Happy Monday!

Did you know today, July 11th, is National 7-Eleven Day, National Mojito Day, and National All-American Pet Photo Day, among others? Whether you prefer a Slurpee or a mojito (or both), be sure to take a picture of your favorite dog - in honor of Pickles 🐶 - and play some pickleball today!

Now, let's dive in... 😎

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#1. HOW TO USE SPEED TO CREATE CHAOS ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT 💨

Famous race car driver, Mario Andretti 🏎 once said, “If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” With that said, speed is something that you should take advantage of on the pickleball court, so you can cause chaos and force errors by your opponents.

But, how do you keep the rewards of speed, without risking your consistency on the court? Consistency and reducing your unforced errors is also so important to your pickleball success. Click here to learn how to keep the delicate balance of speed and consistency in check.

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#2. MURMURS FROM THE LOSERS' BRACKET: THE POETRY OF EMPTY COURTS

Inspired by a poem from the Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where a judge has ordered pickleball closed for two years, Murmurs from the Losers' Bracket (MFTLB) has let loose its poetry operation to give aid and comfort to the local pickleball club at this tough time for them. ✍️

​Click here to have a laugh with MFTLB's pickleball limericks (*for those new to MFTLB, this is a humorous tongue-in-cheek opinion piece - don't take us too seriously)... 😂

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#3. 3 PICKLEBALL PATTERNS AT THE KITCHEN LINE TO WIN MORE POINTS

Strategy is so important in the sport of pickleball. The doubles pickleball team or singles pickleball player that figures out the right strategy first, typically will win the game. And, one element of pickleball strategy is finding patterns, as there are a lot of repeatable patterns of play on the pickleball court.

What are some of these pickleball patterns to watch for? Click here to learn now and win more points on the court! 🔥

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​NEED A LAUGH? OR, A GREAT GIFT?​

Did you know that Pickler writer Frank Cerabino is a pickleball addict like the rest of us, and a published author? Check out Frank's released book, I Dink, Therefore I Am: Coming to Grips with My Pickleball Addiction (available on Amazon and a great read (or gift!) for any pickleball player), for pickleball tips and laughs! 📚

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#4. IT'S TIME FOR A PICKLEBALL MOVIE: AND ONE CALIFORNIA MAN HAS THE SCRIPT

Despite being the fastest-growing sport in the country, pickleball remains a mystery to most people. One way to change that could be to get pickleball on the "big screen," which is the goal of one pickleball enthusiast, Dan Beeman. Click here to learn about Beeman's pickleball-centered movie script and his mission to make it into a motion picture. 🎬

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#5. 5 KEYS TO MASTERING THE AROUND THE POST (ATP) SHOT

An around the post shot, also known as an “ATP,” is a specialty shot where you hit the pickleball under the top of the net and around the net post. The ATP shot can be difficult to master and comes with some risk. To help you master the ATP and take advantage of your ATP opportunities, try these 5 keys to success. 🗝

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#6. QUICK TIP - THE THREAT IS AS GOOD AS THE REAL THING

Ernes, poaches, switching, stacking, and other unexpected movements on the pickleball court can be effective (and fun). But, it is important to note that these movements are not just effective when they work and you win the rally. In fact, these movements are effective even if unsuccessful and you lose the rally. This is because even the threat of changing sides or moving on the pickleball court will cause your opponents to second guess their shots, pull their eyes off of the pickleball, or take time to think about what you and your partner are doing. So, even if you lose a certain rally, these movements may help you win the overall game. 💪

Bottom line – Take the long view in a game. Smartly move around the pickleball court to make your opponents second guess the rest of the game.

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#7. ASK PICKLER - IT'S OKAY TO STEP BACK SOMETIMES

Question: Is it okay to step back off of the Kitchen line?

