in April.

1/5/23: The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) releases its Pickleball Participation Report, a survey done in conjunction with YouGov, that shows even more drastic participation numbers nationally than people may have been aware of. 36.5M Adult Americans played pickleball at least once in 2022; that's 14% of adult Americans. The APP releases more data later in the year that shows the demographics of the sport are getting distinctly younger, and YouGov has a slew of Pickleball survey data available online.

1/14/23: MLP announces it is moving away from Franklin and will be using the "DUPR" ball in its competitions.

1/17/23: The APP announces its 2023 Masters Series, a rebranding of the "Super Senior" pro divisions for players aged 60+.

1/23/23: APP announces a broadcast deal with CBS Sports and ESPN for programming for its events in 2023. This deal guarantees 20 hours of coverage from all 16 planned APP events, along with 200+ hours on ESPN+ and APP-TV.

2/5/23: PPA changes its tournament competition format, not for the first time, continuing to distance itself from a true double elimination format. Losers from all early rounds of all pro events will now drop into a consolation bracket that competes for at best 5th place. The two losers of the semis of the winner's bracket now go directly to the Bronze medal game. Lastly the two teams/persons who advance to the final of the winner's bracket compete for gold on Championship Sunday.

3/8/23: PPA, Major League Pickleball (MLP), and USAP announce joint equipment compliancy standards . Throughout most of the rest of 2023, the USAP conducts paddle testing at PPA events, but the MLP eventually splits from this joint agreement and begins using a different testing entity that is more stringent. This leads to more than a few high visibility testing incidents at PPA and MLP events: we'll revisit this issue later in the year.

3/8/23: PPA and USAP announce deal to move USA Pickleball Nationals out of Indian Wells, move it to Invited Corp's Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, and it will be a PPA branded event. Furthermore, three upcoming PPA events will be added as Golden Ticket qualifier events. This ends the previous exclusivity issue with PPA-contracted players not being able to play in Nationals.

3/13/23: DudePerfect buys into the Frisco Clean Cause MLP franchise and their investment values the team at $5M. It becomes a bit more evident later in the year that the DudePerfect group took control from prior Frisco majority owner Clean Cause/Wes Hurt.

3/21/23: The founders and long-time owners/operators of the US Open Chris Evon & Terri Graham announce a merger/partnership with Pickleball4America.

4/9/23: PPA's Red Rock tournament features a slew of highly charged paddle challenges and accusations, which unfold in semi-secrecy over the coming weeks. Lea Jansen very publicly challenged and accused Salome Devidze's paddle after their singles match, going onto Zane Navratil's Picklepod podcast the next day and claiming exasperation that the paddle was enabled for use. Devidze later reported on her own Instagram that the paddle came back clean. Meanwhile Travis Rettenmaier challenged Tyson McGuffin's paddle mid-match, was told you couldn't challenge mid-match, then challenged post-match and his paddle reportedly came back illegal ... but no penalties were levied because the tour claimed Rettenmaier didn't make the challenge during the match. On his Tennis Sucks podcast weeks after, Rettenmaier expressed some pretty serious irritation over this as well. It is eventually reported that McGuffin's paddle DID fail off-site testing, but no reversal of results, points, or prize money occurs.

5/3/23: Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) and DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the leading pickleball ratings organization, today announced the official launch of collegiate and junior verticals under the Major League Pickleball and DUPR umbrella.

5/5/23: PPA reaches an agreement with ESPN for broadcast rights for eight tourneys in the remainder of 2023. Four live, four replay.

5/5/23: Tennis star Jack Sock enters the PPA Charlotte event, playing in all three divisions. He makes the quarters of Singles, loses in the first round of Men's doubles with Tyson McGuffin, but wins the Mixed Doubles title with Anna Leigh Waters. I provided detailed coverage of his performance along the way (see above links for stories published that weekend). Sock does not appear in another pro event the rest of the way in 2023, but does sign an exclusive PPA contract for 2024 during the August Tour wars and seems committed to full-time touring in 2024.

5/5/23: Sarah Ansboury is the first player to be forfeited out of a match for using an illegal paddle, and the PPA very publicly comments on the situation as compared to prior paddle testing issues with other, more prominent players. The details of her paddle testing and forfeiture were troubling; a pre-match test showed her paddle to be "on the edge" of failure, then post-match testing showed it had exceeded the published thresholds. Can one match change a paddle enough to cause it to fail? Apparently so.

5/16/23: PPA announces a deal to stream matches on Amazon Prime video. The Amazon Prime coverage is used throughout the rest of the season, often taking over mid-day from PPA's YouTube feeds.

5/24/23: NML issues a scathing takedown of PPA's transparency in paddle testing after a series of inconsistent actions taken against players that are "in" the fold versus those who are not.

5/24/23: APP officially rebrands and changes its name from Association of Pickleball Professionals to be the Association of Pickleball Players. They also roll out a new website and new marketing. This change is made to highlight its focus on all players, not just professionals.

5/31/23: MLP reaches agreement with ESPN2 to broadcast MLP's 2023 Premier Level Super Finals, Monday, June 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 12.

6/1/23: PPA sets a record for tournament attendance in Atlanta with 1,421 players, then breaks it two weeks later in Rockwell with nearly 1,500 players entered into its Texas Open.

6/4/23: The National Pickleball League (NPL) finishes its first event of the year. Founded in 2022 by senior touring pros Michael Chen, Rick Witsken, Beth Bellamy, and Tom DeCaprio, the organization brings team-based competitions to the 50+/Senior space. The league forms six teams and plays six events in the second half of 2023, eventually crowning the Indy Drivers as the first NPL champions.

6/17/23: MLP's San Clemente event comes with eight new rule tweaks, as they continue to adjust the competition format for playability.

6/20/23: APP announces its upcoming Newport Beach event has more than 1,400 participants, breaking its own record for attendance at an APP event. Both pro tours continue to draw amazing numbers of participants, and the tournament boom continues across the country.

6/22/23: Riley Newman and Matt Wright announce they're breaking up as doubles partners. The pair has medaled together in every one of their last 25 tournaments playing together, dating to the beginning of 2022. However, they've gone from being regular features in the gold Medal match to being challenged in the semis and dropping to the bronze medal match several times in early 2023. By year's end, the two men finish exactly tied for 5th place on the PPA tour standings, but neither really had anywhere close to the success they had together in terms of medals or finishes.

6/24/23: The Senior Pro Tour announces its formation, founded by touring pros Matthias Johannsen, Dave Furman, and Steve & Jennifer Dawson. They announced a new tour, aligned with National Pickleball, with six events all coinciding with NP events. This further crowds the senior competition landscape, with APP, PPA, SPT, and NPL all now offering senior-based competitions. Throughout the rest of 2023, often-conflicting senior pro events result in some watered down competitions.

7/4/23: MLP adds two C-level executives. Chief Executive Officer Julio DePietro and Chief Operating Officer Bruce Popko.

7/6/23: The PPA tweaks its competition format again. Going forward, the back draws/consolation brackets will just be for 1st round losers. After the round of 16, the pro divisions are single elimination outside of the Bronze medal match. This is the final step in a month's long move towards essentially single-elimination pro draws on the PPA.

7/11/23: The APP partners with the AARP for its senior pro divisions. The AARP is now the Official Naming Rights Sponsor of Champions and Masters Divisions, Title Sponsor of 2024 Champions Cup.

7/28/23: PPA #2 singles player Lea Jansen, who has been open and vocal about her frustrations and challenges playing pro Singles professionally (partly due to her management of Diabetes, partly due to ongoing well-documented concerns with line calls and paddle challenging) announces just after her singles match in Fountain Valley that she is "retiring" from pro singles effective immediately. This statement is rather surprising since she's clearly the #2 singles player on tour and has ten singles medals in 2023 alone.

7/29/23: PPA #1 Anna Leigh Waters, who had not lost in Singles in more than a year, is shockingly upset in the quarters of the Takaya Showcase by Hurricane Tyra Black. After losing, ALW curiously seemed to be celebrating the loss, exclaiming "thank you for beating me" before giving high fives to her camp and running off the court.

8/15/23: USAP issues rare mid-year rule changes. The three changes are: 1. Codifying 2-game minimums in USAP-sanctioned events unless the division specifies "single elimination w/o consolation" ahead of time. 2. Referees will now confirm all players are in the correct positions before calling the point. 3. Other than NVZ violations, a fault may only be committed while a ball is live now.

8/24/23: Pickleball is officially added to the global Sports Betting Market, as the PPA partners with FanDuel to offer gambling at its events. I wrote a deep-dive in this space into the offering, with a betting guide and some thoughts on the implementation. Interestingly, after a few events FanDuel seems to have pulled the sport from its platforms, apparently a reaction to their heavy losses and inaccurate spreads.

Stay tuned on December 31st for Part 2.

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The Year In Review In Pickleball Part One

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We just saw one heck of a year in the pickleball world. Here's a recap of seminal events from January to August, part 1 of our 2023 Year in Review

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PBTV via FreeVee (Amazon) but not in the UK as yet!

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PBTV via FreeVee (Amazon) but not in the UK as yet!

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Pickleballtv-PBTV-to carry top live tour and team events, player features, instruction, celebrity pickleball and weekly studio news show.

LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2023 - Tennis Channel and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) have launched Pickleballtv (PBTV), a television network completely devoted to America's fastest-growing sport. Available now on Amazon Freevee and Fubo, the new, 24-hour media home pickleball will show more than 30 top-level live PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) team events, original programming and a weekly studio news show. Pickleballtv, like Tennis Channel, will offer thorough coverage of the sport's professional ranks along with content created for its expanding number of recreational enthusiasts.

Making its debut during the PPA Tour National Championships in Dallas this week, Pickleballtv will most often show live or encore match coverage featuring the best professional players in the world battling at the most important events in the sport. Interspersed with this competition are Getting to Know You features on the men and women who make up the PPA Tour and MLP, stars like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau. There will also be instructional programs that help amateurs understand and improve their own on-court capabilities, with episodes on serve strategy, dinking, volley drills, midcourt play, backhands, shifting and overheads, among others. A celebrity pickleball show is in the works, as is a weekly studio news show.

Both the PPA Tour and Tennis Channel expect Pickleballtv to become one-stop shopping for fans who want to stay on top of this exponentially growing sport.

"Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour are doing something that hasn't been done before - taking a fast-growing sport in its infancy and attaching an experienced, state-of-the-art media arm to its development in the form of Pickleballtv," said Ken Solomon, president, Tennis Channel. "We have no doubt that 24/7, consistent, daily coverage of the best players, events and news on a dedicated pickleball channel will generate new fans and give existing ones a place to call home, thus expanding the sport's overall reach and global popularity. We've driven massive new awareness with Tennis Channel during the past two decades and we expect nothing less with this exciting new network and explosive, young pro sport and easy-to-learn, highly addictive grassroots game."

According to February's annual Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for three consecutive years, increasing 159% in that time. Professional tennis stars Jack Sock, Genie Bouchard and Sam Querrey have recently thrown their hats into the PPA Tour ring and will appear on Pickleballtv. Meanwhile, MLP, the team league that is part of the PPA Tour, has garnered attention due to a long line of well-known owners, including Tom Brady, Eva Longoria, LeBron James, Chris Evert, Naomi Osaka and Hall of Fame Tennis Channel-analyst Tracy Austin.

"The PPA Tour has worked in lockstep with Tennis Channel, and we're proud to launch Pickleballtv coinciding with the largest tournament in pickleball history. There are so many exciting things happening in our sport right now, and the addition of daily media coverage capable of reaching an unprecedented audience for the sport is a watershed moment for pickleball enthusiasts everywhere who want continuous access to a host of unique and innovative content," said Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the PPA Tour. "The PPA Tour is home to tremendously gifted athletes who deserve to be household names, and Pickleballtv will facilitate that transition. Prepare to be entertained with a variety of outstanding programming that will take your fandom to new heights!"

The launch coincides with the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships Powered by Invited and the PPA Tour in Dallas, one of the largest events of the season. Pickleballtv provided live coverage of a celebrity pickleball exhibition that featured a variety of Texas-related sports stars. The Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown showcased basketball's Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, football's Tony Romo, golf's Scottie Scheffler, hockey's Marty Turco and tennis' John Isner joined by several of the best players on the PPA Tour.

In September Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour announced a commercial joint venture to grow pickleball in the United States and around the world. Under the agreement, most PPA Tour matches appear live on Tennis Channel's various media platforms and both organizations coordinate advertising-sales activities. Tennis Channel also produces all events for the PPA Tour, regardless of the media outlets on which they first appear.

The PPA Tour and Tennis Channel are in conversation with multiple distribution partners to roll Pickleballtv out to as many homes as possible.

About Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour is the professional tour of pickleball, organizing events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players worldwide and awarding more than $5.5 million in annual prize money with equal play and pay. The Carvana PPA Tour is set to host 25 events in 2023 at world-class facilities like the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Mission Hills Country Club in California, and the Darling Tennis Center and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Inviting all to compete and "play where the pros play," the Carvana PPA Tour offers amateur divisions of play for every level, unparalleled experiences for fans and spectators, gorgeous venues, pro player meet-and-greets, food/beverages, live entertainment, VIP upgrades, giveaways and games, shopping, vendors, and more. Founded in 2018 and based in Salt Lake City, the Carvana PPA Tour is operated by parent corporation, Pickleball.com. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com. See Pro Player Profiles and follow us on social: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Tennis Channel ( www.tennischannel.com) which is owned by Sinclair Inc., is the only television-based multiplatform destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The network has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world's most voluminous sports, with multiple men's and women's tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel has rights at the four majors - US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open) and Australian Open - and is the exclusive U.S. home of all men's ATP World Tour and women's WTA Tour competitions, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup. Direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is available to everyone in the United States and allows subscribers to select from another 4,500 live and on-demand matches and award-winning content from short-form to films throughout the tennis season. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. Additional platform www.tennis.com is the largest digital outlet dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel also manages a network of close to 20 podcasts.
About Sinclair, Inc.
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD and The Nest; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands. Sinclair's content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.
For further information:
Eric Abner, Tennis Channel, 310-314-9445, eabner@tennischannel.com, @TennisChannel

Jeff Watson, PPA Tour, 817-944-2298, j.watson@ppatour.com

Pickleballtv-PBTV-to carry top live tour and team events, player features, instruction, celebrity pickleball and weekly studio news show.

LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2023 - Tennis Channel and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) have launched Pickleballtv (PBTV), a television network completely devoted to America's fastest-growing sport. Available now on Amazon Freevee and Fubo, the new, 24-hour media home pickleball will show more than 30 top-level live PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) team events, original programming and a weekly studio news show. Pickleballtv, like Tennis Channel, will offer thorough coverage of the sport's professional ranks along with content created for its expanding number of recreational enthusiasts.

Making its debut during the PPA Tour National Championships in Dallas this week, Pickleballtv will most often show live or encore match coverage featuring the best professional players in the world battling at the most important events in the sport. Interspersed with this competition are Getting to Know You features on the men and women who make up the PPA Tour and MLP, stars like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau. There will also be instructional programs that help amateurs understand and improve their own on-court capabilities, with episodes on serve strategy, dinking, volley drills, midcourt play, backhands, shifting and overheads, among others. A celebrity pickleball show is in the works, as is a weekly studio news show.

Both the PPA Tour and Tennis Channel expect Pickleballtv to become one-stop shopping for fans who want to stay on top of this exponentially growing sport.

"Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour are doing something that hasn't been done before - taking a fast-growing sport in its infancy and attaching an experienced, state-of-the-art media arm to its development in the form of Pickleballtv," said Ken Solomon, president, Tennis Channel. "We have no doubt that 24/7, consistent, daily coverage of the best players, events and news on a dedicated pickleball channel will generate new fans and give existing ones a place to call home, thus expanding the sport's overall reach and global popularity. We've driven massive new awareness with Tennis Channel during the past two decades and we expect nothing less with this exciting new network and explosive, young pro sport and easy-to-learn, highly addictive grassroots game."

According to February's annual Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for three consecutive years, increasing 159% in that time. Professional tennis stars Jack Sock, Genie Bouchard and Sam Querrey have recently thrown their hats into the PPA Tour ring and will appear on Pickleballtv. Meanwhile, MLP, the team league that is part of the PPA Tour, has garnered attention due to a long line of well-known owners, including Tom Brady, Eva Longoria, LeBron James, Chris Evert, Naomi Osaka and Hall of Fame Tennis Channel-analyst Tracy Austin.

"The PPA Tour has worked in lockstep with Tennis Channel, and we're proud to launch Pickleballtv coinciding with the largest tournament in pickleball history. There are so many exciting things happening in our sport right now, and the addition of daily media coverage capable of reaching an unprecedented audience for the sport is a watershed moment for pickleball enthusiasts everywhere who want continuous access to a host of unique and innovative content," said Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the PPA Tour. "The PPA Tour is home to tremendously gifted athletes who deserve to be household names, and Pickleballtv will facilitate that transition. Prepare to be entertained with a variety of outstanding programming that will take your fandom to new heights!"

The launch coincides with the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships Powered by Invited and the PPA Tour in Dallas, one of the largest events of the season. Pickleballtv provided live coverage of a celebrity pickleball exhibition that featured a variety of Texas-related sports stars. The Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown showcased basketball's Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, football's Tony Romo, golf's Scottie Scheffler, hockey's Marty Turco and tennis' John Isner joined by several of the best players on the PPA Tour.

In September Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour announced a commercial joint venture to grow pickleball in the United States and around the world. Under the agreement, most PPA Tour matches appear live on Tennis Channel's various media platforms and both organizations coordinate advertising-sales activities. Tennis Channel also produces all events for the PPA Tour, regardless of the media outlets on which they first appear.

The PPA Tour and Tennis Channel are in conversation with multiple distribution partners to roll Pickleballtv out to as many homes as possible.

About Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour is the professional tour of pickleball, organizing events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players worldwide and awarding more than $5.5 million in annual prize money with equal play and pay. The Carvana PPA Tour is set to host 25 events in 2023 at world-class facilities like the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Mission Hills Country Club in California, and the Darling Tennis Center and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Inviting all to compete and "play where the pros play," the Carvana PPA Tour offers amateur divisions of play for every level, unparalleled experiences for fans and spectators, gorgeous venues, pro player meet-and-greets, food/beverages, live entertainment, VIP upgrades, giveaways and games, shopping, vendors, and more. Founded in 2018 and based in Salt Lake City, the Carvana PPA Tour is operated by parent corporation, Pickleball.com. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com. See Pro Player Profiles and follow us on social: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Tennis Channel ( www.tennischannel.com) which is owned by Sinclair Inc., is the only television-based multiplatform destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The network has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world's most voluminous sports, with multiple men's and women's tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel has rights at the four majors - US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open) and Australian Open - and is the exclusive U.S. home of all men's ATP World Tour and women's WTA Tour competitions, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup. Direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is available to everyone in the United States and allows subscribers to select from another 4,500 live and on-demand matches and award-winning content from short-form to films throughout the tennis season. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. Additional platform www.tennis.com is the largest digital outlet dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel also manages a network of close to 20 podcasts.
About Sinclair, Inc.
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD and The Nest; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands. Sinclair's content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.
For further information:
Eric Abner, Tennis Channel, 310-314-9445, eabner@tennischannel.com, @TennisChannel

Jeff Watson, PPA Tour, 817-944-2298, j.watson@ppatour.com

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Tennis Channel, Carvana Professional Pickleball Association launch television network dedicated to pickleball | Tennis.com

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Pickleballtv-PBTV-to carry top live tour and team events, player features, instruction, celebrity pickleball and weekly studio news show.

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The Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners and Pros

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Paddles are getting more sophisticated and expensive. We spent months testing dozens to find our favorites.

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Pickleball medals brings sweet taste of success to Shropshire

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Pickleball medals brings sweet taste of success to Shropshire

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Pickleball medals bring
sweet taste of success

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Shropshire pickleball pioneer Fiona Edwards hailed a hugely successful English Nationals for the county as she bagged a pair of bronze medals in Bolton.

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Matthew Perry's Pickleball Coach Details Their Final Moments and Close Friendship (Exclusive)

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Matthew Perry's Pickleball Coach Details Their Final Moments and Close Friendship (Exclusive)

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Matthew Perry's Pickleball Coach Details Their Final Moments and Close Friendship.

Matt Manasse explained that Perry used pickleball as an outlet in his recovery and encouraged others who were overcoming addiction to try the sport.

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Matthew Perry’s Pickleball Coach Details Their Final Moments Together

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ET spoke with Matthew Perry’s close friend and pickleball coach Matt Manasse about their friendship on and off the court.

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Five tips on how to get a new pickleball club started

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Five tips on how to get a new pickleball club started

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Have you ever had to travel a long distance to play pickleball, and wished that there was somewhere closer to home? Perhaps you've moved to a new area, and there's no pickleball club anywhere nearby.

If you should find yourself in these situations, you may want to start your own pickleball club.

It is difficult to know where to begin, so we spoke to two people we've asked two people who have been there and done it.

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With the sport experiencing such a rapid boom, there's never been a better time to get involved, so if you've caught the pickleball bug, here's five tips to help you get a club going, and how to make it a success:

Tell your friends!

Louise Stephens helped to set up London Pickleball, a club which now boasts over 400 members. "The biggest thing for me was getting the players," she states. "People always say I want to play, but where do I get players?

"So I just contacted a lot of my friends... and that is literally how we started, it was just my friends. But all my friends, remarkably, have friends, so they were then bringing their friends and before you know it, you've got a big group of people wanting to play."

Remember, pickleball's greatest strength is its diversity, so you can bring almost anybody down to a session and they will be able to participate, often to a much greater extent than with any other sport.

Don't be afraid to ask other, established pickleball clubs for help

Richard Wise runs taster sessions and supports new clubs across Cumbria: "I now just run the taster session, loan the equipment and support them for a few months until they're up and running with their own gear and then I'll get my gear back and they'll carry on".

Louise offers similar advice: " Don't be afraid to ask established groups, because people are more than happy to tell you what they did.

"And you don't have to take any notice of what they say, you can pick and choose the bits you like, but just remember that is somebody's been running a pickleball group for six or seven years, they've been through everything you're about to go through."

If you find a venue with some availability, take it immediately

Even for the most established clubs, finding a place to play can be tricky. If you know of a venue, the advice would be to book it as soon as possible and just get playing, or you may find everywhere booked up and have nowhere to play.

Louise knows this all too well, having struggled initially to find a venue after running her first taster session.

"We literally rang round local leisure centres and took what we were offered. Since [the start] if anyone offers us anything, we take it," she said.

Richard is also struggling. "Despite the fact we've got 80 odd hours a week going on, I've still not got space for people to play," he said.

Your members will have skills that help you run the club. Use them!

You may wonder how on earth you'll be able to manage an entire club of people as it begins to grow, but the beauty of pickleball is the community you can create, and if you create a positive, welcoming environment, members will want to help the club in any way they can.

London Pickleball is a great example of this, with Louise noting: "Just in the pickleball community, there's some amazing people that you would never know how amazing they are unless you ask for help.

"So that would be my biggest thing, being brave enough to ask for help."

Be brave enough to do what's best for the club as a whole

This may seem a little bit further down the road, but it is something you should be aware of if you're looking to start up and run a club.

People of varying skill levels will be playing, and striking a balance between inclusion and enjoyment is always likely to be tricky.

Louise has been involved in the founding and running of two pickleball clubs across the last seven years, and for her, the number one problem pickleball clubs face is this:

"When people start settling down, there's always people who think they're better than they are, and they want to play with the better players. But those better players don't want to play with them.

"You have to be brave enough to stand up and say to that person, sorry you're not ready. That's the hardest thing, because no one wants to upset anybody, but if you don't upset the minority, you'll upset the majority"

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Five tips on how to get a new pickleball club started | Pickleball 52

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You may want to start your own pickleball club, but

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‘Could be the next big thing’: how pickleball is courting a new generation of players

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‘Could be the next big thing’: how pickleball is courting a new generation of players

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There are an estimated 20,000 pickleball players in Australia, with players, or “picklers”, skewing older at an average age of about 58. But Ron Shell, the chief executive of Australia’s National Pickleball League, believes in three years that will grow to at least 1 million and in 10 years it will be an Olympic sport.

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‘Could be the next big thing’: how pickleball is courting a new generation of players

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The cross between tennis, ping-pong and badminton is growing in popularity but faces a shortage of courts and a problem with nimbys

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Professional Pickleball, Tennis Channel deepen media partnership with 24/7 streaming channel

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Professional Pickleball, Tennis Channel deepen media partnership with 24/7 streaming channel

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Professional Pickleball, Tennis Channel deepen media partnership with 24/7 streaming channel

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The PPA Tour and Tennis Channel are teaming up in joint venture that let’s the TV network produce and air matches in a bid to further popularize the sport.

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My private club in Charlotte won’t make room for pickleball. Seriously?

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Pickleball is loud. The people behind the trendy sport say they’re trying to fix it.

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Pickleball is loud. The people behind the trendy sport say they’re trying to fix it.

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Pickleball is loud. The people behind the trendy sport say they’re trying to fix it

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Pickleball can be twice as loud as tennis. The body that governs the sport is working on ways to quiet it down.

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Simple but spicy: Pickleball pulls in thousands of new competitors - Sunday Times September 11, 2023

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Simple but spicy: Pickleball pulls in thousands of new competitors - Sunday Times September 11, 2023

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Can pickleball convince the tennis nuts? I played with Tim Henman to find out

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t's a surprisingly silly name, for a sport that counts George Clooney, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Judy Murray among its nine million fans. But perhaps being silly is exactly what drew Clooney and his fellow A-listers to pickleball, the world's fastest-growing sport and the reason I find myself volleying next to Tim Henman on a sunny September Saturday on an intimidatingly tennis-like court.

"Lovely dinks," Thaddea Lock, a former tennis professional and now Britain's number one pickleball player, tells me as Henman and I warm up on the shiny new blue courts at Beaverbrook, the first hotel in the country to offer the sport alongside tennis and padel tennis.

