Happy Monday!

If you are single, would playing pickleball be at the top of your dating requirements? Well, it seems to be for the first "Golden Bachelor" (ABC's spin-off of its successful Bachelor franchise, with an "aged up" bachelor looking for a second shot at love). 🌹 Thanks to extraordinary growth for the sport during these past few years, the dating pool just got a lot bigger…

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

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#1. SHOULD PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR BE REQUIRED IN PICKLEBALL?

This past weekend, pro Jessie Irvine took a pickleball to the face, which led to her withdrawal from the entire tournament. With rising skill levels (i.e., more power behind shots) and increased injuries (like eye injuries), should players be given a choice on whether to wear or not to wear protective eyewear (at least in sanctioned play)? Should eyewear be required on the court? 👀

READ MORE

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#2. DO THE OFFICIAL RULES OF PICKLEBALL APPLY TO RECREATIONAL PLAY?

Do the rules of pickleball apply in recreational play? For instance, if a player showed up to open play with sandpaper on his or her pickleball paddle (which is a violation of the official rules), how would you react? 🤔

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#3. MURMURS FROM THE LOSERS' BRACKET: COMING IN FROM THE HEAT

As the summer heat rages on, Murmurs from the Losers' Bracket takes a hard look at outdoor versus indoor pickleball. This one is for all of you pickleball players that can't take the rising temperatures, but are quick to dismiss the idea of playing indoors. 🥵

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​SELKIRK SPORT: TAKE YOUR GAME ANYWHERE WITH SLK NETS​

Upgrade your pickleball experience with an SLK Portable Pickleball Net – the premium choice for players seeking a high-quality, durable, and portable net system. Combining superior quality, durability, and portability, this net system is perfect for players who demand the best. Get yours today and take your game anywhere! 👏

SHOP NOW

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#4. WHAT IS THE "FLAMINGO" ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT?

Have you ever needed a little extra reach at the Kitchen line in order to hit the pickleball out of the air? Or, have you ever asked yourself, “How did my opponent hit that out of the air?” In either scenario, the answer may be what we will call the “flamingo.” 🦩

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#5. SMASHING THE GENDER GAP: PICKLEBALL SCORES, WORLD CUP LAGS?

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team took to the world stage with its first game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the same time that Pickle4 hosted an all-women's pro line-up at its Ballpark Series™ from Oracle Park. With the overlapping air time 📺, we took a look at a potential comparison or contrast between the two sports as it relates to female pro athletes.

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#6. RULES REFRESH - TIMELY CALL TIME-OUTS

Check out the point below 👇 during a pro mixed doubles match at the PPA Denver Open, where the #30 seed Martin Emmrich—Tina Pisnik lost a point to the #3 seed Matt Wright—Lucy Kovalova at a critical moment in the match due to a poorly timed time-out.

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Emmrich seemingly called time-out ⏱ after Kovalova made contact with the serve. According to the official rules of pickleball, if the receiver or his or her partner calls a time-out after the serve has occurred, then the receiving team commits a fault and loses the rally. So, since Emmrich called the time-out after Kovalova made contact on the serve, he committed a fault and lost the rally. (To note, the referee noted that Emmrich did not call time-out before she called the score (which may have been mis-phrased). According to the rules of pickleball, the point in time that is relevant is contact on the serve.)

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#7. QUICK TIP - STAY COMPOSED WHEN YOU SEE A SHORT RETURN

It is easy to get excited on the pickleball court when you see a short, high return of serve. This is because you will be quickly moving in closer to the net and ready to smash the pickleball at your opponents. However, when this happens, you may be a little overeager and drive the pickleball long out of bounds. Remember, as you move in, you have less court space to work with. So, when you see a short return, stay composed and try to drive or roll the pickleball down to your opponents’ feet. This will help you make the most of the short return. 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️

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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. WHAT IS "NO MAN'S LAND" IN PICKLEBALL & 6 TIPS TO BE BETTER THERE

We continue to get requests for tips on how to be better in “No Man’s Land”—also called the Transition Area. Although “No Man’s Land” is a place many players avoid or struggle with, oftentimes, the player or team that is better in transition will be the deciding factor between a win and a loss. Learn 6 tips to dominate the Transition Area now! 🔥

LEARN NOW

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#9. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

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

• If you are "too unathletic for tennis" and "too poor for golf," this comedian is confident that pickleball is for you! 🤣

• Men are struggling to make friends and suffer from loneliness (more so than women). One solution to this decline in close friendships could be pickleball. Learn more. 💁‍♂️
• The noise of pickleball is so aggravating to one Canadian couple that they are protesting the proximity of some courts to their house with a hunger strike. Hopefully, more solutions and/or compromises to the noise are in the works…
• Major League Pickleball continues to strengthen its celebrity ownership group, as Drake and Michael B. Jordan both invest in the Brooklyn Aces. 🂡
• The APP Tour will now reach the largest media market in the world—China. Will this new media market help grow the sport internationally?
• PLAY (PICKLE)BALL! The pickleball craze hit the big leagues, as Pickle4 brought the sport to Fenway Park in Boston and Oracle Park in San Francisco for the first time. ⚾️

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#10. ON THE TOUR - FROM THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST COAST & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

The pro pickleball scene was in full "swing" with (1) two tournaments in the PPA Denver Open and the Beer City Open in Grand Rapids, Michigan, (2) the Major League Pickleball draft for the second half of the 2023 calendar year, which was held in Central Park in New York City, and (3) two showcases at iconic baseball parks on both the east and west coasts of the US. 💥

Catch up on the latest pro action on the court:

• ​Johns and Waters Dominate (Again) at the PPA Denver Open​
• ​Beer City Open Has Become a Favorite​
• ​Pick Your Favorite Major League Pickleball Team in Both the Premier League and Challenger League​

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

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#11. NATIONAL & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ALIKE FOSTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PICKLEBALL

In recent times, pickleball has seemingly smashed the stereotype that it is a sport for just the elderly. Pickleball is no longer just your grandparents’ game. Pickleball is a game for all generations, including the youth. Learn how national and local organizations alike are fostering the younger generations through pickleball. 💪

LEARN HOW

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​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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BALL'S IN YOUR COURT...

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