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

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 4 Mental Tricks to Stay Calm During High-Stakes Points

• How Much Should You "Risk" Your Serve In Pickleball?

• Pickleball Paddle Core Density -- What It Is & Why It Matters

• Fitness Expert Brianna Dawson: Relieving Rotator Cuff Pain

• What's The Deal With The Pancake Grip In Pickleball?

• Tennis Channel/United Pickleball Association Launch PickleballTV App

• Pickleball Program Boosts Health And Wellness For Cancer Survivors

• Humor: When A Newbie Won’t Move Up To The Kitchen Line

• USA Pickleball Issues Statement After Ripple Paddle Debate Causes Stir

• Former Dodgers All-Star To Become Professional Pickleball Player

• Does Pickleball Noise Constitute An Auditory Assault?

• Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

• Coach Mary: Dinking

🥷SKILLS

4 Mental Tricks To Stay Calm
During High-Stakes Points

High-pressure moments in pickleball—whether it’s match point, a crucial tiebreaker, or a game-deciding rally—can make or break a player. Some players thrive in these situations, while others struggle with nerves, overthinking, or tightening up. But here’s the secret: staying calm under pressure isn’t just about talent—it’s a trainable skill that can be developed with the right mental techniques.

When you learn to manage nerves, reset your focus, and control your breathing, you’ll make better decisions, execute shots with confidence, and stay in control of crucial points. Here are four proven mental strategies that will help you stay composed, focused, and perform your best when it matters most.

1. Breathe and Reset
   Controlling Your Nerves Before a Point:
   Your breath is one of the most powerful tools you have for managing pressure. When the game gets tense, many players hold their breath without realizing it, or they breathe in shallow, rapid bursts—both of which increase stress levels and make your body tighten up.

   Instead, using a deliberate breathing technique can help slow down your heart rate, release tension, and bring you back into a calm, focused state before each point.

🥷STRATEGY

How Much Should You “Risk”
Your Serve in Pickleball?

How much risk should you take on your pickleball serve? Some players play it safe, ensuring every serve lands in, while others see the serve as a weapon—adding power, spin, and placement to gain an edge. But at what point does aggression become too risky? Finding the right balance could be the key to elevating your game.

Learn when to play it safe and when to take a chance on your serve, click here…

🏓 GEAR

Pickleball Paddle Core Density:
What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

When it comes to pickleball paddles, core density might be the most important feature you’ve never thought about. It affects everything—power, control, feel, and even durability. A paddle that’s too firm might send your shots flying, while one that’s too soft could leave you struggling to generate pace. Whether you love crushing drives or finessing dinks at the net, choosing the right core density can make or break your game.

Learn what core density is, how it impacts your play, and which type is best for your style, click here…

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Relieving Rotator Cuff Pain

resetufitness

View more on Instagram

🥷SKILLS

What’s The Deal With The Pancake Grip?

Pickleball strategy is always evolving, and the pancake grip is the latest technique shaking up the game. Popularized by pro player Riley Newman, this unorthodox grip offers extreme topspin, better high-ball coverage, and a unique way to control the kitchen line.

But is it a game-changer for everyone, or just a specialized tool for elite players? Find out how the pancake grip works, its pros and cons, and whether you should add it to your game.

📜 ANNOUNCEMENT

Spots Still Available! SAVE $100
When You Use Code RPPA100

Gamechangeher Events is dedicated to empowering and teaching women through the dynamic sport of pickleball. Their mission is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where women can learn, grow, and excel in their pickleball skills.

9 hours of instruction with max of 4 players per court. Two groups: 3.0-3.4 and 3.5+
Learn more here…

🗞️ NEWS

Tennis Channel/United Pickleball Association
Launch PickleballTV App

Pickleball fans now have 24/7 access to the sport like never before. Tennis Channel and the United Pickleball Association have launched the PickleballTV app, offering thousands of hours of live matches, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes access to the game’s biggest stars. Whether you’re looking for pro-level competition, instructional videos, or celebrity showdowns, this new app is set to be a game-changer.

Get all the details on how to stream nonstop pickleball action anytime, anywhere,
 Click here…

⚕️ HEALTH

Pickleball Program Boosts Health &
Wellness For Cancer Survivors

Pickleball isn’t just a game—it’s becoming a life-changing tool for cancer survivors. A new study on Project Rally, a community-based pickleball program, shows how the sport is helping survivors regain strength, boost their mental well-being, and build lasting social connections. With promising results in physical activity and emotional resilience, could pickleball be the next breakthrough in survivorship care?

See how this innovative program is making a difference and what it means for the future of cancer recovery, click here…

🤣HUMOR

When A Newbie Won’t Move Up
To The Kitchen Line

@dinkstars

Some have to learn the hardway! . #pickleball #pickleballclothing #pickleballislife #pickleballhighlights #pickleballmeme #pickleballmemes... See more

🗞️ NEWS

USA Pickleball Issues Statement
After Ripple Paddle Debate Causes Stir

The Ripple paddle controversy has sent shockwaves through the pickleball world, with USA Pickleball halting its release amid concerns over its legality. Touted as a game-changer with its wave-like texture designed for unmatched power, the paddle’s approval process has now raised bigger questions about equipment testing standards and fairness in the sport. Some pros praise its performance, while others worry it could tilt the game too far in one direction.

Get the full story on the Ripple paddle debate and what it means for the future of pickleball, click here…

⚾ SPORTS NEWS

Former Dodgers All Star To Become
Professional Pickleball Player

From the baseball diamond to the pickleball court, former Dodgers All-Star J.D. Martinez is making a surprising career pivot. As he waits to sign with an MLB team, Martinez has officially partnered with JOOLA to train for a future in professional pickleball.

With his competitive drive and top-tier coaching, could he be the next big crossover star in the sport? Find out how Martinez is preparing for his pro pickleball debut,
click here…

👏 COMMUNITY
Can A Tennis Snob Get
Into Pickleball?

For years, tennis purists have scoffed at pickleball—mocking its goofy name, its plastic ball, and its takeover of their beloved courts. But as the sport continues its unstoppable rise, even the most die-hard tennis snobs are finding themselves accidentally having fun. Is it time to admit defeat and pick up a pickleball paddle?

See how one lifelong tennis player finally gave in—and why she might never go back,
click here…

⚖️LEGAL NEWS

Does Pickleball Noise Constitute
An Auditory Assault?

For some Boise homeowners, the rapid pop-pop-pop of pickleball isn’t just background noise—it’s an auditory assault that’s disrupting their daily lives. As the sport continues its takeover of parks and recreational spaces, noise complaints are escalating, with residents calling for stricter regulations. But with pickleball’s growing popularity, is there a solution that can satisfy both players and neighbors?

Find out how this battle over noise is playing out and what it could mean for the future of pickleball courts, click here…

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

BOYTON BEACH, FL: Why A Pickleball vs. Tennis War Has Torn Apart One 55+ Community
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Pickleball Court Case Dropped After Outburst At Meeting
OWENSBORO, KY: 'A Racket Of Fun': 'Throwdown In The Boro' Pickleball Tournament Returns For 3rd Year
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO: Pickleball Tournament To Welcome Diversity Of Participants
PULLMAN, WA: Washington State University Delves Into Pickleball Equipment Science
TUCKER, GA: Opponents Threaten Legal Action If Tucker Pickleball Court Complex Is Built
PORT ST. JOE, FL: Cause A Racket At Annual Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser For Sea Turtles (video)
FLORIDA STATE PARKS: Bill Banning Golf Courses, Pickleball Courts From State Parks Advances In The Senate

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

  💪  Dinking

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