Blog - Pickleball Rookie

What Is Pickleball? I Took a Lesson to Find Out!

November 30, 2025March 6, 2022 by Drew Pierce

Pickleball is a fast-paced paddle sport where most points are won at the net (the ‘Kitchen’). For beginners, success comes from keeping the ball low, loosening your grip for better spin, and wearing proper court shoes to handle the quick lateral movements. While similar to tennis, it requires less running but faster reaction times.

I took my first one-on-one pickleball lesson this week to answer America’s favorite recent question, “What is pickleball?” I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the fastest-growing sport in America. It is clear that I have a ton to learn, but the 60-minute session left me confident that my tennis skills will translate well on the pickleball court. However, there were a few surprises for this brand new player. If you’re considering picking up a pickleball paddle, here are a few things that my instructor shared with me, as well as a few things that caught me off guard.

Honolulu J2NF vs 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 Review: Best Foam-Core Paddle?

February 24, 2026 by Drew Pierce

Honolulu J2NF vs 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 pickleball paddle battle comparison on outdoor court with glowing outlines

The foam-core revolution is officially here, and it’s getting loud. If you’ve been hanging around the courts lately, you’ve probably heard that deep “thud” of a foam-filled paddle. It’s a completely different feel than the hollow “clack” we’ve all used for years.

Today, I’m putting two of the newest and most hyped 2026 releases against each other. In one corner, we have the Honolulu J2NF, a paddle being hailed as the “Forgiveness King.” In the other, the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2, a brand-new “value disruptor” that just launched with a surface texture—HexGrit—that looks like it could peel the paint off a car.

I’ve spent the last week rotating between these two in competitive play. While they both use foam, they represent two completely different philosophies of the game.

Choosing the Best Shoes for Knee Support: A Guide for Players Who Want to Keep Playing

February 23, 2026 by Drew Pierce

Let’s be real for a second. We’ve all been there: you’ve just finished a three-hour marathon session at the local park, you’ve hit the dink of your life, and you’re feeling like a total pro. Then, you try to get out of your car at home and—creak—your knees decide to remind you that you aren’t twenty anymore.

If your knees are screaming louder than a banger who just missed a put-away, it might not just be “getting older.” It might be your shoes.

In pickleball, we’re constantly shuffling, pivoting, and lunging. If your shoes aren’t absorbing that impact, your knees are doing the heavy lifting for them. Is it time to stop blaming the court and start looking at your feet?

Here is the Pickleball Rookie guide to finding the best shoes for knee support in 2026.

Andre Agassi Launches the World Series of Pickleball

February 18, 2026 by Drew Pierce

Yesterday brought some big news out of Las Vegas that’s getting everyone in the pickleball world talking: tennis legend Andre Agassi is launching the World Series of Pickleball, headquartered right here in Sin City.

On the surface, this sounds fantastic. An eight-time Grand Slam champion with deep Las Vegas roots creating a global pickleball championship? Count me in. But as someone who’s been following this sport’s professionalization closely, I’ve got questions. Let’s dig into what we know, what we don’t know, and what this really means for the future of professional pickleball.

How to Catch Your Breath During a Pickleball Match: 12 Sneaky Ways to Slow Down the Game

February 12, 2026 by Drew Pierce

You’re two games into a rally-heavy match, your heart’s pounding like a jackhammer, and your opponent is already bouncing on their toes ready to serve. Again. You just want three seconds to breathe, but they’re treating this like the US Open finals.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: pickleball matches can get sneakily fast. One minute you’re casually dinking at the kitchen, the next you’re in a frantic firefight that has your Apple Watch sending you concerned notifications. And when momentum swings—especially when it swings against you—some opponents will try to rush you, serving quickly to keep you flustered and off-balance.

But you don’t have to let them control the pace. There are plenty of legal, tactical ways to steal a few precious seconds, calm your nervous system, and get back in control of the match. Some are obvious. Others are delightfully sneaky. All of them work.

