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

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 3 Ways To Beat A Poacher

• Strength Training for Pickleball: A Two-Day Program

• DRILL OF THE WEEK: The Overhead Placement Drill

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Athletes: Stop Doing Crunches (Do This Core Move)

• GEAR REVIEW: CRBN4 TruFoam Barrage Pickleball Paddle

• Professional Pickleball Association’s US-Based Stars Dominate At The 2026 Hong Kong Slam

• My Heart Stopped Right On The Spot': Pickleball Player Returns To Court After Suffering Heart Attack

• HUMOR: Match Point & Your Partner Hits A Ball That Was Going 5 Feet Out

• Coach Mary: Let’s Talk About Good Pickleball Etiquette Again

🥷SKILLS

3 Ways To Beat A Poacher

There is a particular kind of frustration that comes from playing against a good poacher. A player hits what seems like a perfectly reasonable crosscourt dink, only to have the opponent’s partner reach across the middle and put the ball away. A return that should have been safe gets intercepted. Even a decent third-shot drop can suddenly become an attacking opportunity.

After a few of these points, players begin worrying about where the poacher is standing instead of concentrating on their own shots.

Poaching is a legitimate and effective doubles strategy. An aggressive player moves into a ball that would normally be handled by their partner, often looking to intercept it before the opposing team can react. Good poachers read patterns, anticipate direction, and take advantage of balls that are high enough to attack.

The key to beating them is understanding what makes poaching possible. Once those conditions change, the aggressive player has a much harder time taking over the rally.

💪 Health & Fitness Section

Strength Training For Pickleball:
A Two-Day Program

Pickleball puts a lot of stress on your legs, hips, shoulders, and core, but playing more games doesn't necessarily prepare those muscles for the demands of the court. A new set of strength-training guidelines points to a manageable twice-weekly routine that could make a difference without taking over your playing schedule.

See which exercises belong in a pickleball-specific strength program and how to fit them around your court time.

🥷 Drill of the Week:

The Overhead Placement Drill

You get the perfect lob, line up your overhead, and smash it hard. Somehow, the ball comes right back. The Overhead Placement Drill tackles a common mistake that lets opponents survive shots that should put them under serious pressure.

Try the drill to learn how to spot the openings between and around two defenders before you swing.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Athletes: Stop Doing Crunches -
Do this Core Move

🏓 PRO NEWS

PPA US Stars Dominate At
The 2026 Hong Kong Slam

The PPA's biggest American stars traveled halfway around the world for the Hong Kong Slam, and the medal rounds looked a lot like a tournament back home. But even amid the US dominance, a few results stood out as the tour heads toward Worlds.

See who took control in Hong Kong and which performances could have implications for the World Championships.

⚙️ GEAR REVIEWS
 
CRBN TruFoam Barrage Paddle

NEW FROM PICKLER JUNCTION: The Pickler Junction Team’s reviews go above and beyond a simple thumbs up or thumbs down. They pull together independent testing, verified buyer feedback, community opinions, and objective performance data to show where the CRBN4 TruFoam Barrage Pickleball Paddle shines, and where it may not be the right fit, depending on how you play. Note: Review will list MSRP, link will show sale price of $50 off!

Shopping for new pickleball gear? Reply here and we’ll tell The PJ Team what to review next!

👏 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

My Heart Stopped Right On
The Spot: Pickleball Player Returns
To Court After Suffering Heart Attack

Ken Sloan was reaching for a shot at a Waterloo pickleball club when his heart suddenly stopped. He collapsed on the court with less than a 10 percent chance of survival, and a retired police officer playing nearby faced a situation he'd never encountered in 30 years on the force.

See what happened in those critical minutes and how Sloan made his way back to the pickleball court.

🤣 HUMOR

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

TUCSON, AZ: Pickleball Partners Become 'Charlie's Angels' After Saving 72-Year-Old's Life On The Court
NITRO, WV: Charleston Police Academy Pickleball Tournament Serves Up Support For Local Youth
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TX: West U Discontinues Pickleball At Two Wier Park Courts, Weighs Modified Park Rules
PALM SPRINGS, CA: Palm Springs To Celebrate Grand Opening Of New Pickleball Complex At Demuth Park
FAIRMONT, MN: FAPA Serves Up Success For Pickleball Community
BURLINGTON, KY: The Bend Sports & Social Opens In Burlington
STOCKTON, CA: How Stockton Pickleball Players Rallied For New Courts At Fritz Grupe Park


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

  💪 Let’s Talk About Good
Pickleball Etiquette Again

From Play Pickleball

Three Do’s:

·     Be kind to everyone around you, your partner, your opponent, and other players who are waiting to play.

·     Ask for permission to cross behind or through a court.  Wait until the point is over to enter the court.

·     If there is a “Ball On!” situation, safety comes first.  Call the point dead and replay the point.

Three Don’ts:

·     Do not run or walk onto an adjacent court to get your ball, or to travel through that court until play is dead.

·     Do not celebrate loudly during or after a match.  Be considerate, bump paddles, and do not hinder your opponent by yelling during play.

·     “When in doubt, call the ball in.”   Give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent.  Call out balls right away, with a verbal and physical cue (hand up, pointing out.)  It is even better if both you and your partner make the verbal out call right away.

From Pro Pickleball Media:

·     Do not lob to players looking into the sun.  To avoid problems, switch sides halfway through the game.
·     Do not lob or “pick on” players with mobility issues.  Hit to both opponents.
·     In social play, if there is a discrepancy, you can play the point over. This takes away the arguments and confrontations.
·     Say the score out loud prior to starting your serve motion.  This is a tourney rule!  Do not quick serve before your opponent is ready.   If you are not ready as the receiver, be sure to raise your paddle in the air until you are ready.
·     In tennis, if your ball hits the net and rolls over, and you get the point, players show a “Sorry” gesture.  The same should apply to Pickleball.
·     If your partner makes an error, they already feel bad.  Do not roll your eyes, huff, or comment.  Bump their paddle and say “Next time.”
·     Saying “You do not belong here, you need to go to a lower or higher level.”  This is mean, and unnecessary.  If courts are labeled by skill level this should not be a problem.  Share the courts with good humor and consideration.  Rotate off if the courts are crowded after one game.  Rotate off when a new court becomes available.

From Enhance Pickleball:

·     Do not give unsolicited advice.  If your partner does not ask you for help or advice, do not correct or coach them.
·     If your partner calls a ball out that you think was in, you should try to correct them or replay the point.  This creates a more positive court atmosphere.
·     If you foot-fault, call it on yourself.  This is good sportsmanship and etiquette.  If your partner foot-faults, you can warn them, then call it on them.
·     When you win a point, do not scream or brag.  If you miss a point, do not make excuses.  Be sure to congratulate your opponent when they execute a great shot.
·     Be sure to hit to both of your opponents in social play.  Do not pick on the weaker player.  We all want to participate, and you can label this game as a practice or drill opportunity.
·     If you “Body Bag” your opponent, hitting them with a ball, be sure to apologize.
·     If you are going to be late, be sure to let your group know so they can invite another player to sub in until you get there.
·     If a friend paid for a court rental, be sure to pay your share.
·     If you have an odd number of players in your group, be sure to devise a rotation system so each player is on a “Bye” round, and no one is out for too long.

Not Yet a Subscriber? Click Below to Get Our Newsletter Every Week - Its FREE