I find myself smiling at the word dink, but apparently that's the official term for the little up-at-the-net shots we're doing in what Lock explains is "essentially a glorified bat and ball" - the game many of us grew up playing on the beach. There's certainly a beach feel here today, as brightly-dressed players ('picklers') cheers glasses of rosé and Dua Lipa's Barbie anthem blares out from speakers at the side of the court.

"Is this rosé just to look at?" laughs Henman, my doubles partner for the morning, admitting he was a pickleball sceptic until he arrived on court today. He's only been playing for an hour and says he's already sold, cracking jokes about installing Hawk-Eye and asking a Pickleball England rep where the nearest court is to his home in Oxfordshire.

Being paired with Britain's former Wimbledon darling is admittedly a little terrifying when learning a new racket sport (serving is underarm, mercifully), but fortunately for me Henman, 49, is a newbie to the sport today too. Sure, being a ex-professional sportsman gives him a natural advantage, but the fact that an amateur tennis player like me can even begin to play alongside Henman is exactly the magic of this buzzy new sport. It's relaxed, sociable (the most popular form is doubles) and refreshingly simple, even if Henman does keep having to remind me to stay at the base line after my serve because the ball has to bounce before the first two shots of any point.

So what exactly is this funny-sounding sport, exactly - and how does it differ from padel, tennis' other cool baby sister? The first difference is in their origins. While padel was born in Spain, pickle is a US import - hence the somewhat surprisingly starry following. A-list players include Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew Perry, Taylor Lautner and Kim Kardasian (presumably, the reality TV queen recognises the bum-sculpting benefits - getting low under the ball is important), while NBA star LeBron James is such a fan he even bought his own pro pickleball team last year.

As a sport, pickle is relatively new, originating just 50 years ago when a family in Washington supposedly looking for something to do after a round of golf. Myths as to exactly how it began vary - some say it was named after the family dog, Pickle; others say the word pickle was a nod to the fact that it was made from leftover equipment around the family garden - but the premise and its benefits are widely agreed upon.

If you like ping pong, badminton and tennis you'll be able to master the basics pretty quickly. It's most similar to tennis, but with a court that's roughly a third of the size and smaller, solid rackets (confusingly, called paddles). Scoring is more similar to that of ping pong (1, 2, 3 as opposed to 15, 30, 40, but with an extra digit at the end to indicate who is serving) and hitting the ball sounds a bit like ping-pong, too, except in this case it's a lightweight plastic ball (called a wiffle ball) with holes in so it gets picked up in the wind, like a shuttlecock in badminton. Think of it as table tennis without the table and with an extra, no-volley section at the front called the kitchen or kitchen sink.

Dinks, wiffles and kitchens might not sound like the makings of a glamorous new celebrity phenomenon, but first impressions can apparently be misleading. Popularity is said to have skyrocketed in the US during the pandemic, partly thanks to the fact that anyone can set a pickle court up in their driveway if they have some chalk and a pop-up net, with more than 8.9 million people now calling themselves pickleball players in the States - almost double the number of players in 2021.

Here on this side of the Atlantic, Pickleball England already boasts more than 12,000 registered players, with the number of UK clubs doubling to nearly 400 over the last two years (most London clubs are, naturally, in SW postcodes) and Emma Watson, Judy Murray and John McEnroe among the high-profile Brits to be pictured smiling on a pickleball court in recent months.

Lock, 36 - who started playing after visiting friends in the US in 2018 - tells me this feelgood factor is the real magic of the sport she has now made a career out of. Fellow players spoke of a famous "padel grin" when I tried padel tennis for the first time in January and there's definitely a pickle grin, too, she confirms, gesturing to our fellow players on the courts around us. Within seconds, I'm smiling, too, and within minutes I'm into my first game with Henman, laughing through a particularly fast and furious 15-hit rally once we all master the hitting power needed to reach the back of the court (quite a bit, it turns out).

Pickleball England already bosts more than 12,000 registered players, with Emma Watson, Judy Murray and John McEnroe among reported fans

"It's just so convivial," Beaverbrook's owner Joel Cadbury agrees after a quick five-minute set. He nods to his wife and kids, all mixing in on various cross-gender, cross-generation matches on our neighbouring courts. He couldn't possibly choose between pickle and padel, another recent installation at his hotel. But why would he want to choose? Both have their merits, and they compliment each other, in fact. "A lot of the skills are interchangeable: your hand speed, your touch, your reactions," explains Lock.

What Cadbury does point to is pickleball's egalitarian feel, even compared to relatively inclusive sports like padel, where strength can still give male players an advantage. "[Pickle] is the first game I can remember playing where gender is totally irrelevant," he says, challenging me to name many sports in which men compete against women at a professional level. Pro players say it's easily the most inclusive sport they've ever played.

Cadbury bounces back onto court and Lock picks up where he left off. Not only is gender irrelevant in pickleball, she says, but so too are age and fitness-level, to a large extent. She caught glandular fever early into her pickleball career, and found she could return to the pickleball court much earlier than the tennis court, thanks to the smaller court and lower fitness and technical requirements (like me, she struggled with padel a little more as a non-squash player, finding it unnatural trying to hit against the back walls).

Lock currently spends much of her time championing the inclusivity benefits of pickle, whether it's for schools or for older generations who might have given up on tennis or padel for the sake of their joints or pride. After more than four years playing alongside various day-jobs in events and operations at the LTA and Wimbledon, she's going professional full-time next month and is already sponsored by the pickleball paddle brand ProXR Pickleball and US footwear brand Sketchers.

This fashion element, too, is another wonder of pickle's appeal. The sport is widely considered cooler, younger and less snooty than tennis, so brands like Nike and London label Varley are quickly cottoning on and capitalising on a new multi-age, multi-gender sporting audience not limited by strict rules or crisp tennis white uniforms. Don't believe me? Believe the locals on Venice Beach, where surfer types are regularly snapped posing through a pickle match or three in high-vis animal-print pickledresses and neon pink paddles. No doubt Pickle Barbie is already in the making.

Mattel collaboration or not, the sport is certainly set to be the next big thing among the younger generations. The paddle I'm playing with today might cost upwards of £80 but you can buy a wooden version for as little as £10 and a portable net for as little as £60. "I can take this game to any classroom of any school in this country with a piece of chalk and a portable net... You can have 30-40 pickleball courts in your parking lot, even. I defy you to do that with tennis, squash or padel," says Richard Millman, a retired US men's national squash coach, English masters pickleball champion and self-confessed pickle addict.

Millman's wife, Pat - also an ex-pro squash player - jumps in at this point, reminding me of the benefits for older generations too. She's had two hip replacements and a knee replacement, but returned to the pickle court just three months after having her knee done, playing three times a week. "I have friends who play squash and say 'I'm not coming over to the dark side,'" she tells me. "I always say 'Have a go, then come back'. They never call it the dark side again."

Millman and his wife are clearly signed-up pickle nuts after several years playing. So what of Henman? The former tennis ace joined the padel brigade years ago, playing regularly - can he be coaxed to the dark side, too? "I watched pickle on TV [in the States] recently and I wasn't convinced," he admits, saying he was intrigued about the loud pickle noise critics often talk about before coming out today.

Brands like Nike and Varley are quickly capitalising on a new multi-age, multi-gender sporting audience not limited by strict rules or crisp tennis whites

It takes him less than 30 minutes to be won over. "I love the different variations: you have some really soft points where you're trying to dink the ball over the net, and then you have some really fast exchanges," he says after our match. "I understand that tennis is sometimes quite tricky, especially when you're young, because the ball isn't as easy to control. Whereas this is brilliant. I think it's much easier to have enjoyment. I am absolutely convinced."

Henman tells me he'll definitely be adding pickle to his repertoire and "spreading the word" to his three daughters Rose, 20, Olivia, 18, and Grace, 15 - good news for Pickleball England, which says it's aiming to have 25,000 members by 2025. Millman is confident that'll happen "because there are no limitations to just setting up a court, no limitations to the entry-level skill requirement. And yet a person like Tim Henman can come in and be really entertained by the skill requirement at the performance end. So we've got a broader, wider, deeper sport that will include people who historically leave tennis and squash clubs in their late forties because they've got bad knees. And we can keep those people into their nineties."

Millman's sales pitch is certainly enticing, even for a lifelong tennis player who only recently found time to add padel to her repertoire. A padel match with friends recently cost four of us £14 each for court and equipment hire, so the prospect of owning my own £10 pickle paddle and £60 pop-up net (Christmas present, anyone?) is certainly inviting - though I would need to find my own driveway or patch of tarmac first.

If not, a quick search of my postcode on Pickleball England's club locator tells me my nearest is in Wimbledon, five miles away, while Pickleball Social 's website tells me I can play at various local venues including Latchmere Leisure Centre in Battersea and Clapham Common for £15 an hour between four. Like Henman, I was a sceptic before today but suddenly I find myself in a right old pickle. Do I stick to tennis? Do I switch padel for pickle - or keep up all three? Perhaps that's the real reason behind the sport's silly-sounding name.

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Can pickleball convince the tennis nuts? I played with Tim Henman to find out

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George Clooney, Kim Kardashian and Judy Murray are among millions of fans of the newly-imported US sport. Katie Strick joins Britain's former Wimbledon darling for his first-try

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PPA and MLP merge after all, the war is over!

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PPA and MLP merge after all, the war is over!

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Merger of Two Largest Pro Pickleball Organizations Is Backed By $50M Investment Led By Private Equity Firm SC Holdings and Financier/MLP Team Owner Al Tylis, Along with PPA Tour Owner Tom Dundon and Various MLP Team Owners
AUSTIN and DALLAS, TX., September 13, 2023 - Today, leading professional pickleball organizations MLP by Margaritaville (MLP) and Carvana PPA Tour (PPA Tour) announced an agreement to merge under a unified and definitive professional pickleball holding company. The consolidation of the two entities is backed by a $50M investment from SC Holdings, D.C. Pickleball Team owner Al Tylis, PPA Tour owner Tom Dundon, and a roster of existing MLP team owners.

The new combined organization will provide players, fans, and sponsors with the benefits of a streamlined schedule and single entity overseeing the two still-distinct brands. The merger combines the leading individual and team-based professional pickleball formats into a single parent company, equally supporting and promoting both MLP and the PPA Tour. The new holding company will provide players and sponsors great confidence and opportunity in the future of professional pickleball.

The PPA Tour is the traditional, bracket-style tour format that determines the best players in the world and showcases individual athletes and their unique journeys to reach the top.

MLP is the innovative team-based, coed league format that brings thrilling fan-centric experiences and competition throughout the regular season and championships.

"As professional pickleball continues to rapidly grow, we could not be more excited to provide both players and fans with the clarity and consistency of a unified professional pickleball organization," said Major League Pickleball Founder Steve Kuhn. "This merger will expand and improve opportunities for current and future players, creating a united experience and a better future playing professional pickleball."

"Over the past few years, we have seen ever-increasing interest from investors, sponsors, fans and players who understand the immense value in the future of professional pickleball," said PPA Tour owner Tom Dundon. "The holding company unifying the PPA Tour and MLP will create a streamlined sport for fans and add more meaningful opportunities for player competition, broadcasting rights and sponsorship throughout the professional pickleball calendar."

Professional pickleball fans will now be able to watch both exciting formats and the best players in the sport competing under one competitive umbrella, with the new unified organization boasting over 150 of the leading professional pickleball players and an extensive calendar of team and individual events throughout the year.

The parent company's board of directors and team owners include an impressive roster of business leaders, leading investors and professional athletes. The new board of directors will include: Jason Stein from SC Holdings, D.C. Pickleball Team owner Al Tylis, PPA Tour owner Tom Dundon, MLP founder Steve Kuhn, and former Goldman Sachs Partner Brian Levine.

About Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour is the professional tour of pickleball, organizing events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players worldwide and awarding more than $5.5 million in annual prize money with equal play and pay. The Carvana PPA Tour is set to host 25 events in 2023 at world-class facilities like the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Mission Hills Country Club in California, and the Darling Tennis Center and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Inviting all to compete and "play where the pros play," the Carvana PPA Tour offers amateur divisions of play for every level, unparalleled experiences for fans and spectators, gorgeous venues, pro player meet-and-greets, food/beverages, live entertainment, VIP upgrades, giveaways and games, shopping, vendors, and more. Founded in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is owned and operated by parent corporation, Pickleball.com. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com and follow us on social: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn.

About Major League Pickleball
Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league and the standard-bearer for the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Founded by Steve Kuhn in 2021, MLP has since expanded from eight to 24 teams and is committed to growing the sport's role in society and impacting every facet of pickleball's business.

MLP features a unique coed team format, iconic owners, easy to understand scoring, and the largest payouts in prize money across all of pro pickleball.

In December 2022, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville. A global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, has served more than 20 million travelers and consumers every year to change their latitude and attitude with Margaritaville. For more information, visit www.margaritaville.com.

For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit MajorLeaguePickleball.net and follow Major League Pickleball on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Media Contact
Dave Beauboeuf | [email protected] | 914-715-9167
Jeff Watson | [email protected] | 817-944-2298
Jay Moskowitz | [email protected] | 732-735-2789

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Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball Announce Full Merger to Form a Unified Professional Pickleball Organization | PPA Tour

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Merger of Two Largest Pro Pickleball Organizations Is Backed By $50M Investment Led By Private Equity Firm SC Holdings and Financier/MLP Team Owner Al Tylis, Along with PPA Tour OwnerRead more

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Pickleball is coming to a high street near you!!

