The most popular question asked on the recreational pickleball court is simple: “What’s the score again?”
Learning how to score in pickleball is one hurdle that players must clear. However, learning how to track and keep score as a match unfolds is an even bigger challenge for some. I understand the plight. I will often tell my partners to trust me to have their back, but do not trust me to know the score.
I know I am not alone because both opponents and partners often ask me the score. There appears to be a segment of players that are obsessive about knowing the score for every point.
First and foremost, Happy National Pickleball Day! On August 8, the annual day honors the funky sport that dates back to 1965 in Bainbridge Islands, Washington. Interestingly enough, the sport saw more Google searches than ever before on this day. But, the top states are pretty surprising:
-Missouri -Maryland -Illinois -New York -California
Pickleball glasses can be the difference between a good time and a trip to the ER.
Eye injuries are the fastest-growing injury in pickleball, but they are 100% preventable. For most recreational players, the Gearbox Vision offers the best balance of certified safety and price. If you want pro-level clarity and contrast, the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is the industry standard. Whatever you choose, ensure it has polycarbonate lenses and an ASTM F803 or ANSI Z87.1 impact rating.
It seems a day doesn’t go by where I don’t see a Facebook or blog post surrounding eye damage caused by pickleball. While it appears the odds of an eye injury while playing pickleball is relatively low, you still might want to consider wearing ocular protection when playing.
The number of people who suffer eye injuries from recreational sports each year is quite staggering, with more than 600,000 cases, including many who go blind. You never think it will be you, but with racquet/paddle sports the fourth largest offender–and with up to 90% of eye injuries avoided by using protective glasses with polycarbonate lenses–why not put safety on your side?
Pickleball doubles scoring uses three numbers: [Serving Team Score] – [Receiving Team Score] – [Server Number 1 or 2]. You only score points when your team is serving. The game always starts at “0-0-2” because the starting team only gets one server before a side-out.
The very first time I picked up a pickleball paddle and drove down to my local tennis center to take a group lesson, the instructors warned, “you will all leave knowing how to play the game, but learning to keep score will take you months.”
Perhaps a bit of an overstatement, but I did wonder at the time if the scoring system was devised to filter out a segment of people unwilling to learn something new.
I recently chatted with a neighbor looking to add a makeshift pickleball court to his property on a limited budget. With minimal asphalt to work with, he asked me, “can you play pickleball on grass?”
My answer was abrupt, “hell no!”
But after taking a beat, I started to wonder…if the grass is short enough and the pickleball ball was swapped out for something with a bit more bounce, could it work?
If you are wondering how many calories burned playing pickleball, you are not alone! As the paddle-based sport continues to grow rapidly, many folks are left wondering if they are sacrificing a workout for a good time.
With so many factors dictating calorie burn, it’s impossible to answer the query in a specific way. However, there are a few generalizations regarding pickleball and calorie burn.
Welcome to our weekly wrap-up of pickleball happenings around the globe.
Pickleball Gets Preppy
As the sport of pickleball continues its mainstream ascent, more retailers are jumping into the game. This past week J. Crew got in on the action by launching a collab with Recess, a pickleball paddle, and an accessory brand. At the time of this writing, many of the stylish paddles are sold out. Coming soon: Pickleball balls by Vineyard Vines? An indoor pickleball court while you wait at the DMV? (Hmmmm…I actually like the idea of the latter!)
Up Next: Selkirk Labs 003
Labeled as “the Ultimate Paddle for Power, Control, and Spin,” Selkirik is positioning its Labs 003 project as the dream paddle. Has the leading paddle manufacturer created a unicorn paddle? Only time will tell, but with the thickest core available (20mm) and promising more power/control than any previous Selkirk paddle, we’re excited to get our hands on one for a test drive. Expect to pay north of $300 when the paddle is released. But can you put a price on perfection?
Find of the Week
The find of the week goes to these yellow plastic paddles. I’ve seen some pretty cheap pickleball equipment with these might take the cake. While I am pleased to see equipment available at all price points, and recognize that everyone needs to start somewhere, I have no doubt that you would be better off with a $12 wood paddle. But hey, whatever gets the kids playing!
My Pickleball Journey
While only able to play once this week, I had a strong showing, winning most of my games–but more importantly, really enjoying myself. My goal was to play the game the “right” way, relying on deep shots, dinks and speed changes. Many of my shots were praised by other players. I walked away feeling validated that my game is improving, making me feel warm and fuzzy.
Some people play pickleball for exercise. Others enjoy the social nature of the sport. However, there are players solely seeking the thrill of victory and the coveted pickleball trophy!
In reality, many people play for all three reasons cited above. But you would be surprised how a simple trophy will motivate people to play.
Here are five reasons why you should get a pickleball trophy.
If you are getting beat at the net, it’s usually not because your reflexes are slow—it’s because your paddle is in the wrong place. “Hand Speed” is actually Paddle Position Efficiency. To win the firefight, you must eliminate your backswing, keep your paddle in the “11 o’clock” position (The Shield), and practice until your reaction becomes automatic. The fastest way to improve? Ten minutes a day against a wall.
Are you wondering how to increase hand speed to level up your pickleball game and dominate your opponents? Or at least give yourself a fighting chance to win some points against higher-level players?
If so, you’re in luck! This blog post will explore some exercises and training advice that can help increase your hand speed. Hand speed is essential for playing well in pickleball – if you can’t hit the ball quickly, you’ll be at a disadvantage against more skilled players.
I am the proud owner of a Pickleball Central Mystery Box. And I splurged for the “Premium” edition. 🙂
Never one to gamble on mystery boxes since my skeptical side believes it will be nothing but a collection of merchandise that no one wants, I couldn’t resist the lure of getting a bunch of pickleball paddles. The rational me recognizes that mystery boxes are often filled with blemished items or products that a retailer cannot move otherwise. However, the emotional me, which is in love with everything pickleball, couldn’t resist the opportunity.
