🥰 Please Help Us Help You 🥰

We want to make The Fit Pickler the best newsletter it can be—and we need your input!

We’ve been thrilled by the responses so far—thank you to everyone who’s already shared their thoughts! To show how much we value your input and encourage even more of you to participate, we’ve increased the prize to a $200 Amazon gift card.

Spend less than 3 minutest to fill out this quick survey about The Fit Pickler &
 you will be entered to win a
$200 Amazon Gift Card! Winner Announced January 30th!
Even if you have completed one last year, you are still eligible to win the gift card as it’s a new survey. Thank you so much!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE SURVEY

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

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 6 Proven Strategies to Master the Transition Zone & Win More Points

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Advanced Shoulder Stability

• The Pickleball Year In Review - Part 2

• UPA $10M “Emergency” Bridge Loan Request Sparks Social Media
  War of Words

• Apple Fitness+ Launches Pickleball Workouts

• Humor: Pickleball On Ice

• Anna Leigh Waters Shatters Records

• Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

• Coach Mary: 5 Checkpoints To An Amazing Forehand Drive

🥷SKILLS

6 Proven Strategies to Master the
Transition Zone and Win More Points

If you’re like most recreational pickleball players, you’ve probably heard the phrase “stay out of no man’s land!” This refers to the transition zone, which is the area of the court a couple of feet behind the non-volley zone (kitchen) to a couple of feet in front of the baseline.

Many players find it difficult to navigate because it’s where you’re most vulnerable—caught between being on defense and offense, often forced to handle fast-paced shots at awkward heights. However, the transition zone doesn’t have to be a place where you lose points.

With the right strategies—and some key techniques—you can turn this challenging area into a strong point of your game, using it to reset rallies, disrupt your opponent’s rhythm, and move forward with control.

Below are six proven strategies, along with specific drills, to help you dominate the transition zone and win more points.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Advanced Shoulder Stability

🗞️ NEWS

The Pickleball Year in Review
Part 2

2024 was a whirlwind year for pickleball, with exciting milestones shaping the sport we love. From new membership levels sparking conversation at local courts to international events gaining momentum, the pickleball community continued to evolve. Whether it was the chatter about updated equipment rules or the buzz around amateur leagues popping up across the country, there was no shortage of action for rec players everywhere.

Ready to catch up on the biggest moments that affected your game and your local pickleball scene? Find out what’s new and what’s coming in 2025!
Click here to read more…

🗞️ NEWS

UPA $10M “Emergency” Bridge Loan Request Sparks Social Media War of Words

Tom Brady, LeBron James, and other high-profile investors bet big on Major League Pickleball’s rise, but new reports suggest the league is scrambling to secure a $10 million emergency loan. Fans didn’t hold back their reactions, with some questioning whether pickleball can truly succeed as a professional sport.

With financial pressures mounting just ten months after a highly publicized $75 million merger, the future of the UPA (United Pickleball Association) hangs in the balance.

Read the full story of this unfolding pickleball drama and what it means for the sport’s professional ambitions. Click Here…

🏋️‍♀️ HEALTH NEWS

Apple Fitness+ Launches
Pickleball Workouts

Apple Fitness+ has introduced a pickleball-specific conditioning program led by a world-class champion. With workouts designed to boost strength, agility, and endurance, this new addition is perfect for players looking to improve their performance on the court.

Get the full details on the program and see how it’s set to change the way players train for pickleball.

🤣HUMOR

pickleballonice

View more on Instagram

PRO NEWS

Anna Leigh Waters Shatters Records

Anna Leigh Waters has once again etched her name in pickleball history. In a stunning 2024 season, the teenage phenom shattered records, earning an unprecedented 43 gold medals on the PPA Tour and claiming her 30th career triple crown.

With her rising fame and eye-popping $3 million in annual earnings, Waters has not only dominated the court but also become the face of the sport, inspiring players worldwide.

Catch the full story behind her record-breaking journey, her rise to pickleball stardom, and what’s next for this young sensation. Click Here…

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

BHUTAN: Baker-City Based Nonprofit Introduced Pickleball In Bhutan
JAPAN: Maui Pickleball Players Medal In Inaugural Japan Pickleball Tournament
DENVER, CO: Pickleball Is Back At Denver's Eisenhower Park With New, Quiet Balls
GRAND RAPIDS, MI: New Bar With 3 Pickleball Courts Set To Open
BROWNSVILLE, TX: First Permanent Public Pickleball Court Opens In Brownsville
VERMILLION, SD: DHF Provides Funding For City Pickleball/Tennis Courts
RIGBY, ID: Local man inviting you to ‘fall in love’ with pickleball at Rigby venue

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

  💪The Forehand Drive

The 5 Checkpoints to an Amazing forehand drive!

I find that my students seem to be making more mistakes on the forehand side in game play. This is a new demo teacher, Tyler, who really takes the time to break down the forehand, with numerous examples and simple ways to improve.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Take back. Too far back, too little backswing. Think baton hand off in a relay. Reach your arm straight back, to the back fence. Use a fence and take your paddle back to the fence. No farther! Paddle is facing on a diagonal to the sky.

2. Paddle Drop. To get the ball over the net, you must go low to high. You must drop the paddle to 6:00 o’clock – straight down. Tip goes up, then tip goes down. Release grip pressure! Loose grip. Butt cap of your paddle is facing towards the target. This orients your paddle down, with your wrist cocked back. Think about dropping your paddle down or petting a dog! Watch the video! Bounce, drop, swing. A, B, C.

3. Good Contact. Out in front, away from your body. Between the net and your front hip! Contact the ball earlier! Do no wait until the ball reaches you! Also, think “hug a tree”. See the video. Contacting the ball cart or the net out in front of you. Paddle is flush to the net out in front of you. “Back, drop, contact!” Use your non-dominant hand to catch the ball in front of you off the drop. Watch the video.

4. Extension. It is not just follow-through. You must continue your contact out in front, extension, and then follow-through. LONG FINISH! Tip of your paddle points towards your opponent. Video record yourself to get feedback! Throwing your fingertips forward. Hitting through 1, 2, 3 balls on follow-through. Again, watch the video. It is a stroke, not a swing. Push the ball cart forward!

5. Follow-through. Finish over your shoulder. Point your elbow towards your opponent. Stand up, bring your back hip through and get ready for the return. Catch the paddle with your opposite hand. This gives you shoulder rotation! If we take the time to really break down the physiology of the swing, we will understand how to improve!

Kickstart Your Day with Huel

In a world where every second counts, Huel Black Edition is the smart meal solution for your busy lifestyle.

With 40g of protein and 27 essential vitamins in each serving, it’s designed to fuel you fast.

Plus, with flavors like Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, and Strawberry Shortcake, Huel Black Edition turns meal prep into a 30-second hack.

Ready to fuel up? Get 15% off your first order, plus a free t-shirt and shaker bottle with code BEHUEL15.

Elevate Your Nutrition

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