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Pickleball is coming to a high street near you!!

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(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Could pickleball be the answer to America's big-box retail crisis? In Santa Monica, it may be a start.

Pickle Pop, an indoor pickleball venue where players can reserve court time, opened its doors on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, one of the city's popular shopping areas, on Saturday. Part sports club, part clothing retailer, part restaurant, Pickle Pop positions itself as an inviting space for serious athletes and social picklers alike, offering a relatively affordable alternative to waiting in line to play at public parks.

The 10,000-square-foot space used to be an Adidas store.

Pickle Pop co-founder Steph McCaffrey works in an office near the Third Street Promenade and often walks through the three-block pedestrian shopping district to grab coffee. After a while, she began to see the many vacant storefronts as an opportunity.

"I remember walking around here pre-COVID, and this was like the street to be at in Southern California," she said. These days, she observes fewer shoppers and tourists, and the area has felt quieter.

"So what we decided to try and do was basically figure out if we could arbitrage lower rents on big-box retail space for shorter-term locations and see if something worked," she said. "And then if it worked, we could extend."

A week ahead of its official opening, the space was already hosting small-scale corporate events on its burgundy courts after eager players slid into Pickle Pop's Instagram DMs offering to pay up for early access.

Malls and big-box stores nationwide are struggling as the retail landscape evolves and consumers increasingly opt to shop online, and Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, long considered a hot shopping destination in Southern California, has felt the effects of this bricks-and-mortar slump. Key tenants, including a flagship Banana Republic and Old Navy on the same block, left in 2021.

But some of the Promenade's vacant storefronts have presented new opportunities - and great deals - for tenants who see the value in the beachside shopping district steps from one of Southern California's wealthiest ZIP Codes.

The Promenade is not alone in its retail struggles.

Gap Inc. - which owns Gap, Old Navy, Athleta and Banana Republic - announced in 2020 that it planned to close 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores in the next three years. And in June, the owners of San Francisco's largest mall announced they were pulling the plug after an announcement that one of its largest tenants, Nordstrom, was closing its store there.

In an effort to course correct, Santa Monica city officials have been working to remove some of the red tape required for new businesses to launch. Some landlords who own space on the Third Street Promenade have become more open-minded to accepting unconventional tenants rather than national chains.

Making a space 'pickleball-able'

Partners in business and in life, McCaffrey and co-founder Erin Robertson conceived the idea for Pickle Pop earlier this summer and moved quickly. Even though not all vacant retail storefronts are, as Robertson says, "pickleball-able," many are with a reasonably low lift.

Robertson is a fashion designer who won season 15 of the Bravo competition series "Project Runway"; McCaffrey is an investor at Anthos Capital, a consumer-focused growth equity fund, and a former professional soccer player.

McCaffrey was inspired by the successful retail pop-ups that Robertson ran before the pandemic but wanted to go bigger for Pickle Pop. She pitched the idea to Robertson: "Maybe, instead of doing a traditional retail pop-up with a space as big as a cafe, we do an experiential retail concept where you sell a pickleball-focused line, and we have three or four pickleball courts in the space," she said.

Robertson loved the idea. "I feel like just retail is never enough, and I've actually always felt that way," she said, especially in large spaces that can accommodate experience-based businesses.

Pickle Pop gave Robertson a vast canvas to show off her eye for interior design: The cavernous space has three pickleball courts in a custom dark red, a seating area filled with space-age furniture sourced from the Rose Bowl Flea Market, and sumptuous baby-blue velvet curtains cloaking the walls.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Pickle Pop will also serve food and drinks from nearby Mexican joint Lanea - "Our favorite place in town," McCaffrey said - prepared in Pickle Pop's own kitchen, and sell merchandise designed by Robertson, including pickleball paddles printed with an ombre rainbow pattern. They hope to have their alcohol license by October and, until then, will be slinging drinks on the weekends thanks to an arrangement with Lanea.

Anyone can play, but a $55-a-month membership offers reservations for court times and ticketed events, plus discounts on hourly play. Non-members pay around $20 an hour to play, while member prices are about $12 per player.

McCaffrey and Robertson signed a lease until the end of January, but they say their business is just getting started. They are optimistic about a lease extension and are finalizing plans to open two bigger locations in the Los Angeles metro area.

It seems like a good time to bet on pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport: 36.5 million adult Americans played the game at least once in 2022, according to a released in January by the Assn. of Pickleball Players (formerly known as the Assn. of Pickleball Professionals). Nearly half of the 36.5 million said they planned to play more often in the next six months than they had in the previous six-month period.

"If you try pickleball, you'll find that it's actually a lot of fun, number one, and number two, you can actually improve pretty fast," said Ho Nguyen, the USA pickleball ambassador for Santa Monica. Nguyen also consults for Pickle Pop and will teach lessons there.

Nguyen got into pickleball in 2019 and has become an evangelist for the sport. He instantly loved the collegial, social culture and its low barrier to entry. "Isn't that cool to have a sport where a parent can play with their teenager or a kid or even grandparents? I can't think of any other sport," he said.

McCaffrey and Robertson were drawn to the Promenade in particular for their venture. "I think there was a feeling like it was an area with opportunity that was currently on a down," McCaffrey said, and in an iconic location. Eventually, she predicted that a storefront would become available to lease at a "favorable rate," and when the right opportunity appeared, they pounced.

"I think this is a great building that needs some love," she said. "And when you're a tenant and buildings have been vacant for a really long time, you have an opportunity to get attractive terms."

Problems at the Promenade

(Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Retail is struggling everywhere, but the Promenade, and Santa Monica more broadly, have dealt with their own set of issues in recent years. The three-block pedestrian shopping district was hit hard in 2020 as the city's booming tourism industry dried up. And since the pandemic, the area has garnered criticism about public safety and the homeless population, and controversy about the legitimacy of such claims.

The Promenade, like most malls, had a surge of success from the mid-1990s until the 2010s. Now, the strip is entering a new phase, said Andrew Thomas, chief executive of Downtown Santa Monica Inc., the nonprofit that helps manage the area. "I think what we're starting to see is a lot more experiential concepts coming into downtown," Thomas said. "Athletics are big, as is food and dining."

Earlier this year, a Madewell closed and was quickly replaced by a Wilson tennis store. A John Reed Fitness gym also opened this year.

David Martin, Santa Monica's community development director, sensed that challenges were on the horizon for the Promenade in the mid-2010s. "I think there's a tendency to think that COVID caused all this, and certainly it contributed," he said. "But we were seeing it start to happen in 2015, 2016 with the changes in retail. We were starting to hear that some of the stores weren't renewing their leases."

Thomas said that the city is working to address concerns about public safety and homelessness in Santa Monica that were exacerbated during the pandemic. "We hear from the Santa Monica police that crime is actually down in downtown, and on the Promenade reported criminal activity is down significantly," he said, "but we do have behavioral issues that we see here that are really troubling."

On a few recent visits to the Promenade, the streets were clean and relatively quiet, with the blocks on the southernmost end of the strip attracting the most attention.

One sunny Monday afternoon, outdoor dining tables were nearly full at Barney's Beanery and Johnny Rockets. Two people caught some shade under a pair of dinosaur-shaped sculptures. Community "ambassadors" in uniform pushed trash bins and swept up debris.

The occupancy rate for the Promenade is 77.6%. - up from 67% in 2021 - according to data from DTSM.

Pickle Pop's 10,000-square-foot space is on the most sparsely populated block on the Promenade, which has a vacancy rate of 34.6%, according to DTSM. The former tenant, Adidas, still has a presence on the Promenade, but downsized to a smaller location one block south before the pandemic.

Engineering a revival

Santa Monica already has a leg up by being a nationally known shopping destination, and the city has poured resources into reviving the retail experience downtown in the last couple of years. There have been major changes to the ordinances governing use of space on the Promenade that make it easier for new businesses to open quickly, Martin said.

One major change: The city changed the process to obtain an alcohol permit, making it easier for new businesses on the Promenade to secure one.

Additionally, conditional-use permits are no longer required for most businesses that have entertainment uses and want to sell alcohol, formerly a major obstacle for businesses.

"It was pretty strict before," Martin said. A few years ago, Santa Monica limited the number of restaurants and liquor licenses it distributed per block. This didn't slow activity when mostly traditional retail tenants filled the Promenade's storefronts, but now, things are different. "That just doesn't work in today's retail environment," Martin said.

Pickle Pop, Martin said, was "guaranteed to be able to have an alcohol license as part of their operation."

Local commercial real estate brokers characterize any current "down" as cyclical. Rafael Padilla, a principal at Par Commercial Brokerage who has worked on deals on the Westside for 38 years, said that Santa Monica has too much to offer for retail to suffer long term.

"The disposable income, the density, the businesses, the ocean, the tourists, everything's here. So it's not going away," he said. "We're just going to see things adjust."

A pickleball court, he said, may not have been able to secure a spot on the Promenade four years ago. "Now, they can."

Barbara Tenzer, founder of Tenzer Commercial Brokerage Group, whose primary focus is the Promenade and downtown Santa Monica, said that exciting new tenants are coming. Some are expected to drive foot traffic, including the forthcoming restaurant HQ Gastropub, which she said plans to have a speakeasy in the basement, outdoor dining on the ground floor, and a rooftop bar and lounge. (Tenzer has brokered deals on the Promenade for more than three decades.)

The brokers also said that the Promenade's large storefronts can be harder to find tenants for.

"Look, if the promenade was all 1,500-square-foot spaces, it would all be leased," Tenzer said. "But that's not what we have. The spaces are 150 feet deep, a standard building is 50 feet wide, so that's like 7,500 square feet, yeah? That's a lot of space."

"If a landlord is holding out for one tenant to take 45,000 [or] 50,000 square feet, yeah, your pool of tenants [is] going to be shallow," Padilla said. "If you are looking for tenants to take anywhere from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet, you've got a deeper pool to play in. That's just an economic decision for the landlord to make."

Could this prove to be a perfect storm for businesses like Pickle Pop?

"The dream is [that] this would not leave," Robertson said. "We would love to keep this going and then also expand to other neighborhoods of L.A."

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Can pickleball cure what's ailing Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade?

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Santa Monica's once-bustling Third Street Promenade is dotted with empty storefronts. An indoor pickleball club could point to creative ways for filling them.

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A spending war between billionaires battling for control of professional pickleball has thrown the sport's future into chaos.

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A spending war between billionaires battling for control of professional pickleball has thrown the sport's future into chaos.

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Connor Pardoe remembers when he became concerned that the uneasy partnership between professional pickleball's two biggest entities might not last.

The founder of the Professional Pickleball Association says he sensed something was wrong a couple weeks ago when Major League Pickleball executives suddenly stopped returning his calls and texts.

"I'm not saying this to be conceited, but usually when I call someone in pickleball they call me back," Pardoe told Yahoo Sports. "When they went radio silent for four days, I thought, 'Oh no, what's going on here?' "

What came next was an ambush worthy of Greek mythology or a Hollywood blockbuster. The two competing organizations had been operating under an agreement where players could compete in both leagues. Out of nowhere, Major League Pickleball owner Steve Kuhn blindsided the PPA by offering dozens of the sport's top players multi-year exclusivity contracts that guaranteed extra money and perks in exchange for them playing nothing but MLP events.

Pardoe discovered the plot only eight days ago on the eve of a PPA tournament in Kansas City. Multiple players told him that the money MLP had offered was life changing and that they had only a day to decide whether to accept.

"I ran straight to the airport, no bag, no cell phone charger, no toothbrush, no clothes," Pardoe said. "I flew to Kansas City and I tried to save my business."

Players who were in Kansas City last Thursday and Friday describe a surreal scene in the player's lounge. The sport's biggest stars spent their downtime between matches confiding with their agents in quiet corners of the room, their phones pressed to their ears and their voices hushed.

Pardoe spoke to as many elite players as he could on his way to Kansas City. Then he and his executives redoubled their efforts once he got there. They pleaded with players not to sign with MLP without giving the PPA the chance to match or surpass the contract offers.

"I had one of the PPA guys come up to me five times saying, 'Hey let's get a deal done, let's get a deal done,' " veteran pickleball pro Kyle Yates told Yahoo Sports. "I'm like, hold on! I need something in writing. I need to send it to my agent. I need to make some calls. It was like we were almost getting bullied into it."

The result of the bidding war is newfound financial security for players who previously worked second jobs or taught at camps and clinics to support themselves. Industry sources say that a select few elite players signed deals worth as much as $1 million per year and even those ranked outside the top 20 received six-figure contracts. The proposed deals also guaranteed a defined offseason and stipends for medical insurance and travel expenses.

And yet it's fair to wonder if the gains made by the players are worth the chaos and upheaval in the sport.

As veteran player Tyler Loong put it, "All hell has broken loose."

Calling a ceasefire

Less than a decade ago, pickleball was known as the last athletic refuge for graying retirees. Now the pingpong-tennis hybrid is America's fastest-growing participation sport, with nearly nine million players across the U.S. as of 2022.

