Valentine's Day is 8 days away. ❤️ If you're looking for the perfect date night, look no further than the pickleball courts. And, if you're single and ready to mingle, head to the pickleball courts anyway with these 10 potential pickup lines... you may just meet your match!

Let's dive straight into your pickleball tips, strategies, stories, news, and more... 👏

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#1. CREATE OFFENSE ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT WITH THIS SHOT

If you are a defensive player like pickleball pro Callan Dawson, or otherwise looking for more ways to create offense in your game on the pickleball court, consider doing what Dawson does to earn his nickname of the “Lob Doctor”—add the offensive lob to your game. 💥

LEARN MORE NOW

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#2. WHAT CONSTITUTES "INAPPROPRIATE" ATTIRE IN PICKLEBALL: RULES DEBATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

The rules of pickleball are one of the most debated issues in the sport. For instance, pickleball players have weighed in on whether the spin serve be permitted, or what rises to the level of a hindrance. And, now, after a recent pickleball tournament in Newport Beach, California, pickleball players may need to weigh in on what is considered “inappropriate” clothing for pickleball. 👗 Where do you come down on this new rules debate? 🤔

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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#3. "CRAZY KATHY" IS NOT CHICKEN WHEN IT COMES TO CHEERING FOR PICKLEBALL

Pickleball’s undisputed number-one ☝️ super-fan, Kathy Demetri, is used to being called “Crazy Kathy.” But she’s not crazy – just way more devoted to having a good time than most people. Learn more about Demetri and what motivates her infectious passion for pickleball fun. 🤗

LEARN ABOUT PICKLEBALL'S #1 FAN

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​ONLINE PICKLEBALL VIDEOS: A VALUABLE TRAINING TOOL​

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#4. MURMURS FROM THE LOSERS' BRACKET: RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT: PLAYING TRAFFIC COP ON THE COURT

We here at Murmurs from the Losers’ Bracket occasionally feel compelled to address pickleball etiquette matters. We’ve learned these etiquette matters the hard way, and we're just passing it along because, well, there’s always a legion of new pickleball players out there. So, are you guilty of these traffic violations? 🚦 (*For those new to Murmurs from the Losers’ Bracket, this is a (mostly) humorous tongue-in-cheek opinion piece - don't take us too seriously.)

ARE YOU GUILTY?

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#5. PICKLEBALL AT THE MALL: THE COUNTRY'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT FINDS A NEW FRONTIER

With demand for pickleball courts at an all-time high and brick-and-mortar retail stores feeling the pinch of online shopping, it’s not surprising to see a new phenomenon: Pickleball at the mall. Learn how the sport is taking over mall space. 🛍

PLAY IN THE MALL!

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#6. RULES REFRESH - A SERVICE FOOT FAULT?

Have you ever seen a foot fault on a serve? If not, check out the video below, where pickleball pro Rob Nunnery gets called for a foot fault on his serve.

Your foot placement is important at the point of contact on your serve. At the point of contact between your paddle and the pickleball, at least one foot must remain in contact with the ground behind the baseline. Further, neither of your feet may touch the court on or inside the baseline, or on or outside of the imaginary extension lines of the applicable sideline or centerline. After you make contact on your serve, you are free to place your feet wherever you see fit.

Bottom line – Beware of your feet at the point of contact on your serve.🦶

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#7. QUICK TIP - 3 TIPS TO HELP YOU IN THE WIND

At the latest Major League Pickleball event in Mesa, Arizona, the wind started to play a factor late in the weekend. Being a whiffle ball, the wind can certainly play tricks with a pickleball. Commentator Adam Stone offered three pieces of advice to handle playing pickleball in the wind:

1. Footwork
2. Footwork
3. Footwork

Heed Stone’s advice. 👣 When playing the wind, stay balanced, take more little steps, and stay on the balls of your feet in the wind. This will help you react to any last-minute changes of direction due to the wind. For more tips on playing in the wind, check out this article.

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​DO YOU HAVE A PICKLEBALL ADDICTION?​

If so, then have a laugh and get great pickleball tips with longtime humor writer Frank Cerabino's book I Dink, Therefore I Am: Coming to Grips with My Pickleball Addiction! 📚

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#8. “O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN”! PICK A CAPTAIN FOR THE PICKLEBALL COURT

Doubles pickleball can be a lot like dancing. 🕺💃 In dancing, someone should take the lead, while the other partner should follow. Just like dancing, on the pickleball court, one partner in a doubles pickleball team should be the "captain." Learn what this means and why it is important to your success on the pickleball court.

LEARN MORE

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#9. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

Serving up the latest pickleball headlines over the last two weeks... 🗞

• ​USA Pickleball released statistics that show growth of the sport and the association in every category. 📈 Check out these numbers below:

• The sport is growing so much that it is also a top-of-mind issue for mayors across the country, as their constituents are increasingly playing the game. It was even a key topic of discussion at the latest United States Conference of Mayors.
• The amateur participation in pickleball is exploding. At the professional level, certain organizations like the PPA, APP, and MLP are also driving growth. The APP just announced a broadcast agreement for ESPN2 to broadcast eight, one-hour event recap shows on ESPN2, and ESPN+ to stream more than 200 hours of live coverage of certain events. However, some question whether pickleball will be "as fun to watch as it is to play." Based on the recent crowds at events, the professional game seems to moving in the right direction... 👏

• More leagues and tours are continuing to pop up in the sport, as the Canadian National Pickleball League was just announced. 🇨🇦
• Other sports are looking to mirror the success of pickleball. For instance, padel is using celebrity status to help fuel and publicize the game.
• The top pickleball player in the world - Anna Leigh Waters - celebrated her 16th birthday with a car giveaway from Carvana 🚙 and sharing pickleball with Instagram's over 600 million followers. 🚀
• The noise of a paddle striking a pickleball is still causing issues amongst neighbors, as one town in Northern Virginia decides to limit hours of play as a compromise.
• Pickleball is also still bringing folks together. Venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, California "have swapped out tennis rackets and golf clubs for pickleball paddles."
• Some familiar faces may be seen on a pickleball court near you, as tennis star Gigi Fernandez is all in on pickleball, the Carolina Hurricanes showed off their on-court talents, and NFL great and retiree Tom Brady seems to be "(finally) ready for pickleball." 🏈

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#10. ON THE TOUR - MAD DROPS & TRIPLE CROWNS

The first Major League Pickleball event brought incredible fan engagement, some intense player interactions, and a new champion. Congrats to the LA Mad Drops on their championship! 👏

Following this MLP event, the PPA Tour continued with a stop in Phoenix where the usual triple crown winners were crowned. Check out some interesting stats leading up to Championship Sunday at the PPA Desert Ridge Open, in which Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters each took home the triple crown. 👑👑👑

Don't forget to mark your calendars for more pro pickleball action this month! 🗓

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#11. CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON PICKLEBALL TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION THE GAME

Pickleball has undoubtedly been growing over the last few years, and with this growth comes a wealth of new players of all ages. This includes growth in youth pickleball, as parents and grandparents alike are able to share their love for the game on the court and through the pages of a children's books. 📚

LEARN MORE

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​TREAT YOUR VALENTINE WITH 10% OFF!​

Get 10% off! Grab a new paddle, shoes, and more for your valentine from Fromuth Pickleball (some exclusions apply) with the code 10PICKLER! 💸

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BALL'S IN YOUR COURT...

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