Happy (almost) Leap Day! 🎉

This year February has 29 days instead of its usual 28. We know you're thinking what we're thinking... that's one more day for pickleball! 👏

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

​Click here to access the online version of this newsletter​

#1. THE THIRD SHOT AND NET DEFENSE DRILL

By Greg Hansen

​The Third Shot and Net Defense Drill is a dynamic exercise tailored to enhance both offensive and defensive prowess on the court. Operating on a rotational basis, players alternate between executing strategic third shots and defending the net against incoming plays. 💪

#2. MURMURS FROM THE LOSERS’ BRACKET: GATHERING INTEL ON YOUR PICKLEBALL OPPONENTS

Serious pickleball players are always looking to have better success on the court. Maybe keeping a secret book of pickleball intel on our opponents would do the trick? Check out the "Murmurs from the Losers’ Bracket Pickleball Opponent Intel Worksheet." It may just help you start winning more games. 😁

Featured Pickleball Tournaments from Pickleball Den​

​Barstool Pickleball Open - The Yards​ Barstool is setting out to deliver a pickleball experience that will bring together Stoolies and Pickleball fanatics alike. Get ready for the first of Bartsool's one-of-a-kind tournaments in Jacksonville, Florida on March 12. Register now for an experience you won't want to miss! ​Learn more about the other dates of the Barstool Pickleball Open. REGISTER NOW

The NCPA is hosting the 2024 National Collegiate Pickleball Championship on March 15-17 in the beautiful San Diego, California. With almost 50 colleges around the nation being represented, this will be the largest collegiate pickleball event to date! Visit ncpaofficial.com for more info on Nationals and the livestream link. Follow NCPA on Instagram for the most up to date info on college pickleball and the NCPA. REGISTER NOW

QUOTES FROM RECENT TOURNAMENTS

#3. KITCHEN TALK: PICKLEBALL EDITION WITH KAITLIN MILLER

Episode 11: Mac McCune’s Incredible Weight Loss Journey ​ Dive into Mac McCune's awe-inspiring journey with weight loss, battling a spine stroke that had him relearning how to walk, and facing off with plantar fasciitis. Mac credits pickleball for being his ultimate fitness savior. Join us as Mac spills the beans on how pickleball not only got him moving but also became his secret sauce to staying in the best shape of his life. ​​​

Episode 12: From Gaming to Pickleball Content: The King of Social Media ​ Tanner Tomassi went from a gaming sensation to instructional guru. With nearly half a million followers in the gaming world, Tanner now dominates pickleball instructional content with his infectious energy and invaluable lessons. Tanner's being recognized by fans as the go-to person for learning new pickleball tips. ​​​

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​​ENTER THE MINTO US OPEN SWEEPSTAKES​

The Minto US Open Sweepstakes ends February 29! Don't miss your chance to win one of three grand prizes or weekly instant win prizes. 🙌

The countdown is on for the ​2024 US Open Pickleball Championships!​ 🗓️ Be sure to mark your calendar for The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™ April 13th-April 20th, 2024 in beautiful Naples, Florida! 🥳

#4. QUICK TIP - LET IT GO

Short-term memories are actually a benefit on the pickleball court (unless it comes to knowing the score). 💭 Having a short-term memory helps you move on to the next point, which is necessary regardless of whether the last point was in your favor or against you. It is easy to let one bad point turn into five bad points on the pickleball court. It is also easy to get to 10 points (for instance, 10-4-1) and then have trouble getting to that game-winning 11th point. This is because you are thinking of the last mistake you made, or you may be playing tight because you are so close to victory.

So, be present. Be completely in the moment with the rally at hand. Let the past points go, and don’t let your mind go to the next point. Let it go and play in the moment. Oh, and also, don’t forget to let the out balls go, too. 😉

Get more tips to play better pickleball with The Pickler’s video series, My Pro Pickleball Coach!