As pickleball leaped out of obscurity and into the mainstream, there has been a rush to profit off the sport's surging popularity. Opportunistic investors have poured money into professional pickleball, wagering that they can turn America's growing obsession with playing the sport into enthusiasm for watching it.

Pardoe founded the PPA in late 2018 and quickly built it into the sport's dominant tour by aggressively pursuing the brightest stars in the pickleball galaxy. He signed world No. 1s Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters and other elite players to contracts that paid extra money in return for not playing events put on by rival tours.

"That was the most important thing we've ever done," Pardoe told Yahoo Sports in January. "TV partners, venues and sponsors wanted to know that the best players were going to be at our events every week. Once we could tell them, 'hey, we have 16 of the top 20 men under contract' or 'we have 16 out of the top 20 women under contract,' it became a lot easier to put those deals together."

At the same time that Pardoe was building the PPA in the image of professional tennis tours, Kuhn sought to bring the fist-pumping, chest-bumping camaraderie of team competition to pickleball. In 2021, the Texas billionaire's inaugural four-day MLP team event was an instant hit among players and generated unprecedented mainstream media buzz.

The PPA's relationship with MLP remained cordial until Dallas businessman Tom Dundon acquired a majority stake from the Pardoe family. Under Dundon's leadership, the PPA offered Johns, Leigh Waters and other top pros contracts that not only prevented them from competing in rival tours but MLP events as well.

Kuhn approached Dundon in hopes of negotiating a compromise, but the two billionaires initially butted heads and failed to find common ground. As Pardoe put it in January, "I tried to put both of them in a room. It just didn't really work out."

While discussions regarding a potential partnership with the PPA continued behind the scenes, MLP executives left that meeting knowing they would need to compete to secure elite players. MLP increased its prize money to $1 million across three 2022 events and began recruiting the likes of Drew Brees, Tom Brady and LeBron James as celebrity team owners who could help drive awareness of the league.

In response, Dundon landed a flurry of uppercuts of his own. In late October, the PPA announced that it was forming the VIBE Pickleball League, a direct competitor to MLP with a virtually identical team format. Days later, two of MLP's top players revealed they were defecting to VIBE. Then VIBE confirmed that Mark Cuban, one of Dundon's good friends, was its first team owner.

It was full-blown war. Then, out of nowhere, both sides declared a ceasefire.

Last November, Dundon and MLP board member Zubin Mehta held a summit and hammered out the framework of a deal. The PPA and MLP would work together to draft contracts, promote each other's events and snatch up all the top pros. Elite players would play singles and doubles on the PPA tour. Those who won enough earned the chance to be drafted onto an MLP team and to compete for extra prize money.

For a few short months, professional pickleball had a clear direction. And then Kuhn made his move.

Making of a coup

The man who can best explain why the MLP ended the partnership with the PPA without warning isn't ready to provide those answers. Kuhn, through an MLP spokesperson, declined comment to Yahoo Sports.

In its announcement that it had begun signing top players to guaranteed contracts last Thursday, MLP made no mention of breaking any agreement with the PPA. MLP painted its contract offers as a response to player feedback "about what they need to earn a professional living and continue pushing the sport forward."

"The players spoke, and we listened," the announcement said.

Player salary was an area of disagreement between MLP and PPA, Kuhn said in his only public comments since the partnership disintegrated. He told CNBC last Friday that MLP had previously "asked the PPA to join us in paying players more and their reaction was that we pay the players too much."

Others across the industry wonder if MLP and PPA leaders also had clashing visions for the future of professional pickleball. Kuhn favors rally scoring and a team sport model in which players compete for a team championship. Pardoe argues that pickleball as a team sport works only as a complement to a strong tour model like golf and tennis have.

Whatever the explanation for MLP's breakup with PPA, Pardoe suspects the plan "had to be in the works for quite some time." Without his knowledge, MLP laid the groundwork for a coup that targeted some of the sport's top players.

The stable of players represented by sports agency Topnotch Management was a logical place to start for MLP because that meant nabbing star Tyson McGuffin and several other highly ranked talents. Those signings were the first that MLP announced, suggesting that Topnotch might have received the proposed offers ahead of time, shown them to their clients and sent word to Kuhn that they would accept.

Among the other players who followed suit were some who previously felt devalued by the PPA's penchant for taking care of its top stars but neglecting its middle tier. For example, Yates had to pay a $300 registration fee anytime he entered a PPA tournament this season. He said that the PPA didn't bother to return his calls when he sought a 2023 contract.

"So when they tried to negotiate with me in Kansas City, it was like, 'hold up, now you want me?'" Yates said. "'I haven't heard from you in a year and a half.'

"I had a better relationship with Steve Kuhn and I trusted him more. That at the end of the day was the final decision for me."

It was the opposite for some of the players who were under contract with the PPA this season. Ben and Collin Johns, Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau all chose the PPA over the MLP. So did Loong, who said his decision was pretty straightforward because of his loyalty to Pardoe and his preference for the PPA tour's format.

"If MLP offered me millions of dollars, it would have been hard to say no to that," Loong said, "but as long as they were similar, I wanted to stay with the PPA. I've been with them for over three years. They've been really good to me."

In the end, it's tough to declare a clear-cut winner in the latest pickleball arms race. MLP caught the PPA flat-footed and pried away the likes of McGuffin and Riley Newman, but it didn't come close to delivering a knockout blow. The PPA still has the two No. 1 players in the sport, other longtime PPA standouts and some newcomers from the tennis world in Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Donald Young.

Of course, for both leagues, self preservation came at a price. It's unclear how the MLP intends to pay for its flurry of new signings that's now exceeded 70 players. Pardoe said the PPA will cover its spending spree by dipping into the revenue from some of the other pickleball-themed companies that Dundon owns.

The lingering question in the wake of the bidding war is what professional pickleball will look like when the dust settles. Will the PPA follow through on its threat to relaunch VIBE as a direct team-oriented competitor to MLP? Does MLP intend to organize some sort of traditional tour? Can either MLP or PPA emerge as the sport's lone dominant entity?

Pardoe's only prediction is that professional pickleball isn't done growing. Besides that, he doesn't rule out anything - not even setting aside the raw emotions of the past two weeks and revisiting another partnership with MLP.

"I'd do the same deal we had again," Pardoe said. "Tom and I both would.

"We gave clarity to TV networks. We gave clarity to sponsors. We were able to put the Wild Wild West to bed. We had a tour where the best players played. We had a league that had six events a year where teams played and it was fun. If I could bring that back, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd be more than willing to sit down and try to figure it out."

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Inside professional pickleball's civil war: 'All hell has broken loose'

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A spending war between billionaires battling for control of professional pickleball has thrown the sport's future into chaos.

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Telford Pickleball purchases 3 courts from Pickleball United after the English Open and installs them inside a warehouse. The first of its kind in the UK

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Telford Pickleball purchases 3 courts from Pickleball United after the English Open and installs them inside a warehouse. The first of its kind in the UK

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https://telfordpickleball.com/pages/news/newsitem.aspx

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If you head to the mall, you might expect to find the usual suspects: Macy's, Foot Locker, Claire's, Bath & Body Works, and maybe Sbarro for lunch. What you might not expect? Indoor pickleball courts.

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If you head to the mall, you might expect to find the usual suspects: Macy's, Foot Locker, Claire's, Bath & Body Works, and maybe Sbarro for lunch. What you might not expect? Indoor pickleball courts.

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If you head to the mall, you might expect to find the usual suspects: Macy's, Foot Locker, Claire's, Bath & Body Works, and maybe Sbarro for lunch. What you might not expect? Indoor pickleball courts.

Pickleball is the fastest growing - and perhaps the noisiest - sport in the country. As the sport grows, so does demand for places to play. Indoor pickleball courts are popping up all over the country.

But these aren't your standard, parks and recreation-managed, courts. They're privately-owned and generating lots of foot traffic, while also solving some of the sport's problems.

From casual players to business owners

Denise and Will Richards of Maryland opened their first indoor pickleball court last November, and the demand has been insatiable. They've gone on to open two more for a total of three courts in less than a year. And now two more are on the way.

Not that they had been planning to get into the pickleball business, really. Denise worked in sales, and Will managed Domino's franchises.

They started playing pickleball a few years ago, and loved the sport so much they wanted to keep playing once it got cold outside. On a winter trip to Pennsylvania, friends suggested they try out some nearby indoor courts.

It turned out indoor was a loose term - the courts were inside of a poorly-insulated barn and freezing cold. The only heat came from a small heater on the wall, and the only bathrooms were porta potties out front. It was below freezing inside the building, Will Richards said.

"It wasn't the best experience, but when you're truly addicted to pickleball, you will play anywhere," Will Richards said.

The couple knew they could create something better, so they took a risk and started their own indoor pickleball court business and called it Dill Dinkers, a name suggested by their daughter. The name plays off the name of the game and a type of shot in the sport called a dink.

"There's no handbook on how to run a pickleball place. It's pretty much like the wild, wild west right now where people are trying to figure it out," Denise Richards said.

In their first week, they did a soft opening and offered free admission so they could iron out any kinks. They were full every day. Now they offer per session prices as well as memberships, which start at $33 per month at their North Bethesda location.

Pickleball moves into the shopping mall

The Richards have made use of existing buildings, like a former trampoline park and a warehouse, to build their indoor courts. There are strict requirements for the buildings they consider, Will said. Building support columns need to be wide enough apart to fit a full-sized pickleball court, and each location needs ample parking. Zoning requirements can also pose challenges for the business, turning the location search into a big ordeal.

There was one location, however, they didn't have to seek out. The Dill Dinkers at Manassas Mall in Virginia is slated to open in early 2024. That time, it was the mall owner who reached out to the couple.

Carmen Spinoso, the CEO of Spinoso Real Estate Group, thought it would be a "really cool use" and "a great addition" to one of his malls.

"We started looking at multiple pickleball operators," he said.

The addition of pickleball courts in malls is one way malls are keeping customers coming back, Spinoso said. He's been in the mall business for over 30 years. Every few years, people declare the end of the shopping mall, he said. He doesn't see malls going anywhere, just adapting to what customers want.

Since the pandemic, many shoppers have prioritized experiences over things like new tech products or home goods, said James Cook, Director of Real Estate Research at JLL, a real estate company. He's been tracking the growth of entertainment and recreational spaces in malls - places like selfie museums or "eatertainment" venues like Dave & Buster's. Over the last few months, indoor pickleball courts have exploded in the retail scene, he said.

"It's like every day, there's a new pickleball concept that's looking to expand, so much so that I feel like I could write a whole separate pickleball report," Cook said.

The noise problem... and then there's those pesky tennis players

At the mall in Manassas, other mall tenants were excited to hear about the incoming pickleball courts, Spinoso said.

"The tenants at the mall realize they're going to benefit from all the people that are coming to the mall to play pickleball and then can come into the restaurants before, or after or shop in the stores," he said.

Shopping malls have a lot to gain from indoor pickleball courts, like increased foot traffic. But the indoor courts also benefit the game itself. For starters, pickleball has a noise problem.

"For whatever reason, people are really annoyed by the sound of pickleball. So having that in an enclosed shopping center that's not immediately next to residential, that makes a lot of sense too," Cook said.

LeBron James and Tom Brady are getting into pickleball

As if the noise wasn't enough, pickleball players have to confront another problem - angry tennis players. Lots of public pickleball courts are in tennis courts, leaving players to duke it out over shared playing space. Riley Newman is a professional pickleball player who played tennis in college, and he said more indoor courts might ease tension between players.

"(More indoor courts) would help some of that divide where pickleball players ... can go to designated pickleball facilities instead of taking over tennis courts, which I know ruffles some feathers," Newman said.

Newman plays for the D.C. Pickleball Team. The D.C. team is part of Major League Pickleball, the sport's professional league. The league is growing rapidly, even attracting celebrity owners like LeBron James and Tom Brady. Adam Behnke, the chief operating officer for the D.C. team, has big dreams for the league, including a different kind of indoor court.

"I just daydream about this sometimes, imagine like you would go to any professional indoor sports arena, whether it's basketball or hockey or whatever it may be, and then you have a pickleball indoor arena," Behnke said.

As for the Richards, they have plans to expand Dill Dinkers nationally by opening franchises in other states. Even as their business grows, however, their favorite part is seeing the sport's impact on the community. Denise is the facility manager at the Dill Dinkers location in Columbia, Maryland, and she's had customers confide in her about fighting cancer, recovering from traumatic injuries and grieving spouses.

"So many people come up and say 'This has changed my life,' ... Pickleball is bringing them joy, and it's just day after day," she said.

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Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country, is moving indoors

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Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. Indoor courts are popping up all over, from former warehouses, to empty stores and even shopping malls.

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Pickleball courts filling vacant malls as craze spreads across the country (USA)

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Pickleball courts filling vacant malls as craze spreads across the country (USA)

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Pickleball courts filling vacant malls as craze spreads across the country | Fox News Video

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FOX Business’ Madison Alworth shares how pickleball courts are filling up empty shopping malls at the largest indoor court in the northeast.

