Deep into my second year of playing pickleball, I proudly report that I have not experienced a sophomore slump! However, some lessons took longer to sink in than I would have hoped. Today, I share those with you, hoping you learn from my stubbornness and evolve your game quicker than I did.
Pickleball Fitness for Longevity: The 5 Essential Moves for Injury-Free Play (2026)
To play pickleball into your 60s, 70s, and beyond, you don’t need a bodybuilder’s routine—you need functional durability. The sport demands lateral (side-to-side) explosive power and deep lunging. If your hips are tight and your glutes are weak, your knees will take all the punishment. The secret to playing longer isn’t running more laps; it’s strengthening the “brakes” (your decelerator muscles) so you don’t blow a tire on the court.
As pickleball’s popularity has exploded, so have injuries, mainly caused by repetitive motion, awkward positions, and quick lunges.
Personally, I have found the sport much easier on my body than tennis. But that doesn’t mean it’s not without it’s aches and pains. In fact, I have another browser tab opened right now wondering if I tore my rotator cuff. But that’s a conversation for another time!
If you play the sport regularly, you will want to have a dedicated cross-training regimen off of the pickleball court that is designed to enhance overall fitness to meet the sport’s physical demands.
Why Pickleball is the Ultimate “Third Place” for Mental Health & Community
A “Third Place” is a social environment separate from home (“First Place”) and work (“Second Place”) where people gather to connect. Sociologists argue that Pickleball has become the most effective modern Third Place because of its “Open Play” culture, which forces interaction between strangers, and its ability to act as a “Great Leveler”—where CEOs and retirees compete as equals. Recent studies show regular players are 60% less likely to report depression than non-players.
Pickleball players tend to fall hard for the sport.
The path to addiction is so quick that friends and families are often caught off guard.
There’s a reason many of us often hear, “Pickleball, again?!”
And it’s not said in the nicest of tones.
Well, I’m not sure about you, but it occurred to me recently that pickleball is my “third place.”
My Secret Weapon for Better Pickleball – The Wrist Ball
I’ve been playing pickleball for nearly two years and I’m always on the lookout for something that can help me play better. I focus on serving well and moving quickly, especially near the net.
Recently, I found a great tool that’s really helped: the wrist ball.
19 Reasons to Be Thankful for Pickleball
As I hit my 20th month of playing pickleball, I reflect on why I am thankful for the sport. It has delivered a surprising amount of joy into my life as an amateur player and pro blogger. Never in a million years would I have guessed that pickleball would become such a big part of me. But here we are, and I look forward to continuing to play, always learning, and spreading the pickleball love.
Here are the reasons I am grateful for pickleball. Please add your thoughts in the comments section.
Pickleball Journey: Lessons From My Latest Tournament
I played in a Thanksgiving pickleball tournament last night. It was my first tournament in months, and I had a nervous energy pulsing through me as I approached the facility.
My teammate and I were ready to give it our all.
And we came out hot.
We won our first six games with confidence and steady gameplay, advancing to the finals.
Then everything changed in an instant.
Pickleball Accessories As Gifts or Self Love
Anyone who has played pickleball with me, knows I am a hug fan of pickleball accessories. From my stupidly funky socks to trotting out the latest fitness tracker, I’m not shy about being a consumerist.
And pickleball players are known fanatics when it comes to buying anything and everything to improve their game, which is why pickleball accessories are huge! While the standard paddles, balls, and court shoes are must-haves, there are plenty of unconventional accessories that can really step up your play and increase your good time on the court. Some even help avoid those achy joints and annoying injuries that come with the turf.
Protect Your Pickleball Gear: How to Label Your Paddle and Balls
As a pickleball player, how many times has someone walked away with your paddle or ball? As the sport continues to surge in popularity, more and more paddles and balls are hitting the courts during open play “disappearing.” With so much equipment changing hands, it’s important to take steps to protect your property.
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Writing your name on your paddle and marking your balls can help avoid mix-ups, unintentional swapping, and even outright theft. With the average paddle costing north of $100 and balls averaging $1.50 each, you’ll want to protect these investments. Heck, you better be extra careful with the most expensive pickleball paddles.
How to Use the Chirp Wheel to Improve Your Pickleball Stretches
I’m always on the lookout for effective ways to manage my back pain and enhance my flexibility, and pickleball stretches make a world of difference.
Without boring you about my Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain issues, the quest for relief led me to discover the Chirp Wheel, a tool that has enhanced my pre and post-game routines.
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I want to share how incorporating the Chirp Wheel into my pickleball sessions has immensely helped in relieving back pain and improving my overall performance on the court.
Pickleball Rule Changes – What the Future Might Look Like
As pickleball participation has increased, so has the conversation around potential rule changes and variations that could help pickleball continue to evolve as a sport.
While purists aim to preserve pickleball’s origins, others argue tweaks and experiments may attract new players, enhance entertainment value, and reduce controversies around gray areas in the rules.
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Proposed pickleball rule changes range from subtle shifts like standardizing balls to fundamental changes, including rally scoring or allowing multiple hits per side.
Ultimately, there is no consensus, as ideas that exhilarate some alienate others. Yet most agree pickleball must embrace controlled innovation to sustain growth while retaining its welcoming spirit and accessibility. With an openness to fresh thinking and debate, pickleball is poised for an exciting future as visionaries and traditionalists work together to shape the sport for future generations.