As pickleball continues its upward trajectory, the number of available pickleball jobs continues to grow. From pickleball instructors to pickleball marketers, the paddle game is having its moment.
I don’t want to be just another recreational player: I want to be a part of the pickleball community.
Pickleball art is a trend that is growing as fast as the sport itself.
Whether we choose to play for a love of the game or are completely comfortable as a spectator, there is no doubt that sports have a way of capturing our hearts. Often, that joy winds up hung on the wall in the form of art.
From Henri Rousseau’s “The Football Players” to Umberto Boccioni’s “Dynamism of a Cyclist,” the history of art is filled with tributes to our favorite sports. Rousseau’s painting captures the motion and energy of a game, while Boccioni’s futuristic work emphasizes the speed and power of a cyclist in motion.
These are just two examples of how sports can be interpreted through art. And pickleball is no different. Whether it’s a photograph, painting, or sculpture, art can help us appreciate the beauty of pickleball – even if we’ve never played the game before.
Pickleball is more than a recreational sport to me. I aspire to make it part of my profession; how I make money.
And I am a realist.
I am not going to be a professional pickleball player. I’m not going to make money from playing in tournaments. And, as of today, I don’t have the money to open up my dream pickleball hall that serves up draft beers, dim sum, live music, and features state-of-the-art courts.
Hey, a guy can dream.
However, there has to be a way to tap into my entrepreneurial spirit and connect pickleball to my career. The seeds are this very blog that you are reading. Pickleball Rookie is my attempt to take what I know–creating content that people and search engines enjoy–and leverage the site to build relationships and uncover opportunities that help spread love for the sport. Filling my heart with joy would be nice, too.
As I approach the six-month anniversary of playing pickleball for the first time, it is time to set several goals for the remainder of the year. So here they are, laid out in public glory for all to see. That’s my brand of accountability!
Engage Pickleball Camps are the go-to for players looking for an intense crash course on pickleball strategy; I knew I had to take a class when the roadshow hit New York.
The 16-hour Engage Pickleball Camp took place at the Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick, a venue where I have attended a handful of open plays. Certified instructor Stéphane Jolicoeur and Senior Pro Pickleball Tour Player Jose Derisi delivered an excellent mix of drilling, strategy, and playing advice to help all attendees improve their pickleball game.
I booked the class back in March after I played pickleball for the first time, so to say I was excited is an understatement. Like a good student, I packed my hydration and snacks and took the 25-minute drive to Merrick, blasting some awesome 90s alternative rock along the way.
The class started with a warning from Coach Stéphane, “You’re not going to like us by the end of the day today…but you’ll love us by the end of day three.”
That set the tone: we were here to work on leveling up, and as they say, ‘no pain, no gain.’
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
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.
After a couple of months of attending open plays at two local facilities, I wanted to add more regularity to my pickleball play–and get a bit more competitive, so I entered my first mixed doubles pickleball league.
Even though the program is a 30-minute drive from home and runs until 10:30pm (past my usual bedtime!), it was well worth it. I’ve met some good people, had some great matches, and am learning more about America’s fastest-growing sport with each passing day.
The league kicked off with a random pairing of players. Each week, five players are grouped, and the people you play with rotate based on your standings. As the weeks unfold, you get matched with pickleballers who are closest to your skill level, determined by wins, losses, points for and points against.
Here’s a breakdown of my pickleball league experience.
I have had many people ask me, “is pickleball an Olympic sport?” Not yet, my friends.
However, with the popularity of pickleball on the rise, many avid players and fans believe the sport will one day make it to the Olympics. While there is no official word from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Pickleball does seem to have what it takes to be an Olympic sport.