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Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport. Why is it so addictive — and divisive?

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Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport. Why is it so addictive — and divisive?

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Hey America: " Pickle!"

Pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in the nation for the fifth consecutive year in a row, with 48.3 million U.S. adults (19% of the adult population) having played at least one game in the last 12 months, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals.

That's welcome news for " picklers," or self-proclaimed addicts. But many others? Not so much. Over the last few years, in response to courts popping up everywhere and bringing the noisy "ticktock cacophony" that comes with the game, communities around the country have been fighting, sometimes through ugly legal battles, to restrict pickleball play. Some simply find the game off-putting, saying it can feel like a "cult," while others are finding it's not as risk-free as originally believed, as game-related injuries are on target to cost Americans upwards of $500 million in medical costs next year.

Say what you want about pickleball, though: It does not lack drama. Here's all you need to know about the sport.

What is pickleball?

Invented in 1965 by three dads - Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum - as a way to entertain their kids during summer vacation, the cross-genre sport combines tennis, badminton and ping pong, and can be played in singles or doubles.

It's also relatively inexpensive and simple to start - a paddle, balls and a pickleball-sized net can be had for well under $200 in total - and tennis and basketball courts are often converted for pickleball use, making it easily accessible.

How pickleball became a phenomenon

By the 1990s, pickleball was played regularly in schools and retirement communities, given that it's easy to play and enjoyed by people of all ages, from kids to seniors. Its popularity really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people were in need of safe, socially distanced, outdoor exercises.

The number of pickleballers increased from 4 million to almost 5 million (a rise of 14.8%) between 2021 and 2022, per the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the premier trade association for the sporting goods and fitness industry. That demand led cities to convert community tennis and basketball courts (at YMCAs, parks, schools, community clubs and residential neighborhoods) to part-time, sometimes full-time pickleball venues. By the end of 2022, there were over 44,000 pickleball venues in America.

Why some say it's addictive

Erin McHugh, pickler and author of the guidebook Pickleball Is Life, credits the addictive factor - and what outsiders may perceive to be "cultlike" - to the game being easy to learn and fun to play, thus inspiring those who love it to want others turned on to it, too.

"It tends to be a kind and inclusive sport," McHugh tells Yahoo News, "so there are plenty of missionaries who want to spread the word, who want everyone to experience the joy that they do."

Further, adds Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Professional Pickleball Association Tour, no other sport has been able to bring people of so many ages, backgrounds and cultures together in such a short time frame.

"I've seen it again and again at our tournaments over the years, both on the professional and amateur sides," he tells Yahoo News. "The low barrier to entry and endless opportunity to improve allow for new players to get hooked fast and stick with it for a lifetime."

There's also a clear mental health boost that comes with playing the game, according to sports-psychology coach Bill Cole. He tells Yahoo News that pickleball "contributes to lower levels of stress and anxiety, and people can get a good workout that kicks in the endorphins," which is part of why players keep returning for more.

Why it's divisive

Folks across the country have been in an uproar over the noisiness - described by some as loud " popping " sounds that can be jolting - often taking the fights into courts of law.

Despite its being hawked as a friendly sport for beginners, some disgruntled players believe it's become overly cliquey; outsiders, meanwhile, can be turned off by its extreme marketing, the silly name, the belief that it's "not a sport" ("Any game that you can take up after breakfast and be pretty good at by lunch is not a sport," gripes a recent Washington Post op-ed) or by the cult-like " proselytizers" pushing others to pick up a racquet too.

But Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, puts this feeling into perspective.

"The profoundly human drives - identity, connection time meaningfully spent - that land people in destructive socio-spiritual groups are not so different from the ones that might cause someone to get a little too into pickleball with their friends," she tells Yahoo News. "Of course, there are important differences between those types of affiliations," with the "psychological motivations" being largely the same.

Pardoe says the majority of pickleballers are community-driven, and that their passion for the sport can bring out the best and worst in anyone. "Each match, from beginners to pros, can be competitive," he says. "This leads to great passion for playing the sport, and the will to continue to improve."

Some residents have been upset that parks, basketball courts and other public spaces are being converted into pickleball courts without notice or community input; in one case, in New York City, parents of kids who used a public space to scooter, bike, run and play ball games went to war with pickleballers, who were eventually ordered to take their game elsewhere. The same fights have been breaking out in communities around the country, particularly when it comes to pickleball being played in basketball or tennis courts.

McHugh says it's par for the course, and more a problem of sharing. "It's primarily about real estate," she says of the recurring disputes. "You hear stories of communities that have, say, 24 tennis courts, and they refuse to give three over to pickleball players. Where's the sharing? In so many cases, it's not even about asking for funding, it's about ceding a little of the wealth of the available pace."

"Some groups want to shut us out completely because they think it takes over park space, or creates too much noise," she adds. "They will push for censure or closure of public space, rather than figuring out how to house more than one group or sport in different time slots. Isn't this what public space is all about?"

The main takeaway

Whatever side of the net you're on, pickleball is here to stay: There's even a push to make it an Olympic sport by 2030. While not everyone might understand the appeal, McHugh maintains it's a game with universal draw: "People love it," she says, "because everyone can play."

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Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport. Why is it so addictive - and divisive?

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Pickleballers are dominating public courts. Tennis players aren't happy. Here's what else you need to know.

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Andy Murray reveals new Scottish first at his 5-star Cromlix Hotel

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SIR ANDY Murray has opened Scotland's first pickleball court at his luxury five-star hotel after his mum Judy fell in love with the game

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SIR ANDY Murray has opened Scotland's first pickleball court at his luxury five-star hotel after his mum Judy fell in love with the game

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SIR ANDY Murray has opened Scotland's first pickleball court at his luxury five-star hotel after his mum Judy fell in love with the game

Judy is a huge fan of the sport after picking up on the craze on a trip to the US.

It is favoured by A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew Perry, the Kardashians and even Bill and Melinda Gates.

Judy has revealed the Cromlix hotel near Dunblane, Stirlingshire, is now home to Scotland's first dedicated pickleball court.

It is painted in green and purple and resembles the colour scheme made famous at Wimbledon.

The court will match the Cromlix tennis court which is decked out in the colours of SW19.

Pickleball combines tennis, badminton and table tennis and has gained a huge fanbase in America with over five million registered players.

It is believed there are more than 10,000 pickleball players in Scotland.

Judy, 63, tweeted: "Come and get pickled at Cromlix. First court in Scotland."

Fans welcomed the new development.

One said: "Hoping to try this out when I visit for afternoon tea."

Another added: "Very cool. Will have to visit."

Speaking ahead of the first Scottish pickleball national championship earlier this year, Judy said: "The sport has exploded in America.

"I can see the same thing happening here because it's so much more accessible than any other sport.

"As an older tennis player, I love the fact it's on a smaller court, and it's less frenetic.

"All the skills are easily adapted so it doesn't need endless coaching.

"People can pick it up really quickly, regardless of their age or ability.

"The fun of sport is competing and people can play a game straight away.

"I loved it from the get-go and I want more Scots to try it."

Cromlix opened its doors earlier this year after being closed for refurbishment for three months.

The double Wimbledon champion, 36, bought the 15-room venue near his home town of Dunblane for almost £2m in 2013.

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Andy Murray reveals new Scottish first at his 5-star Cromlix Hotel

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SIR ANDY Murray has opened Scotland's first pickleball court at his luxury five-star hotel after his mum Judy fell in love with the game Judy is a huge fan of the sport after picking up on th...

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Telford International Centre hosted the 2023 Skechers Pickleball English Open

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Telford International Centre hosted the 2023 Skechers Pickleball English Open

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Telford International Centre is set to cement its position as a leading host venue for large-scale sporting events when it opens its doors to the Pickleball English Open in August.
More than 1,000 competitors from over 25 countries are expected to compete across the four-day tournament, which has doubled in size since the 2022 edition. The event will see three of Telford International Centre's event halls transform into 40 pickleball courts, further utilising the venue's additional meeting and social spaces for competitors and visitors alike.

The 2023 English Open is set to be the largest pickleball event to take place outside of the USA, highlighting the significant uptake of the sport across the UK. Popular in the USA, pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis, played on a court roughly a quarter the size of a tennis court.

Participation in the UK has grown exponentially, with pickleballEngland aiming to attract 25,000 players by 2025. With ambitious plans to continue the sport's rapid growth, Telford International Centre was selected for its ability to scale, space-wise, as well as its convenient Midlands location, on-site hotels and on-the-doorstep restaurants and leisure.

Karen Mitchell, Chair & Co-Founding Director of pickleballEngland said: 'This year's event is by far our biggest yet and we can't wait to welcome everyone to experience it. With this English Open being so much bigger than last year's, we needed a venue that could help us grow both as an event and a sport. We see Telford International Centre as a perfect partner, for its facilities, destination and in our working together - and I hope it will be a catalyst to further increase participation in pickleball across the country.'

Alison Griffin, Managing Director at Telford International Centre, said: "Hosting the 2023 Pickleball English Open shows just how well-placed Telford is to host major sporting events, building upon our success with boxing, gymnastics and snooker competitions. We are excited for this forthcoming event; pickleball really is the new in-demand sport and we're sure this year's competition will play a key role in enabling pickleballEngland to achieve its objectives."

Hosting the English Open is the latest indicator of Telford International Centre's continued growth. Earlier this month, the venue reported record visitors and revenues in the period April 2022 to March 2023, with a contribution of around £110 million to the local economy through business tourism.

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Telford International Centre to host Pickleball English Open

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Telford International Centre is set to cement its position as a leading host venue for large-scale sporting events when it hosts to the Pickleball English Open

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ITV News at the 2023 Skechers Pickleball English Open

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ITV News at the 2023 Skechers Pickleball English Open

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Pickleball English Open 3 - 6 August 2023 | ITV News

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Pickleball English Open: What is it and why are thousands playing it in Telford? | ITV News

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Pickleball is considered one of the fastest growing sports in the United States Credit: ITV News Central

More than a thousand pickleball competitors from 25 countries are at the International Centre this weekend for the 2023 English Open.

The Telford International Centre has transformed three halls into 40 pickleball courts, and has opened the meeting areas and social venues for the players to relax between matches.

The English Open runs from August 3rd-6th, consisting of men's and women's singles, juniors and wheelchair competitions, as well as clinics being held to give spectators a chance to play with the professionals.
What is Pickleball?
Our reporter went along to the tournament preview, and explains what this relatively-new sport is.

A sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis

It can be played inside or outside on a badminton sized tennis court with a modified tennis net

Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes

Can be played as singles or doubles

What's the hype about Pickleball?
Pickleball is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.

It has celebrity fans including Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and "Friends" star Matthew Perry.

, who has just become a minority owner at Birmingham City, has also invested into a Major League Pickleball team - teaming up with former tennis world number 1, Kim Clijsters.

The breakthrough sport is aiming to reach 40 million pickleball players by 2030.

Fellow stars, including LeBron James, Drew Brees and James Blake also own pickleball teams.

The English Open in Telford is the biggest event outside of north America.

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Pickleball English Open: What is it and why are thousands playing it in Telford? | ITV News

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Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew Perry are among the relatively-new sport's growing fanbase. | ITV News Central

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Video 3-year-old boy is a pickleball star

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Axel has been playing the sport for fun with his family since he was born.

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Just a few years ago, pickleball was barely known to most people. Today, it’s America’s fastest growing sport.With courts popping up in cities and parks across the country, celebrities and pro athletes buying up pro teams, and more than 36 million people giving it a shot last year, it’s hard to escape the pickleball buzz.

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Just a few years ago, pickleball was barely known to most people. Today, it’s America’s fastest growing sport.With courts popping up in cities and parks across the country, celebrities and pro athletes buying up pro teams, and more than 36 million people giving it a shot last year, it’s hard to escape the pickleball buzz.

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$450 paddles and millions in prize money: has pickleball sold out?

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$450 paddles and millions in prize money: has pickleball sold out?

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$450 paddles and millions in prize money: has pickleball sold out?

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As a family sport becomes more elite and more commercial, its founder’s son mourns the loss of a game once ‘played for fun’

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CEO of Pickleball USA on success of the sport.

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CEO of Pickleball USA on success of the sport.

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CEO of Pickleball USA tells Julia Chatterley why it's America's fastest growing sport

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Welcome to the pickleball backlash: noise pollution, broken bones and a tennis turf war!

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Welcome to the pickleball backlash: noise pollution, broken bones and a tennis turf war!

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Name: The pickleball backlash.

Age: About a year old, give or take.

Appearance: A grassroots war against the forces of pickleball.

I don't even know what pickleball is. Pickleball was invented in Washington state in 1965 - a cross between tennis and ping pong, using a playing area the same size as a doubles badminton court.

Is it fun? It's the fastest growing sport in the US, with the number of players doubling between 2021 and 2022 to about 9 million, and forecast to reach 22 million this year.

It sounds as if everybody is crazy about pickleball. Not everybody. With the sport taking over parks and recreation centres across the US, a pickleball backlash is under way.

What is it that the spoilsports object to? Above all, the noise.

The cheering, you mean? Not likely. Pickleball remains, for the most part, a game that's a lot more fun to play than it is to watch. It's the noise of the ball.

