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

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• 5 Counter-Dink Tactics to Gain the Upper Hand in Long Rallies

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Lower Back Pain Relief in 5 mins

• The Pickleball Year In Review

• A Closer Look at Rule Changes 2025

• Could Padel Make It to the Olympics Before Pickleball?

• Humor: If Being The Best Pickleball Player in Your Friend Group Was a Crime

• Pickleball Enthusiasts Could Create The World's Most Populated City

• NILE's Karl Sanders Says Pickleball Restored His Faith In Humanity

• England Recognizes Pickleball as a Sport

• Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

• Coach Mary Will Be Back Next Week!

🥷SKILLS

5 Counter-Dink Techniques to Gain
The Upper Hand in Long Rallies

If you’ve ever found yourself in a long dink rally, you know how intense and strategic these exchanges can be. They’re often like a chess match, requiring patience, control, and the ability to read your opponent’s next move.

But let’s face it—long dink rallies can also feel like a stalemate. Both players are waiting for the other to make a mistake or provide an opening. Here’s the good news: with a little strategy, you don’t have to wait for your opponent to slip up. You can create opportunities to reset the rally, disrupt their rhythm, or even take control and finish the point.

Before diving into the tactics, let’s make one thing clear: patience is your greatest ally. Dinking is not about rushing to end the point but about maintaining control, testing your opponent, and setting up opportunities to attack. When you combine patience with the right techniques, you’ll be unstoppable in those long, grueling rallies.

Here are five counter-dink tactics to help you turn the tide in your favor.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Lower Back Pain Relief in 5 Min.
Using Just a Towel

🗞️NEWS

The Pickleball Year in Review

Pickleball enthusiasts, buckle up! 2024 brought transformative milestones for recreational and competitive players alike. From groundbreaking rule updates to global expansion and innovative events, the sport we all love continued its meteoric rise.
 
Check out this retrospective journey highlighting the moments that shaped pickleball's evolution. Whether you're curious about the impact of new rules, inspired by community stories, or eager to see how recreational play has flourished, this recap has it all.

🗞️ NEWS

A Closer Look at the
2025 Rule Changes

What are the biggest changes in the 2025 Pickleball Rulebook? This year’s changes include impactful updates like rally scoring options, refined tie-breaking procedures for round-robin matches, and adjustments to net fault and volley definitions. These updates aim to enhance fairness and streamline gameplay for both tournament competitors and casual players.

Find out how these new rules might change the way you play! See the breakdown here. 

And checkout the rules themselves here:
•USA Pickleball current rulebook, with downloadable PDF
• 2025 Rule Book change Document, useful to highlight just new rules
• USA Pickleball Rule Change Database, where you can see all 93 submitted rules for this year, a disposition, and discussion.

🏓 SPORTS NEWS

Could Padel Make It To The
Olympics Before Pickleball?

As pickleball's popularity continues to soar globally, fans have eagerly speculated about its inclusion in the Olympic Games. However, recent developments suggest that another racquet sport—padel—might claim the spotlight first at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With its explosive growth and strong appeal among younger audiences, padel has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the race for Olympic recognition

Find out what padel’s rise means for the future of pickleball..

🤣HUMOR

🐵 FUN FACTS

Pickleball Enthusiasts Could Create
the World’s Most Populated City

With over 50 million players and counting, the pickleball community in the U.S. is so massive it could form a city larger than Tokyo—the world’s most populated metropolis. This vibrant, ever-growing group shows no signs of slowing down, reshaping the landscape of sports and connection.

Discover how pickleball enthusiasts are building a global movement and redefining what it means to come together. Click Here…

🎸  COMMUNITY NEWS

NILE’s Karl Sanders Says Pickleball Restored His Faith in Humanity

Who knew a death metal legend could find solace on the pickleball court? For Karl Sanders of NILE, the fast-paced sport isn’t just a game—it’s a surprising beacon of hope. Armed with a Cannibal Corpse paddle, Sanders found something unexpected: a sport that blends strategy, sportsmanship, and a unique sense of community that restored his faith in humanity. From heated volleys to heartfelt connections, pickleball has brought out the best in people, both on and off the court.

Curious how a simple racquet sport brought harmony to a heavy metal icon?
Read Karl Sanders’ inspiring journey here…

👏 GLOBAL COMMUNITY
England Recognizes Pickleball As A Sport

Pickleball’s momentum continues to build, now gaining official recognition as a sport in England. With Sport England designating Pickleball England as the sport’s national governing body, this marks a significant milestone for the rapidly growing game. From its inclusive appeal to its growing player base, this announcement cements pickleball’s place on the UK’s sports map and opens doors for even greater participation.

Celebrate this historic moment and see how England is embracing pickleball like never before! Click here…

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

MIDLAND, TX: Midland's YMCA Using Pickleball To Make A Difference
SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL: Local Family Hosts 15-hour Pickleball Fundraiser For Guatemalan Orphanage Mission
EASTON, PA: Paddle Up. Easton Area High School Pickleball Club Brings Community And Fun To Students
CARMEL, CA: Carmel Considers Limiting Pickleball Due To Noise Complaints
KEY BISCAYNE, FL: Residents Seek Pickleball Court Home
LONG BEACH, WA: 'Czeck Christmas' Pickleball Camp Includes Cross-Cultural Celebration
TRIADELPHIA, WV: Over 100 Competitors Unite For Children's Center At The 2024 Holiday Classic
ALTON, IL: East Alton To Host Second "Picklin' For A Cause" Pickleball Tournament

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

  💪 Mary will be back next week !
She wishes everyone
A Very Happy New Year!

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