Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 3 Costly Mistake to Avoid In The Transition Zone

• This Water Mistake Is Making You Slower on the Court

• From A Neurophysiologist: The Surprising Brain Benefit Of Pickleball

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Advanced Shoulder Stability

• Bay Area ER Doctor Sees About One Pickleball Injury A Week

• What Pickleball Teaches Us About Getting Things Done in Peachtree City

• From Ailing Tennis Pro To No. 1 Pickleball Player In The World

• Apple Original Films Buys Jake Johnson, Ben Stiller Pickleball Comedy ‘The Dink’

• 91-year-old 'Pickleball Patriarch' Competes In Baltimore County Tourney

• Humor: I’m Going To Take It Easy At Pickleball Today

• Coach Mary: The Rope Rule To Get To The Net

🥷SKILLS

3 Costly Mistakes To Avoid
In The Transition Zone

These common errors turn good shots into lost points—fix them, and you’ll start owning the mid-court instead of surviving it.

The transition zone: those tricky 14 feet between the baseline and the non-volley zone—is where many rallies come undone. It’s a vulnerable space: you’re too far back to pressure, too far forward to defend deep balls, and just close enough for your opponents to pounce on any mistake. Yet you can’t avoid it—you have to pass through it.

The problem? Most players try to do that in a hurry, and in the process, they make costly decisions that turn neutral rallies into giveaways.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing points in no-man’s-land without knowing why, these are the three transition mistakes likely hurting your game - and how to fix them.

Mistake #1:
Advancing Without Balance or Control You just hit a third shot drop and start moving forward. Good! But if you’re still stepping or off balance when the next ball comes, you’re not ready to hit - and that makes you an easy target.

💪 Health & Fitness Section
Weekly Advice To Keep You Fit & Injury Free

This Water Mistake Is Making
You Slower On The Court

The Water Mistake
You finish a killer rally, high-five your partner, and reach for your trusty insulated bottle. It’s ice cold, frosty on the outside, perfect. You tip it back and gulp it down.

But twenty minutes into the next game, something's off. Your legs feel sluggish during those quick lateral moves. Your gut's making noise. And those leg cramps that usually come later … they're creeping in early.

Here's what most picklers don't realize: that ice-cold water you're chugging between games might be the reason you're fading when others are still going strong.

The Hydration Myth That’s Tripping You Up

We’ve been conditioned to think cold = better. Cold showers, cold compresses, cold drinks on hot days. But when it comes to hydration, cold water throws a wrench in the works.

Your body has to warm it up to body temperature before it can actually use it. That means it sits in your stomach for 15-20 minutes while you're still sweating out minerals and losing fluids.

That delay matters. Especially when you're 60+ and trying to squeeze every ounce of energy from a body that doesn't bounce back like it used to.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Advanced Shoulder Stability

⚕️HEALTH NEWS

From A Neurophysiologist:
The Surprising Brain Benefit
of Pickleball

Pickleball isn’t just fun — it’s a full-on brain workout. Neurophysiologist Louisa Nicola says the sport boosts proprioception — your body’s awareness of where it is in space — a skill that naturally declines with age but is key for balance, reaction time, and coordination.

Add in the social connection that comes with playing, and you’ve got a double defense against cognitive decline. Turns out, every rally could be keeping both your mind and body sharp.

Read the full brain-boosting breakdown here…

👏 COMMUNITY NEWS

What Pickleball Teaches Us About
Getting Things Done In Peachtree City

When Peachtree City’s pickleball players were told “no” to new courts, they didn’t pack up their paddles—they doubled down. By showing up, staying visible, and keeping the conversation alive, the local club turned frustration into a unanimous City Council vote for 18 new courts.

Their persistence now serves as a blueprint for any group trying to turn an idea into reality. Read how they made it happen and how you can use the same playbook,
Click here…

⚕️HEALTH NEWS

Pro Bay Area Doctor Sees About
One Pickleball Injury A Week

Pickleball has become a passion for Dr. Michael Nguyen—both on the court and, unfortunately, in the ER. He sees about one pickleball injury a week, often from falls, slips, or improper shoes.

A recent NIH study shows injuries have skyrocketed 22-fold since 2013, with players 65–80 most affected. Still, Nguyen insists the solution isn’t staying home—it’s showing up prepared.

See what precautions he recommends so you can keep playing safely, click here…

🏓 PRO NEWS

From Ailing Tennis Pro to
Pro Pickleball Player

When knee pain ended Sofia Sewing’s tennis career, she took a leap into pickleball—and within weeks, won her first APP singles title. Less than two years later, she’s ranked No. 1 in the world.

Sewing credits hours of drilling, a reset in mindset, and the sport’s welcoming community for making the switch not only possible but life-changing.

Read her full story and what advice she gives to players chasing their own
breakthrough, click here…

 💼 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Apple Original Films Buys
Jake Johnson/Ben Stiller
Pickleball Comedy ‘The Dink’

Apple Original Films just picked up the pickleball comedy called The Dink—starring Jake Johnson as a washed-up tennis pro forced to turn to pickleball, with Ben Stiller producing (and appearing alongside him).

The cast includes comedy heavyweights plus tennis legends Andy Roddick and John McEnroe, making this one of the sport’s biggest pop culture moments yet.
Catch the full details on the film and its star-studded lineup, click here…

👏 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

91-Year-Old ‘Pickleball Patriarch’
Competes In Baltimore County Tourney

At 91 years old, Darrell Edwards has earned the nickname “Pickleball Patriarch” in Baltimore County. The former tennis and softball player picked up pickleball just four years ago and now competes against players decades younger—sometimes alongside his 62-year-old partner.

His daughters say the sport has improved his balance, reflexes, and social life, keeping him strong and engaged after the loss of his wife.

See how Darrell’s story proves pickleball isn’t just a pastime—it’s a lifeline,
Click here…

l’m Going To Take It Easy At
Pickleball Today

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

LAS VEGAS, NV: 20 New Pickleball Venues Planned For Las Vegas Valley
MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA: Playing Pickleball For An Important Cause
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO: Competitive Drive Keeps Ken Sawer And Kathleen Fors Thriving on Court
JERSEY CITY, NJ: City Opens $2.7M Pickleball Court, Spray Park, Playground
TAMPA, FL: Pickleball Program At Tampa YMCA Serves Up Big Gains For Cancer Survivors’ Health And Social Lives
LOUISVILLE, KY: Kentuckiana Organization Hosts Pickleball Tournament To Raise Money For Visually Impaired Children
ORLANDO, FL: Bill To Protect Florida State Parks From Development Heads To Full Senate
SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Legendary Hospitality Brand Partners With World’s Largest Indoor Pickleball And Padel Facility in AZ

DO YOU HAVE LOCAL NEWS TO SHARE? REACH OUT TO US AT
[email protected] and send us a link to your story!

  💪 The Rope Rule To
Get To The Net

The Rope Rule To Get To The Net

Tanner offers up a simple but valuable tip for coming to the net after your service return.

He recommends that after you return to a certain part of your opponents’ court, you should pretend that a “rope” is pulling you in that direction for your first two steps towards the NVZ line.

In the demo, if he returns crosscourt, then he should take his first two steps directly to that angle, rather than staying in the middle of his own 10 feet. If he returns down-the-line, he will take his first two steps towards the sideline as he moves forward.

Why? If he stays down the middle with a crosscourt return, his partner must protect not only his sideline, but also much of the middle.

Coming in with the rope pulling you directly to that spot ensures that you can make the middle look smaller and force your opponent to execute a tougher shot with a sharp crosscourt.

Watch the demo – It makes sense!

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