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

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 8 Mini-Moves That Win Net Exchanges

• The Hidden Reason Your Game Fades Before You’re Ready to Quit

• Pickleball Courts Taking Over Tennis Courts As Seen From the Sky
  Super Cool Interactive Photos!

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Travel Reset To Avoid Tight Muscles After Flights & Roadtrips

• Q&A: MLP Commissioner On Expansion, New Investment And Player Compensation

• Determined Pickleball Player Works Through Disability to Compete

• Has the Rise of Pickleball Leveled Off in the US? Study Reveals a New Trend

• Pickleball Is Just Getting Started In China

• Coach Mary: The Shin Shot Attack

🥷SKILLS

8 Mini Moves That Win Net Exchanges

8 Mini-Moves That Win Net Exchanges Mastering these subtle footwork patterns gives you the edge at the kitchen line.

Most players think fast hands win the net. But the truth is, your feet set up every successful exchange. Great players rely on small, efficient footwork that keeps them balanced, neutral, and ready to strike or reset at a moment’s notice.

These eight micro-movements—some subtle, some more active—are the hidden foundation of elite net play. You don’t need to be fast. You need to be efficient.

1. The Anchor Step (Mini Rebound Reset)
   
   What it is: A short heel-lift that resets your weight and paddle position between volleys.
   
   Why it matters: After a volley or block, many players either freeze or drift upright. The anchor step brings your weight back into an athletic stance and gets your paddle centered again.
   
   How to do it:

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

The Hidden Reason Your Game
Fades Before You’re Ready To Quit

New research from the University of Memphis reveals why most pickleballers are playing at half-capacity in the summer.

This overlooked factor is silently tripping up your entire game. It’s like stepping onto the court with your shoelaces tied together.

What’s the problem?

Nearly one in 4 older adults have what we call “silent dehydration.” These people don't feel thirsty. Actually, they think they're fine and they feel fine. But their bodies are running on empty.

You see, if you lose just 1-2% of your body's water, your game starts to suffer. Think about that. We're talking about 8 ounces. Half a small water bottle!

Lose that tiny amount and here's what happens on the court:

Your paddle feels heavier in your hand. Your reaction time slows just enough that you're always one step behind. And leg cramps come out of nowhere.

But it gets worse...

As we age, our bodies hold less water to begin with. Our brain stops sending strong "thirst" signals. And our kidneys get worse at holding onto the water we do drink.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Travel Reset: How To Avoid Tight
Muscles After Flights Or Road Trips

🗞️NEWS

Pickleball Courts Taking Over Tennis Courts
Amazing Interactive View From The Sky

From Santa Monica to Cincinnati, tennis courts are vanishing under fresh pickleball lines. Nearly 8,000 courts have been converted in just seven years, reshaping parks, neighborhoods, and even business models.

The numbers show a takeover visible from the sky — and it’s not slowing down.

Scroll the amazing aerial photos that capture pickleball’s takeover before and after,
click here…

🤣JUST FOR FUN

🏓 PRO NEWS

Q&A MLP Commissioner On Expansion, New Investment & Player Compensation

Major League Pickleball closed its 2025 season with packed crowds in Central Park, a national CBS broadcast, and record-setting franchise valuations.

But Commissioner Samin Odhwani says this is just the beginning. In a candid Q&A, he breaks down how MLP plans to expand internationally, reshape player compensation with million-dollar purses, and push the league toward profitability ahead of schedule.

It’s a rare look inside the business blueprint driving pickleball’s rapid rise—and how the league aims to secure its place among major U.S. sports.

👏 COMMUNITY NEWS

Determined Pickleball Player Works
Through Disability To Compete

When Diane Stelpflug limps into a gym, you’d never guess she’s about to battle on the court. A devastating accident left her leg weakened, but at 65 she’s powering through with grit, daily training, and a love for pickleball that carried her to the National Senior Games.

Her story is less about medals and more about refusing to sit still. Read how Diane turned setback into fuel for competition, click here…

🇨🇳 GLOBAL NEWS

Pickleball Is Just Getting
Started In China

Pickleball fever has jumped borders. In China, paddle sales are up six-fold, the PPA just staged its first Hong Kong Open to packed crowds, and local clubs are scrambling to convert gyms and basketball courts into pickleball space.

For businesses and players alike, the world’s biggest market is suddenly wide open—and moving fast.

See how the sport is breaking in and where the growth is headed, click here…

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

LOUISVILLE, KY: 'Not An Acceptable Trade-Off.' Preservations Group Opposes Pickleball Plan Near Omni Hotel
BOISE, ID: Neighbors Sued Boise Over Pickleball Noise. Now, City Moves To Shutter Courts
LAS VEGAS, NV: 20 New Pickleball Venues Planned For Las Vegas Valley
TOMS RIVER, NJ: Town Drops Plan to Condemn a Church to Build a Park and Pickleball Courts
BETHANY BEACH, DE: Dink Out Domestic Violence Pickleball Event Raises Nearly $60K
MOAB, UT: After 5 Years, Moab Gets Its Pickleball Courts
FINDLAY, OH: United Way Hosts Pickleball Tournament September 9th

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

  💪 The Shin Shot Attack

In this video by Coach Danea of All Things Pickleball reveals how she “went from 0 to 100 with my dinking after learning this!” Be sure to watch the video several times.

Danea poses the question: When should you let the ball bounce, and when should you take it out of the air? Answer: Take as many balls as possible out of the air that you can, without lunging forward or losing balance. If you are off balance, you will become defensive.

Observation: She sees many students backing up from the NVZ (the kitchen) to have more time and let the ball bounce. I see this all the time with my students as well.

Danea makes a great case for not doing this. The best real estate in Pickleball is the NVZ line! This is where you want to be to beat your opponent. HUG THE LINE. Do not let your opponent back you up.

Contact point: Not at the side of or behind your body. This creates pop ups. Do not hit from your shoelaces.

Paddle is in front, with a loose grip. Avoid hitting high dinks.

Everything is out in front! What if you cannot reach the ball in the air without lunging and getting off balance? Use a short hop. Drop your paddle down to the ground, and let it bounce, but quickly contact it immediately.

Good Practice Drill: Protect the Castle Place a target in the kitchen in front of you. Your goal is to keep your practice partner from hitting your castle, and at the same time, you are trying to hit their castle.

I have a friend who calls this “Protect the Kitty.” Same idea. I love this drill. I use spots, cones, or small hoops. When you do this drill, you realize how many balls you can take out of the air, with a volley dink, with your feet behind the kitchen line.

To Make It More Competitive: Add speed-ups. One advantage in taking a dink out of the air is that you can become offensive.

Using topspin (low to high) you can attack a higher dink that you take out of the air, hoping to create a pop-up from your opponent.

Note: Do not lunge over. Keep your upper body up, with bent knees. Do not let your torso bend forward (think those lawn birds that dip to drink water).

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