The ball? Are you serious? When the rigid plastic paddle strikes the hard plastic ball, it produces a sharp popping sound. Multiply it by thousands of hits across thousands of brand new pickleball courts, all day and far into the night, and you end up with a lot of disgruntled local residents.

That sounds a bit petty to me. You haven't heard the sound. "It's like having a pistol range in your backyard," one Massachusetts resident told the New York Times.

It can't be that bad. One player who has set up a firm called Pickleball Sound Mitigation conceded that it "creates vibrations in a range that can be extremely annoying to humans", at a decibel level similar to some vacuum cleaners.

Oh. What can be done? Noise mitigation efforts have been proposed, but uptake is slow. Some of those affected have sought remedy in law, and won temporary injunctions.

Is it just about the noise? No, there have also been clashes - even fights - with tennis players.

Why? Are they purists? Pickleball courts installed to accommodate the craze often take up space once occupied by tennis courts.

I can see that's annoying. Where that hasn't happened, pickleball addicts sometimes chalk their court measurements on to tennis courts.

This pickleball is beginning to sound like a bit of a blight. As a popular activity for elderly people and the previously inactive, pickleball has also led to a lot of injuries. One report estimates it could cost Americans up to $500m in medical bills this year alone.

I take back blight. It sounds more like a curse. Let's hope pickleball never comes to Britain. Too late - it's already here, with an estimated 270 venues across the UK.

Do say: "Anything that keeps people active is worth a national epidemic of noise pollution and broken wrists."

Don't say: "Don't worry, that's not pickleball - just a bunch of guns going off next door."

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Welcome to the pickleball backlash: noise pollution, broken bones and a tennis turf war

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It is the fastest growing sport in the US and has become popular in the UK, too. But critics say it is loud, dangerous and encroaches on much-loved tennis courts

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Pickleball is all the rage. Each day, more and more individuals, across all age groups are heading to the pickleball courts. With over 4.8 million participants nationwide in 2022, and 39.3% growth over the last two years, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in America for two years in a row according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).

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Pickleball is all the rage. Each day, more and more individuals, across all age groups are heading to the pickleball courts. With over 4.8 million participants nationwide in 2022, and 39.3% growth over the last two years, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in America for two years in a row according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). The Prichard family could never have imagined this. Pickleball had an accidental start in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington in the Pacific Northwest, when Joel Prichard and two of his friends returned from golf, only to find their family sitting around bored. Unsuccessful at attempting to set up a badminton game, Pritchard challenged the kids to improvise and come up with their own game. They lowered the badminton court net and began experimenting with different types of balls and rackets. A new sport was born! Pickleball is now played with a paddle and large plastic wiffle-ball on a badminton-sized court (mini tennis court) with a slightly modified tennis net. It combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and can be played as doubles (more common) or singles. It is fast-moving and fun!

So why has pickleball suddenly become so popular? After a slow period of growth, it suddenly exploded in recent years. Racquet sports have become somewhat more popular, but tennis can be challenging and frustrating for a beginner. Pickleball has a much shorter learning curve, and almost anyone can be playing, and enjoying the game, on day one. Initially, it was mostly seniors and mature athletes, but younger and younger individuals have taken a bite of the pickle. According to SFIA, growth from 2020 to 2021 was the fastest among players under 24 years of age (21%). Both men and women are taking it up in droves. Pickleball has also been shown to be a wonderful workout. Recent scientific research has placed pickleball in the moderate intensity level exercise category, confirming numerous fitness-related health benefits. Pickleball will also improve balance and hand-eye coordination. It is also extremely social, another important factor in healthy aging and improved longevity. The pandemic also helped fuel the growth of this relatively new sport. Unlike many team sports and gym workouts, racquet sports allowed for "social distancing" and were considered safe not only outdoors, but indoors as well.

As with all sports, there are pluses and minuses in terms of your health. Pickleball clearly has activated a large segment of the population which is wonderful. This will lead to improved health and longevity. Racquet sports (especially tennis) have been shown, according to two recent large scientific studies, to be the best overall activity and/or sport in terms of improved longevity. The reasons are many- improved fitness, strength, agility, and even fall prevention. Also, the social element, which has been shown to be a critical part of healthy aging. The downside is a significant increase in injuries. In my orthopedic office, I am seeing more and more pickleball players every week. My specialty is knee disorders, but there is a wide range of injuries that can occur. I also believe that many of those are preventable. Common orthopedic injuries include strains and sprains (especially ankle), contusions, knee injuries including meniscus tears and ACL tears, shoulder tendinitis and rotator cuff problems, elbow tendinitis, muscle pulls (especially calf), and even fractures from falls. Wrist fractures are far more common in females, most likely related to weakened bones from osteopenia and osteoporosis, which is more prevalent in adult women. Serious eye injuries can also occur.

Certainly, the benefits of pickleball far outweigh the risks, which can be easily mitigated with some simple preventive measures. Here are my recommendations to stay out of the sports medicine office, and on the pickle courts:

Warmup and stretch: Even before you step onto the court, you should warm up (jumping jacks or run in-place) for a few minutes to break a sweat. This greatly reduces the risk of muscle or tendon injuries. Next do both passive and active stretching of key muscle groups including shoulder, forearm/elbow, lower back, hamstrings, and calves. This is especially true for older athletes and anyone who has had prior injuries. Once on the court, do some light hitting for a few minutes before starting the game.

Overall fitness: Fitness protects against injuries and improves athletic performance. Never rely on your sport for overall fitness. Your weekly workouts should include equal amounts of cardiovascular/aerobic training, strength training (including core), and stretching/flexibility. Balance exercises such as yoga tree pose (or even take up yoga) help with agility and fall prevention.

Proper footwear: Wear sneakers specific for racquet sports. Running shoes are not appropriate as they do not have enough side-to-side stability and ankle sprains or falls will happen. Go to a local tennis shop for proper footwear and sizing. Also, unlike tennis, pickleball can be played if it is raining lightly or if the court is wet, something I do not recommend because of the higher risk of slipping and falling. Also, sometimes pickleball is played on a paddle tennis court, which has a gritty surface, and it is much easier to twist your knee.

Eyewear: Consider wearing protective goggles. Rallies and volleys in Pickleball can be close-up and fast. Although serious eye injuries are more common in tennis than in pickleball, they can occur and are sometimes catastrophic. This is especially true in beginners or individuals who have not yet developed great hand-eye coordination. I strongly recommend protective eyewear.

Get checked: For any individuals with medical conditions, check with your primary care physician to be cleared medically to participate in any new sport or fitness activity. This will significantly lower your risk of a medical issue that sends you to an emergency room.

I believe pickleball is here to stay. There are now professional leagues and tournaments, and even LeBron James has invested in a new Major League Pickleball team. Regarding my patients who sustained pickleball-related injuries, all were very anxious to get back to the new sport they love, and that is a very good thing. If you are looking for a new fun activity with plenty of health benefits and social interaction, give pickleball a try! Learn more at www.usapickleball.org

Nicholas DiNubile, MD is an orthopedic surgeon with Premier Orthopedics, specializing in sports medicine and knee disorders in Havertown, PA. He is a best-selling author of the FrameWork series of health and wellness books, served on the President's Counsel on Physical Fitness and Sports, and has advised two U.S. Presidents in matters of health policy. He is an avid tennis player and is certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).
With over 35 locations in the Greater Philadelphia region, Premier Orthopaedics provides the full spectrum of orthopaedic services - including bone, muscle and joint care; physical therapy, MRI and urgent care. Patients trust our specialists for their experience, expertise and commitment to exceptional care. APPOINTMENTS IN 24 HOURS #1-855-ORTHO24
https://premierortho.com/
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Pickleball is all the rage. Each day, more and more individuals, across all age groups are heading to the pickleball courts. With over 4.8 million participants nationwide in 2022, and 39.3% growth over the last two years, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in America for two years in a row according to The Sports [...]

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Pickleball pandemonium - won't someone think of the retirees??

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Pickleball pandemonium - won't someone think of the retirees??

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Photo - The Villages Florida
For too long Wall Street has remained silent about a threat stalking America's seniors.

Now a team of brave UBS analysts is finally calling out this scourge of the sporting world, in a note titled: "Is Pickleball Driving Higher Health Care Utilisation"?

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PickleballENGLAND - Momentum is Building-Seizing the opportunity by Karen Mitchell 2/2

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PickleballENGLAND - Momentum is Building-Seizing the opportunity by Karen Mitchell 2/2

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PickleballENGLAND - Momentum is Building-Seizing the opportunity by Karen Mitchell 1/2

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PickleballENGLAND - Momentum is Building-Seizing the opportunity by Karen Mitchell 1/2

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Data: Trust for Public Land; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios

There's been a sixfold increase in the number of public pickleball courts in the 100 biggest U.S. cities since 2017 - from 420 to 2,788 - but municipal leaders say they still can't come close to meeting demand from pickleheads.

Driving the news: With pickleball becoming a way of life, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a pro-parks nonprofit, ranked U.S. cities by pickleball courts per capita.

A number of local park systems, including those in Seattle, Auburn and Bellevue, offer pickleball classes for novices who'd like to get in on the fun.

Why it matters: America's fastest-growing sport is a boon for players who are aging out of tennis - and others who dig its vibe - but it draws complaints from tennis players who've been kicked off their turf, Axios' Jennifer A. Kingson and Alice Feng report.

What they're saying: "The cities that have really good park systems tend to be the ones that have a lot of pickleball courts," says Will Klein, associate director of parks research at TPL. Seattle ranked eight h among TPL's list of the nation's best city park systems.

By the numbers: Carl Schmits of USA Pickleball, the sport's governing body, tells Axios there's a critical shortage of pickleball courts given the 9 million pickleball players in the United States.

What's next: Padel, a racket sport from Mexico with a different court configuration from tennis and pickleball, is now on the rise in the United States.

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Seattle is No. 1, probably because the sport was invented on Bainbridge Island.

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Bloomberg Video Report on Pickleball 1st June 2023. 24 Minutes

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Bloomberg Video Report on Pickleball 1st June 2023. 24 Minutes

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Your Comprehensive Guide to Pickleball. Learn the basics, plus exercises and drills to boost your game.

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Your Comprehensive Guide to Pickleball. Learn the basics, plus exercises and drills to boost your game.

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ICYMI, pickleball is the hottest new sport on the block. But, it's actually not that new. The sport that combines the best elements of ping pong, tennis, and badminton has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. Whether you're a veteran tennis player looking for a lower-impact option, or a fun-seeking, social athlete looking for a new activity, this comprehensive guide to pickleball will provide you with all the info you need to get started. From the basic rules and equipment to health benefits, drills, and exercises, we'll delve into every aspect of this fast-paced sport.

What Is Pickleball?

According to USA Pickleball, the game originated in Washington state in the 1960s, when three individuals-Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum-were trying to find a way to entertain their families during a summer vacation with a game that everyone could play. There was a badminton court, but the men couldn't find a full set of badminton equipment, so they played using ping pong paddles. Over time, they developed rules and regulations, and the game of pickleball was developed. "It involves a combination of various sports including tennis, badminton, and table tennis," explains Anthony Rodriguez, PPR Certified Pro, head coach at CityPickle in New York, NY.

Today, pickleball continues to gain recognition. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association's 2023 topline participation report found that pickleball continues to be the fastest-growing sport in the world for the third year in a row. "Pickleball is so popular because it's fun, social, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities," says Lydia Hirt, USA Pickleball Ambassador, chief marketing officer for CityPickle in New York, NY. "It's easy to get started playing and hard to stop!"

Pickleball Equipment and Gear

While you don't need a lot of equipment for pickleball, a racquet and ball are required. Depending on whether you're playing indoors or outdoors, the size of the holes in the ball will vary (larger for indoors, smaller for outdoors). Racquets drastically range in price. If you're a beginner or new to the sport, you can get a racquet for anywhere from $25 dollars and up, like the Champion Sports RhinoPickleball Edge Paddle. More advanced players who want a racquet made with carbon fiber can expect to pay anywhere from $100 plus, like The Franklin Carbon STX Pickleball Paddle.

When it comes to footwear, beginners can wear any pair of sneakers they have, especially tennis shoes. However, pickleball-specific shoes that are lightweight with good grip and a sturdy sole are designed to accommodate quick and lateral movements on the court, explains Catherine Parenteau, professional pickleball player. " That's why I love wearing the Skechers Viper Court Pro pickleball shoes," she says. "They're some of the most comfortable, roomy, lightweight, and stable shoes I've worn on the court."

Pickleball Rules

If you've never played pickleball before, you'll need to know the rules. Parenteau breaks down how to play and score the game.

Rules of the Serve

The first rules to remember when it comes to the serve are that you must be standing behind the baseline, the serve must be underhanded, and you must make contact at or below your waist-the waist in pickleball is considered your belly button, explains Parenteau. You also must serve into the box diagonally across from you and you must have the ball pass the kitchen line otherwise it's a "fault." The serve also has to bounce before the opposing player can return that ball.