Answer: Great question. We typically encourage pickleball players to play at the Kitchen line, as it takes time away from your opponents and cuts down on your opponents' angles to hit the pickleball. However, there are circumstances where it is okay (and maybe preferred) to step back off of the Non-Volley Zone line. For instance:

• Imagine that you or your partner popped the pickleball up so that your opponents are able to hit an offensive shot, or maybe your opponents are extremely aggressive and hit drive after drive. It may be a good idea to take a step back off of the Non-Volley Zone line in order to buy yourself a fraction more reaction time.
• Or, maybe instead of staying at the Kitchen line and reaching for a dink, you step back in order to let the dink bounce and hit the pickleball at its apex (this is especially true if the dink will take a high bounce, which will allow you to hit a more offensive shot).

To note, however, if you choose to step back off of the Non-Volley Zone, be sure that you are not moving when your opponents are hitting the pickleball. Remember, moving while hitting will likely result in more unforced errors. So, only take advantage of this step back when you have time. And, if you choose to step back off of the Kitchen line, be sure to immediately step back in after you hit your shot, as your chances of winning the rally increase when you are hugging the Kitchen line! 👩‍🍳

Do you have a pickleball question? Ask Pickler. Reach out to stacie@thepickler.com. Plus, your question may be featured in the next newsletter.

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​REVIEW OF MY PRO PICKLEBALL COACH SERIES: IMPROVE YOUR GAME​

Are you looking for comprehensive, organized, step-by-step lessons to improve your pickleball game? Then, Pickler's My Pro Pickleball Coach pickleball video collection may be for you! This video collection features Coach Steve Kennedy in over 140 organized video lessons (or over 7 hours of lessons!), as well as a corresponding e-book, that break down every aspect of the sport of pickleball, including pickleball mechanics, fundamentals, strategy, advanced concepts, and drills. But don't take our word for it, check out our latest reviews below...

​Click here to learn more about the best value in online video lessons and improve your pickleball game now! 🔝

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#8. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

Serving up your pickleball headlines... 🗞

• Pickleball continues its good press with a segment in Good Morning America. ☀️ Robin Roberts may be a fan based on her pickleball knowledge put on display.
• Despite this good press, the noise of pickleball and people's feelings about the noise and/or pickleball was the overwhelming theme in the pickleball headlines these past couple of weeks. As the Wall Street Journal put it, "Thwack. Pop. Whack. Pickleball noises turn neighbors into activists." 💥 However, this is not a new theme. This "turf war" between pickleball players and neighbors has been ongoing (Pickler even discussed the "Sour Notes Off the Court for Pickleball" a few months ago). But, communities are trying to propose solutions. For instance, the North Saanich community hired a private security company to enforce specific permitted hours of play. 👮‍♂️ Another community, Niagara-on-the-Lake, completely shut down its outdoor courts, leaving some pickleball players to poetry (as discussed in the MFTLB article above). The problem for neighbors is that they are typically outnumbered by the pickleball players, as large numbers of pickleball players can gather, play, and share a space, while there are typically just a handful of neighbors surrounding a court. In fact, in Provincetown, they received 40 letters in favor of pickleball, with just 4 letters against. This makes it difficult to weigh the interests of neighbors who live in the area versus the interests of a larger number of pickleball players.
• The solution to the noise dispute may just be more courts - in other words, more opportunities and places for people to play. Currently, there are over 38,000 pickleball courts in the United States, but that is not enough to meet the demand. We need more... Pickleball courts can be created in underutilized tennis courts (each tennis court can usually fit 4 pickleball courts and can satisfy 16 players at one time) or other underutilized concrete spaces, like the top of a hotel, such as the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This would allow pickleball to be more efficient and use existing cement. However, new facilities can also be created, like Southlake, Texas is doing to create a "Taj Majal of pickleball."​
• The other solution is simply to get the neighbors and everyone else on the pickleball court. As USA Pickleball ambassador Mike Hoxie put it, "If you're not laughing [while playing pickleball], then you're not doing it right." 😂 That must solve the rift, right? More laughs (and maybe some more friendly banter) on the pickleball court...
• Speaking of friendly banter, famed entrepreneur (and Major League Pickleball team owner) Gary Vaynerchuck took to Twitter to make a big statement... "No one can beat me in pickleball," not even 4-time world champion in basketball, Draymond Green. Any challengers?
• Although the noise of pickleball is causing a divide in some communities, it is largely bringing communities together. For instance, pickleball will be an exhibition sport at the Maccabiah Games in Israel next week, which is the third largest international sporting event in the world, featuring over 10,000 athletes from over 80 countries. Sports has the power to bring people from across the entire world together. Also, another step closer to the Olympics, maybe?

