Happy New Year! 🎉

Kick off the new year with the biggest pickleball party in the world! Registration opens in exactly one week for the US Open Pickleball Championships. 📆 Keep reading for links and more information.👇

We’re also ringing in 2024 by sharing the top five 🖐️ tips, skills, and drills loved by players in 2023. Check out points 1-5 below for ways to improve your play and win more games as you head out on the courts in the new year!

So, 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. 🤔

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Featured Pickleball Tournaments from Pickleball Den​

​Naples Mixed Doubles Classic​ Registration closes today, January 3! Kick off the new year competing in beautiful Naples, FL! Hosted by Eva Welsher and Randy Sussman, January 6th-7th, 2024. A portion of proceeds will go to Humane Society of Naples. ​ REGISTER NOW

​The Pickle Games Miami​ Get your paddles ready for the The Pickle Games Miami! The 2-day pickleball tournament and festival created for all skill levels will take place January 13-14, 2024 with thrilling tournaments, VIP fan experiences, entertainment and more all at the iconic, waterfront Miami Marine Stadium. ​ REGISTER NOW

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#2. 3 OFFENSIVE SHOTS TO HIT WHEN THE PICKLEBALL IS BELOW THE NET

Generally speaking, the goal on the court is force your opponents to hit the ball above the net, ⬆️ so you can hit down on the ball toward your opponents' feet. ⬇️ However, at times, you may want to hit an offensive shot even when the pickleball sits below the top of the pickleball net (which can be difficult). Learn 3 shots that you can use to go on the offensive when the pickleball is below the top of the net.

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​INTRODUCING THE FS TOUR SERIES​

The FS Tour Series provides competitive athletes of all backgrounds with elite performance elements in a paddle that’s been proven at the highest levels.

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#3. 3 TIPS TO PREVENT THE LOBBER FROM LOBBING THE PICKLEBALL

One of the most common questions asked of pickleball teaching pros is how to prevent a lobber from lobbing. 🛑 Learn the answer to this common question and get 3 tips to prevent the lobber from lobbing on the pickleball court.

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​PRO S1 PICKLEBALL by SELKIRK​

Designed to outperform, the Pro S1 Pickleball embodies an advanced aerodynamic design with its patented 38-hole pattern, delivering consistent ball flight on every shot. The seamless construction of the Pro S1 gives players the finesse that they’re looking for with more speed and optimal spin.

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#4. HOW TO AVOID GETTING "BODY BAGGED" IN PICKLEBALL

No player likes to get hit with the pickleball—in other words, getting “tagged” or “body bagged” as some players will call it—as it can be a blow physically and to your ego. 💥 So, how can you best neutralize your opponents’ body shots and avoid getting “tagged” or “body bagged” on the court? Learn a few tips to avoid the "body bag" on the court.

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#5. WHAT IS "UNCALCULATED PICKLEBALL" & HOW IT WILL HELP YOU WIN MORE POINTS

When Tyson McGuffin won his first first triple crown 👑 at the 2023 Tournament of Champions after staging a comeback, he attributed his and partner James Ignatowich's turnaround to playing “uncalculated pickleball.” So, what is “uncalculated pickleball”? And, why should you consider adapting this strategy to your pickleball game?

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​​REGISTRATION LOTTERY OPENS NEXT WEEK FOR THE US OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS​

The Registration Lottery for the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships will be held January 10th-16th! Save the date and start securing your partners now! Need help finding a partner? Visit the ​US OPEN's Player Connections page on Facebook​!

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! 🥳

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#6. RULES REFRESH - NOTHING BUT NET

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

Your opponent runs forward from mid-court to play the ball. She hits the ball after it bounces. After she hits the ball, it goes across the net and hits you in the shoulder. After you get hit with the ball, her momentum takes her through the non-volley zone; and to arrest her momentum, she reaches out and grabs the net post. What is the call? 🤔

This is a fault on you for getting hit with the ball. The rule that governs this is 7.I. The natural question many will have is “Why isn’t grabbing the net post a fault?” The reason is because as soon as the ball hit you, it became a ‘dead ball’. After the dead ball occurs, players can touch the net, net post, the opponent’s court, etc.

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#7. HEADLINES FROM THE COURT

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

• 🔔 Ready for round two! The encore of the successful Pickleball Slam event scheduled for February features a new matchup and has major sponsors, including Franklin Sports and State Farm, lining up to get involved.

• Elon Musk has doubled down on his appreciation of the sport. His newly built “Boring Bodega” in Bastrop, Texas features a pickleball court. 🤠
• Bon voyage! 🧳 Pickleball vacations are on the rise with cruise ships even making space on deck for courts. What pickleball destination do you have your sights set on in 2024? 👀

• A dink a day keeps the doctor away… 🧠 Research shows that pickleball helps seniors boost mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve cognition.
• See how Macon, Georgia’s newest pickleball facility rang in the New Year with a unique ball drop… a pickleball drop! 🪩

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#8. ON THE TOUR

Are you missing all the happenings in pro pickleball? Check out the recaps of the major events of 2023 below.

• ​The Year In Review In Pickleball Part One​
• ​The Year In Review In Pickleball Part Two​

There are already changes to the pro events scheduled in the new year so be sure to update your calendars with the pro pickleball action in 2024! 🗓

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#9. WHAT TO ADD TO THE PICKLEBALL DICTIONARY?

​Tweener… Pickleball4America… Uncalculated pickleball… Elf toe…

Pickleball has had an exciting 12 months. New faces, places, shots, terms, etc. have joined and even changed the pickleball community. So, when we look back at the 2023 edition of The Pickleball Dictionary (see below), we are not surprised to see terms and definitions that are now outdated or things that are missing because they only arose in the last 12 months.

Do you have any terms or phrases that you think should be added to The Pickleball Dictionary? 🤔 Let us know by replying to this email. Our inbox is open. 📥

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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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