Rules of the Return

The return can land anywhere on the opposite side of the court, so long as it's within the boundaries of the court, or on the lines (on the line is in), explains Parenteau. "It must also bounce before the serving team can hit the third shot of the point-this concept is called the 'double bounce rule,'" she says. After the first return, the only rule that applies is the "kitchen line rules," which says you must be behind the kitchen line if you hit the ball without letting it bounce. If the ball bounces, it is OK to hit it while your feet are in the kitchen.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to scoring is that you can only win a point when you're serving, explains Parenteau. When you announce the score, you say three different numbers out loud. The first number is the score of the team serving, the second is the score of the receiving team, and the third lets you know whether it's the first server on your team or the second (so one or two). Most games in pickleball are played to 11 points, and you have to win by two.

The Benefits of Pickleball

Besides the game of pickleball being fun, it actually has a lot of health benefits, too.

Supports Cardiovascular Health

The fast-paced, high-intensity nature of the game naturally makes pickleball an aerobic workout. The sport involves running, jumping, swinging, and sprinting. "This can help improve endurance as well as heart health," explains Rodriguez. A study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity found that older adults who played pickleball for eight weeks saw improvements in their cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and agility. You'll boost your aerobic capacity, too.

Improves Agility and Balance

During the game of pickleball, you'll be forced to make a lot of forward, backward, and lateral movements, as well as changes in direction to get to the ball. "The lateral movements and quick direction changes over time will help improve your agility, balance, and overall body control," says Rodriguez.

Helps with Muscle Toning

If you play pickleball regularly, you can expect to see improvements in muscle tone. Research from Utah State University found that six weeks of pickleball play could elicit muscle gains. "Think the legs, core, and upper body," explains Rodriguez.

Promotes Social Interaction

In addition to the physical benefits of the game of pickleball, there are also lots of benefits from the social side of the sport. Pickleball is often played in teams (AKA doubles), which promotes social interactions as well as friendship. "The social aspect and meeting new people is valuable and provides feelings of community and connection," says Hirt.

"Pickleball is known to be an inclusive and accessible sport that people of all ages can play," says Parenteau. "I think anyone can benefit from participating in a sport that is social and encourages you to move your body."

The Best Pickleball Exercises

Some of the best exercises for pickleball involve the lower body and core. "So much of pickleball is about staying low in a squatted down or lunged position, but it's also about being able to get out of those positions quickly and controlled," explains Matthew Manasse, celebrity pickleball coach and chief ambassador of Crush Yard Pickleball Club in Mount Pleasant, SC. "This requires training for strength, flexibility, and explosiveness by doing exercises like side lunges, forward and backward lunges, squats, and cleans. Different lateral movements with elastic bands as resistance are helpful, too."

What's another main muscle group worked during pickleball? Your core. "The core is a big part of every movement on the court," explains Manasse. "Therefore, training the core, whether it's doing med ball throws that engage the trunk or planks, is important to improve overall strength, balance, and flexibility on the court."

Plyometrics or jumping exercises are beneficial and translate well to the court, too. "Incorporating jumping exercises like box jumps or jump squats can improve explosive power, agility, and coordination, which are valuable in pickleball," says Rodriguez.

There should be plenty of work done in the gym to make sure you're body is ready once you step foot on the court. Here are some exercises Manasse recommends adding to your fitness routine:

The Best Pickleball Drills and Games

If you're looking to improve your pickleball game or get in some practice with friends, try your hand at some drills and court games. Here are a couple of favorites.

King/Queen of the Court: Players rotate positions on the court after each rally, with the winner staying on and the loser moving to the end of the line. "This drill allows beginners to practice their shots against different opponents and improves overall court awareness," explains Rodriguez.

Dinking Duel: Players stand at the non-volley zone and practice hitting soft, controlled shots or dinks, back and forth without letting the ball bounce. "This drill focuses on touch and placement," says Rodriguez.

Third Shot Drop Challenge: Players take turns hitting the third shot (after the return of serve) as a drop shot, aiming to land the ball close to the net while preventing it from bouncing twice. "This drill helps develop touch and accuracy for strategic shots," says Rodriguez.

Lob and Smash: One player hits high lobs while the other practices their overhead smash shots. "This drill improves defensive and offensive skills for shots near the net," says Rodriguez.

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ICYMI, pickleball is the hottest new sport on the block. But, it's actually not that new. The sport that combines the best elements of ping pong, tennis, and badminton has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years.

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Americans Cash In on a Pickleball ObsessionMajor League Pickleball looks to capture nationwide crazeNew courts are popping up from the suburbs to Central Park

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Americans Cash In on a Pickleball ObsessionMajor League Pickleball looks to capture nationwide crazeNew courts are popping up from the suburbs to Central Park

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Pickleball is loved by Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio - now Scotland will crown its first national champion

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Pickleball is loved by Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio - now Scotland will crown its first national champion

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Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this weekend, as 140 people look to become the nation's first champion.

There are 10,000 registered pickleball players across Scotland - withtennis coachJudy Murray, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio all reported to be among the fans of this increasingly popular sport.

"Pickleball is a buzzword, everyone's talking about pickleball," said championship director Anne Smillie, explaining how the sport evolved from its invention in the US back in the 1960s.

"Pickleball is a very popular sport in America, over 15 million people play in thousands of pickleball courts that are popping up all over America."

What is pickleball?
USA Pickleball, the sport's governing body, describes it as a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.

It's played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, and players use paddles and a plastic ball.

The tournament in Glasgow this weekend brings together participants from all over the world.

John Rankin, from Seattle, has come to play in the Masters event.

He outlined some of the rules - including underarm serves only, each team having to play their first shot off a bounce, and no volleying is allowed in the "kitchen".

"The kitchen area is like a seven-foot deep area either side of the net," he told Sky News.

"And if you're standing in it, you cannot hit the ball in the air."
Read more from Sky News:
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Man arrested at FA Cup final over offensive Hillsborough shirt
Pickleball has attracted fans of all ages and skill levels, and players of other similar sports.

"I tried it once and loved it and played ever since," said Lucy Elliot, who represented Scotland at table tennis in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year, a sport she has been playing since 2006.

Terry Smith is playing in a "hybrid" exhibition event with one seated and one standing player.

"I play tennis and I love my tennis, but the tennis court is a big area to get around in a wheelchair," he said.

The Scottish National Pickleball Championship is taking place at Allander Leisure Centre in Glasgow.

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Pickleball is loved by Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio - now Scotland will crown its first national champion

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Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this weekend, as 140 people look to become the nation's first champion. There are 10,000 registered pickleball players across Scotland - withtennis coachJudy Murray, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio all reported to be among the fans of this increasingly popular sport.

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Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this weekend, as 140 people look to become the nation's first champion. There are 10,000 registered pickleball players across Scotland - with tennis coach Judy Murray, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio all reported to be among the fans of this increasingly popular sport.

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Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this Scotland is holding its inaugural pickleball tournament this weekend, as 140 people look to become the nation's first champion. There are 10,000 registered pickleball players across Scotland - with tennis coach Judy Murray, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio all reported to be among the fans of this increasingly popular sport.

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Why is an increasingly popular sport with celebrities sweeping Scotland?

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there are now over 10,000 players in the UK.  This growth has been achieved by lots of volunteers collaborating to grow the sport.  Fingers crossed the sport will be recognised by Sport England and PickleballEngland will be approved as the NGB for England soon.

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there are now over 10,000 players in the UK.  This growth has been achieved by lots of volunteers collaborating to grow the sport.  Fingers crossed the sport will be recognised by Sport England and PickleballEngland will be approved as the NGB for England soon.

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How Exactly Do You Dress for Pickleball? A Guide to Shopping for the Sport - by Vogue

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How Exactly Do You Dress for Pickleball? A Guide to Shopping for the Sport - by Vogue

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Is pickleball the new tennis? If Moda Operandi has anything to say about it, the answer is yes. So much so that the e-commerce retailer is offering a pickleball paddle and pickleballs as a part of its new Club Moda summer capsule collection. And they're not the only ones who are leaning into the fashion side of the sport. In recent months, Norma Kamali started selling her own pickleball dress, while Alice + Olivia and Nike have also dipped their toes in pickleball merch. Pickleball has been declared America's fastest-growing sport, according to a 2022 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

But what does pickleball fashion look like? The idea of pickleball itself may be camp, and its fashion interpretation even more so. After all, it's a low-risk, low-impact sport that was previously mainly enjoyed by an older crowd before its recent spike in popularity. In dressing for pickleball, one could theoretically wear the same kind of outfit as one might for tennis, but getting a little bit more specific makes it all the more fun. Think the Yuppie aesthetic combined with '90s New England prepsters or a sporty Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Or, on the other hand: lots of color, as professional pickleball players like Anna Leigh Waters often gravitate towards neon pinks and electric greens.

For Moda Operandi's Club Moda summer collection, for example, the retailer partnered with 24 established and emerging designers-including Brandon Maxwell, Jil Sander, Rosie Assoulin, House of Aama, and The Frankie Shop-to design pieces 70 exclusive styles, such as little pleated skirts, striped wool crepe mini dresses and more, alongside the aforementioned pickleball set created in collaboration with the pickleball gear brand Recess. "One of my favorite summer destinations is Nantucket; for our capsule with Moda, we transformed some of our core pieces to embody the spirit of the nautical landscape," Maxwell says of the striped pieces he designed. "Pulling inspiration from the vibrant hues and motifs of sailboats and beach cabanas, we had fun playing with the traditional nautical stripe."

Moda Operandi's campaign for the collection features models Natalia Montero and Camilla Deterre, shot by photographer Blair Getz Mezibov at The I'On Club in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. In one photo, the model sits against the net-wearing all-black with a matching elastic headband, dark sunglasses, a chunky silver watch and high white socks. It's exactly the kind of slightly vintage-coded inspired pickleball outfit that feels so of the moment.

Lauren Santo Domingo herself, Moda Operandi's co-founder and Chief Brand Officer, is also planning to learn the sport this summer. "Thoreau famously said, 'Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.' Well I say...those are the best kind."

Shop your pickleball summer wardrobe below.

Paddles and More

You'll need a paddle and pickleballs to get started. And while you're at it, you might as well pick up a pickleball bag!

Pickleball Dresses

If you find yourself in a shopping pickle, opt for a tennis or golf dress.

Show Your Stripes

Lean into the prepster side of it all with striped dresses and oversized polos.

Pickleball Pleated Skirts

An everyday pleated tennis skirt is at the core of the pickleball wardrobe.

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How Exactly Do You Dress for Pickleball? A Guide to Shopping for the Sport

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Is pickleball the new tennis? If Moda Operandi has anything to say about it, the answer is yes. So much so that the e-commerce retailer is offering a pickleball paddle and pickleballs as a part of its new Club Moda summer capsule collection.

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Pickleball and paddle are challenging tennis's supremacy

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Pickleball and paddle are challenging tennis's supremacy

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It’s Tennis vs. Pickleball vs. Padel. Or Is It? Private clubs and public facilities are striving to be more things to more people as they try to defuse the tension between tennis and fast-growing racket sports like pickleball.

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It’s Tennis vs. Pickleball vs. Padel. Or Is It? Private clubs and public facilities are striving to be more things to more people as they try to defuse the tension between tennis and fast-growing racket sports like pickleball.

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It’s Tennis vs. Pickleball vs. Padel. Or Is It?

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Private clubs and public facilities are striving to be more things to more people as they try to defuse the tension between tennis and fast-growing racket sports like pickleball.

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ESPN and the Professional Pickleball Association Reach Agreement to Cover Eight Tournaments in 2023

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ESPN and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) today announced an agreement to broadcast eight PPA Tour tournaments this year beginning with the OS1st North Carolina Open this Sunday, May 7. 

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ESPN and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) today announced an agreement to broadcast eight PPA Tour tournaments this year beginning with the OS1st North Carolina Open this Sunday, May 7. 

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ESPN and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) today announced an agreement to broadcast eight PPA Tour tournaments this year beginning with the OS1st North Carolina Open this Sunday, May 7. The events will feature top pickleball athletes competing at renown venues across the country for the biggest payouts in the sport.

"As pickleball continues its meteoric rise, and as fans are increasingly excited about watching televised competitions, we're thrilled to serve up ESPN coverage of some of PPA's key 2023 tournaments, starting with this weekend's North Carolina Open," said Tim Bunnell, Senior Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN.

"Feeding the overwhelming demand for world-class pickleball content is an integral part of what we do and is something ESPN is helping us to accomplish," said Connor Pardoe, CEO of the PPA Tour. "Pickleball is a sport with global appeal, an insatiable fan base, and endless opportunity. Our broadcast partnership with ESPN is another resounding indicator of that."

Full details of the 2023 Carvana PPA Tour schedule are available at PPA Tour.

The PPA Tour will produce coverage of its events in association with ESPN.
PPA 2023 Tournaments (All times ET)

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ESPN and the Professional Pickleball Association Reach Agreement to Cover Eight Tournaments in 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ESPN and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association today announced an agreement to broadcast eight PPA Tour tournaments this year beginning with the OS1st North Carolina Open this Sunday, May 7. The events will feature top pickleball athletes competing at renown venues across the country for the biggest payouts in the sport.

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Pickleball England Brings Progress and Inclusivity To The World Of Pickleball

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Pickleball England Brings Progress and Inclusivity To The World Of Pickleball