Happy Monday!

Have you ever hit a smooth tweener like pro Simone Jardim in the video below? 👇 If so, you may be on your way to SportsCenter’s Top 10…

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

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#1. IS A "SIDEARM SERVE" LEGAL IN PICKLEBALL?

At times, there can be disputes on the pickleball court around the rules of the game. One common dispute is on the legality of a player’s serve—in particular, whether a swing path—like a “sidearm serve”—was illegal or not. Learn whether or not the sidearm serve is legal in pickleball. 🤔

LEARN NOW

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#2. READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE PICKLEBALL INJURY STORY

Pickleball is being blamed for driving up the number of health insurance claims (around $400 million worth), particularly among older players. But this bit of fresh news may be spreading a story that misses the larger picture. Learn what this story is missing. 🤕

READ MORE

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#3. MURMURS FROM THE LOSERS' BRACKET: "GOING HAM" OVER PICKLEBALL'S GENERATIONAL DIVIDE

We here at Murmurs from the Losers’ Bracket have detected a new force field in pickleball-related animosity. Step aside Tennis vs. Pickleball, there’s a new beef making its run these days... Young Pickleball vs. O.G. Pickleball. Learn more (and have a laugh)! 🐷

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​SELKIRK SPORT: THE ULTIMATE BACKPACK SERIES​

Harnessing years of expertise in backpack development 👨‍🔬👩‍🔬, Selkirk has created the ultimate backpack series, which has already been hailed as one of the most popular bags in the sport. This line offers an uncompromising pickleball bag experience and is crafted from upgraded V-MAX woven performance material, to not only look stylish, but also be functional while you’re on your way to and from the court.

SHOP NOW

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#4. WHY TRY A BACKHAND SERVE ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT

A backhand serve is not commonly used on the pickleball court, as most players opt for the more traditional forehand serve. However, there may be some situations where a backhand serve could be advantageous. Learn these situations now. 🔥

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#5. PICKLE4 ANNOUNCES PRO SHOWCASE EXHIBITION & ULTIMATE FAN ACCESS FOR INAUGURAL BALLPARK SERIES™

Pickle4™ and its Ballpark Series™ just announced that the top pro pickleball players are headed to the ballpark. ⚾️ Starting with Fenway Park on July 14th through July 16th, top pickleball pros will be playing against the backdrop of the famous Green Monster. Then, the following week on July 21st through July 23rd, San Francisco’s Oracle Park will feature an all-women’s pro lineup that is headlined by the world #1 Anna Leigh Waters. Learn more - including how to grab tickets 🎟 and how to watch on TV! 📺

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#6. RULES REFRESH - WILD, DISTRACTING POINT

Check out the wild point in the video below 👇 between the Brooklyn Aces and the Orlando Squeeze, which implicated a few different rules—a potential double hit, net fault, and distraction. What’s the call? 🤔

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• Double Hit – A double hit is typically not allowed in pickleball, unless the double hit results from an “unintentional, continuous, single-direction stroke by one player.” The Orlando Squeeze’s Callan Dawson met the exception and did not commit a fault. So, play carried on. ✅
• Net Fault – It is a fault if a player, a player’s apparel, or a player’s paddle touches the net when the ball is in play. Dawson avoided the net, so he avoided committing a fault. Again, play carried on. ✅
• Distraction – It is a fault to distract an opponent as he/she is about the play the pickleball. A distraction is a “physical action” by a player that is “not common to the game” and that “may interfere with the opponent’s ability or concentration to hit the ball. Examples include, but are not limited to, making loud noises, stomping feet, waving the paddle in a distracting manner or otherwise interfering with the opponent’s concentration or ability to hit the ball.” Whether something rises to the level of a distraction is ultimately a “facts and circumstances” analysis. In this rally, the Brooklyn Aces’ Greg Dow thought his team won the rally after Dawson’s potential double hit and immediately spoke to his opponents, saying “Sorry, man.” 📣 Since Dawson did not commit a fault (and did not end the rally), Dow’s words amounted to a distraction for his opponents, leading him to commit a fault instead. 🚩 So, the Brooklyn Aces lost the rally.

Bottom line – Make sure the point is really over...

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#7. QUICK TIP - EYES UP ON THE OVERHEAD

Have you ever hit an easy overhead straight in the net? It happens to the best of us. To avoid making these unforced errors on your overhead, try keeping your head and eyes up at the point of contact. Avoid collapsing your top half and/or dropping your head or eyes at contact. When you collapse your top half, or drop your head or eyes, the pickleball has a tendency to follow—meaning you hit the pickleball too far down into the net.

Bottom line – Keep your head and eyes up at contact on your overheads. 👀

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​UP YOUR GAME & HAVE A LAUGH!​

Have a laugh and learn some great tips to take to the pickleball court with longtime humor writer Frank Cerabino's book I Dink, Therefore I Am: Coming to Grips with My Pickleball Addiction! Plus, this book makes a great gift for your favorite player or partner! 📚

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#8. HOW TO PLAY MORE AGGRESSIVELY ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT

Successful pickleball players apply pressure on their opponents by playing aggressively. This does not mean that you need to drive, speed up, and bang every single shot. You may drive and add speed to shots, but that is not the sole measure for aggressiveness. Learn how to play more aggressively on the court, and apply more pressure on your opponents. 💥

LEARN NOW

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#9. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

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

• Looking for pickleball with a view? 👀 One of the world’s highest pickleball courts can be found in Brooklyn, New York on the 66th floor, while another is in Dallas, Texas on the 48th floor. Hopefully, you are not scared of heights…
• Learn what to eat before, during, and after your next pickleball session, according to the Food Network. 🍽
• Pickleball’s growth is exploding in the younger generations, including in the 18-to-24 age group, which shot up by 267% between 2018 and 2022. Learn more.
• In the video below, Comedian Hannah Berner claims that pickleball is not just a sport, it’s a cult! Listen to her reasons why… 👇

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• Learn why pickleball is both personally and financially welcoming for LGBTQ players on the pro tour.
• Celebrities Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez spent their holiday weekend the same way we did… on the pickleball court (except we did not wear any jeans on the court). 👖
• According to Major League Pickleball’s (MLP) new CEO Julio DePietro, MLP teams are now worth $10 million each (initial valuations in 2021 were just $100,000). 💰
• Pro Anna Leigh Waters threw out the first pitch at the Miami Marlins game for "pickleball day" at the park.

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#10. ON THE TOUR - HOMETOWN TRIPLE CROWN

With over 1,400 players, the APP Tour held its largest event ever over the 4th of July holiday weekend in Newport Beach, California. The event was capped with pro Parris Todd winning a triple crown in her hometown. 👑👑👑 Of the three gold medals, Todd and her women’s doubles partner Simone Jardim grabbed their seventh-consecutive victory to hold on to their spot as the APP Tour’s “most successful women’s doubles duo.” Read the full recap of the event, including learn the other pro medalists.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for more pro pickleball action in July! 🗓

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#11. CHALLENGE YOUR MENTAL MUSCLE WITH PICKLER'S PICKLEBALL CROSSWORD

Whether you are a seasoned competitor or just starting to explore the world of pickleball, this crossword puzzle offers an enjoyable opportunity to test your knowledge of the sport’s terminology, rules, and fun facts. So, get ready to flex your mental muscle—which may just help keep you sharp for strategizing on the court! 🧠

PLAY NOW

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​GRAB 10% OFF!​

Up your summer game by grabbing 10% off a new paddle, shoes, and more pickleball necessities from Fromuth Pickleball (some exclusions apply) with the code 10PICKLER! 💸

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