Anna Leigh Waters Gets Quick Approval of Franklin Aurelius Paddle

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 by Drew Pierce

Anna Leigh Waters’ signature Franklin Aurelius paddle officially received UPA-A certification on February 6, 2026, fast-tracking its debut for the PPA Cape Coral Open. While Waters will compete with the highly aggressive 12.7mm model, the paddle is available for pre-order in three core thicknesses (12.7mm, 14mm, 16mm) and ships starting March 1, 2026. This certification marks a major shift in the paddle market, as Franklin cements its new flagship partnership following the departure of JW and Jorja Johnson.

In case you missed it while scrolling through your feed yesterday, there was a small but significant announcement in the professional pickleball world: Anna Leigh Waters’ signature Franklin paddle, the Aurelius, received UPA-A certification on Friday, February 6th. For most recreational players, this might seem like inside baseball. But if you care about where professional pickleball is heading—or if you’re one of the thousands already eyeing this paddle for yourself—this approval is a bigger deal than it first appears.

Let’s break down what just happened, why it matters, and what it tells us about the current state of paddle technology and player equipment deals.

Update on the Major MLP Shakeup

February 6, 2026 by Ace Rivera

It’s been a whirlwind week in the professional pickleball world, and if you blinked, you might have missed some major league restructuring announcements. Major League Pickleball just dropped a bombshell about their 2026 format, Brooklyn is launching what could be a game-changing youth initiative, and we’re less than two weeks away from the PPA Cape Coral Open. Let’s break it all down.

Pickleball Young Guns Rising, Parris Todd’s Return, and Why Illness Wreaked Havoc on the Indoor Nationals

January 29, 2026 by Ace Rivera

It was one of the most eventful—and frankly, brutal—weeks on the PPA Tour so far this year. The Indoor National Championships at Life Time Lakeville, Minnesota just wrapped up, and while the action inside was blazing, the conditions outside were absolutely arctic. We’re talking temperatures hitting -20°F, with daily highs struggling to break single digits all week.

But here’s the thing about professional pickleball in 2026: the show goes on, the young players keep getting better, and sometimes the storylines off the court matter just as much as what happens during matches. Let’s break down what just happened in Minnesota.

Pickleball Kitchen Rules Explained: The Simple Guide for Beginners (2026)

January 22, 2026 by Drew Pierce

I still remember the first time I played pickleball. I stood at the baseline, terrified of the seven-foot zone in front of the net like it was actual hot lava. I had been told by a well-meaning (but dead wrong) regular that “you can’t go in there unless the ball bounces in there.”

For three weeks, I played like a statue, afraid to toe the line.

It turns out, I was wrong. And that guy at the local courts? He was wrong too.

The “Kitchen”—officially known as the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)—is the most misunderstood part of this sport. It is also the single biggest reason beginners lose points they shouldn’t.

If you have ever argued with your partner about whether they “momentum fell” into the zone or if you are allowed to step in before the ball bounces, this guide is for you.

Why Your “Perfect” Drop Shot Keeps Getting Smashed (And How to Fix It)

January 21, 2026 by Drew Pierce

If your opponent is driving your drop shot back at you, your drop shot isn’t “good”—it’s too high. The harsh truth is that a “soft” drop often floats. In 2026, the game has moved beyond the feather-soft dink to the “Drip” (a Hybrid Drive/Drop). To stop the smash, you need to lower your apex, switch from backspin to topspin, and stop rushing the net.

Pickleball and Tennis Hybrid Typti Arrives With Big Names, Bigger Claims, and Some Eyebrow-Raising Rules

February 8, 2026January 21, 2026 by Ace Rivera

Let’s talk about something that just launched this week and has the entire racket sports community buzzing—a new sport called Typti.

Yes, you read that right. In a world where we already have tennis, pickleball, padel, platform tennis, racquetball, squash, and badminton, someone decided we needed one more racket sport. And that someone is Tennis Channel founder Steve Bellamy, backed by an 80-person investor group including Drew Brees, Nick Kyrgios, Tony Robbins, Chris Pine, JJ Abrams, Tiffany Haddish, and comedian Bert Kreischer.

The pitch? Typti is a cross between tennis and pickleball, played on a pickleball court with foam balls and small tennis-like rackets. Think mini-tennis meets trick-shot YouTube video. Let me break down what we know, why I’m skeptical, and why I’m also kind of excited about it.