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#9. ON THE TOUR: TRIPLE CROWN IN NEWPORT BEACH

To grow the sport of pickleball, we need to invest in the sport of pickleball. One way to invest is with your time - in particular, by taking the time to watch and cheer on the pros and the people investing money to bring more visibility to the game (in addition to playing yourself, of course). We watch pickleball to support the people, players, and businesses that are investing in and trying to grow the sport. Plus, it is pure fun and entertainment. We hope you join us in watching and supporting the pro tour, which includes USA Pickleball, PPA Tour, APP Tour, and Major League Pickleball events.

And, if you miss any action, don't worry. We will be here with the recaps and summaries to keep you in the know.

​Get the rundown on the latest event - the USA Pickleball Newport Beach Championships - where one pickleball pro snagged the illustrious triple crown! 👑👑👑

And, don't forget to mark your calendars 🗓 for more pro pickleball at the APP Beer City Open later this month!

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#10. RULES REFRESH - 4-LETTER WORDS ON THE COURT

In a recent pro match at the APP So Cal Classic, one pro player expressed his frustration after hitting the pickleball into the net with an expletive that could be heard by the referees and even on the broadcast (see below - rated PG-13 for profanity 🤬). In response to this profanity on the court, the referees immediately issued a verbal warning. While no points were awarded in connection with this verbal warning, excessive use of profanity or objectionable profanity could rise to the level of what is called a "technical foul" and points could be taken away and/or awarded (as applicable).

This exchange brings up a notable rules refresh... watch your use of profanity on the pickleball court, particularly in competitive play where technical warnings and technical fouls will be called. 🤭 And, if you are used to using profanity to express yourself and need some help with alternatives, check out Pickler's article, Fiddlesticks!​

For a deeper breakdown on all of the rules of pickleball, check out Pickler's Ultimate Guide to the Rules of Pickleball.

Have you had an interesting rules issue on the pickleball court? Send it to us at stacie@thepickler.com, so we can share with the rest of the pickleball community in a future newsletter.

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#11. PICKLER THE PODCAST - HOW PICKLEPLAY TRIES TO SOLVE PICKLEBALL'S PAIN POINTS

CEO of PicklePlay, Blake Renaud, joins Pickler The Podcast co-hosts, Stacie Townsend and John "The People's Champ" Davison to discuss the pickleball app called PicklePlay. PicklePlay tries to bring pickleball players, courts, clubs, and events together in one mobile application. Learn how Renaud came up with the idea, her journey as an entrepreneur, and other ideas for how technology can improve the pickleball community. Tune in to learn more about PicklePlay and its CEO, Blake Renaud! 🎧

This was our 17th episode! 😲 Time flies when you are having fun... If you missed any Pickler The Podcast episodes, catch up now and listen in on conversations with leading sports experts (like Ben Shields from MIT), pickleball pros (like Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters), and other people trying to grow the sport for the better.

Do you have any ideas for a guest? 💡 Let us know by emailing stacie@thepickler.com!

And, don't forget to subscribe to Pickler's YouTube page, so you never miss another Pickler video - whether it be a podcast, pickleball tip video, or other can't-miss video.

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NEED A NEW PADDLE?

If you have not treated yourself to a new pickleball paddle in the last year, then you should consider an upgrade. Paddles wear out over time, and technology improves over time. So, go ahead and treat yourself... you may win a few extra points on the court, too. 🏓

Plus, our friends at Fromuth Pickleball give all Pickler subscribers 10% off any purchase (some exclusions apply) to make your pickleball addiction even more affordable. Use the code “10PICKLER” to claim your 10% off! 💸

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BALL'S IN YOUR COURT...

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