#5. 7 TIPS TO USE THE ELEMENTS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT

It is important to use every aspect of your game and your surroundings to your advantage—which includes the elements. Elements can include the sun, lights, wind, among others. Whether you are playing outdoors or indoors, use the elements to your advantage. Learn 7 quick tips on how to do just that—use the elements to your advantage on the court! ☀️💡💨

​SELKIRK VANGUARD CONTROL​

The Vanguard Control is an Elite Raw Carbon Paddle with Supreme Spin. Crafted for players who crave unwavering consistency, the Vanguard Control is specially engineered to make the execution of precise shots effortless. Ideal for skill play, such as third shot drops and resets, the innovative paddle technology maintains the unwavering control you know and love from the Vanguard Series, while adding a punch of spin and precision. 🙌

Available in three paddle shapes: Invikta, Epic, and S2.

#6. RULES REFRESH Q&A - IS MY SERVE ILLEGAL?

By Mark Peifer, USA Pickleball Certified Referee; Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee

QUESTION: I was called out on my serve at open play. When I do a volley serve I was told I toss the ball out slightly in front of me. The contact is below my waist and I do not put any spin on the ball when releasing. I was told this is an illegal serve and need to correct it by my opponent. That the ball needs to drop out of my hand straight down. I can’t seem to find anything on tossing the ball in front as an illegal serve. Just the rules on spin and waist. I know this is illegal for drop serves but for volley I can’t seem to find any rules on it.

Is this illegal for a volley serve? 🤔

ANSWER: From what you have described, your volley serve is very legal. You can toss the ball up on the volley serve and out in front of you as long as all three rules of the volley serve are met when you make contact with the ball on the serve. Please see all three under Rule 4.A.7.

"That the ball needs to drop out of my hand straight down." That is not true for a volley serve under the Official USA Pickleball rules.

There are a couple of potential factors that could have resulted in your opponent giving you that feedback. The one with the highest potential is that the PPA pro tour is experimenting with something that sounds exactly like what you are describing. But, they are only experimenting at the pro level, not with amateurs. If players watch the PPA broadcasts where this is occurring and the commentators are describing it, then it's entirely possible this person saw that and thought they had uncovered some new service rule that applies everywhere.

The other factor that could be in play here is that this person has confused elements of the volley serve with the drop serve. Yes, with the drop serve, the ball must be dropped. It can be dropped out in front of you too. But, it can not be tossed.

I hope that is helpful, but it highlights an important consideration for all players. If this happens to you again about this rule or any other, I suggest you have your Rulebook downloaded on your device and respectfully ask them to show you where in the Rulebook is the rule they say you are violating. In this case, they would not be able to do that.

#7. 7 STRATEGIES ON HOW TO DEFEAT A BANGER IN PICKLEBALL

If you don't already know, a "banger" in pickleball is a player that likes to consistently drive the pickleball. 💥 A banger likes to play with pace and power and, typically, does not like to engage in the soft game. In light of the “rise of the banger” on the pickleball court, it is important to understand how to diffuse and defeat the banger, especially if you are a player that prefers the soft game.

#8. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

Check out the latest headlines to stay in the know on all things pickleball 📢

• Game on! Pickleball Blast, “The Pickle Smackdown Game,” is the newest pickleball board game serving up family-friendly fun. 😁

• We’ve heard of the numerous tennis players making the switch to pickleball, but are NASCAR drivers catching pickleball fever too? 🏎️
• The Philadelphia Phillies are getting creative during spring training with some inspiration from pickleball. ⚾ Their pickleball-inspired game, “Pacoball,” is designed to build agility, competitiveness, and communication, among other skills.

​​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! 📚

#9. ON THE TOUR - UPSETS IN ARIZONA

The PPA Tour returned to Arizona for the Mesa Arizona Cup. Upsets were seen in all brackets, making for an exciting week of pro action in the desert. 🌵 Most notably, in men’s singles teenager Cason Campbell made an impressive run all the way to the quarter finals before ultimately being defeated by Jack Sock. 💪 In men’s doubles, Andrei Daescu & Gabriel Tardio triumphed over Ben and Collin Johns and claimed the silver medal. Ultimately, the top players returned some “normalcy” to the event with Anna Leigh Waters earning her 25th overall career triple crown with the help of Catherine Parenteau in women’s doubles and Ben Johns (who also took the gold in men’s singles) in mixed doubles. 🥇

For a full recap on this event, check out the following:

• ​A Triple For Waters And Surprise Doubles Finalists In The Pro Pickleball Association Mesa Arizona Cup​

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for more pro pickleball action in March! 📆

​GRAB 10% OFF!​

Up your 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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