📝 The Blog
Pickleball Tips, Guides & Reviews
Original how-tos, paddle picks, and New England pickleball coverage — written to actually help your game.
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From the Blog
Nov 12, 2026
The Overhead Smash in Pickleball: How to Put the Ball Away for Good
Hit a pickleball overhead smash by turning sideways, tracking the ball with your off hand, making contact high and out in front, and snapping down at a sharp angle. Here is the full technique, footwork and the mistakes to avoid.
Nov 12, 2026
How to Clean a Pickleball Paddle (and Actually Restore Its Spin)
Wipe your paddle face with a damp microfiber cloth after every session, use a paddle eraser on a raw carbon face to lift ball residue, and never soak it or use harsh abrasives. Here is the full routine.
Nov 11, 2026
Thermoformed vs Cold-Pressed Pickleball Paddles: What the Hype Actually Means
Thermoformed paddles are hot-molded as one unibody piece with foam-filled walls for more power; cold-pressed paddles are glued and pressed cooler for a softer, more controlled feel. Here is how to choose.
Nov 11, 2026
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Haven’t Won Gold Since Nationals: Every Loss, Explained
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio last won gold at Nationals in September 2026. Every loss since, who beat them, and whether the top men's doubles team will split.
Nov 11, 2026
Skinny Singles in Pickleball: The Official Rules, Which Side You Play and How to Win
Skinny singles is half-court singles. Learn the official USA Pickleball mini-singles rules, which side you play on by score, and the strategy that wins.
Nov 10, 2026
Pro Pickleball Rules vs Rec Rules: What Changes on the PPA Tour and in MLP
Pro pickleball rules explained: side-out vs rally scoring, video challenges, the 2,100 RPM paddle cap, timeouts and coaching on the PPA Tour and in MLP vs rec play.
Nov 10, 2026
Selkirk Boomstik ST: Price, Specs and What Changed From the Original
The Selkirk Boomstik ST launched Nov 10, 2026 at $350. Full specs for both shapes, what changed from the original Boomstik, and who should buy it.
Nov 10, 2026
Pro Spotlight: Christian Alshon, the Tennis All-American Who Took Over the Left Side
Christian Alshon profile: college tennis All-American, No. 5 in the world, 11 PPA titles, his 2026 run with Andrei Daescu and the forehand speed-up to steal.
Nov 9, 2026
Pickleball in Wells, ME: Walter Marsh Courts, Day Passes & Winter Play (2026)
Pickleball in Wells, Maine: 6 gated courts at Walter Marsh (412 Branch Rd), $8 day pass, $135 season, $5 open play, plus Monday-night indoor play in winter.
Nov 9, 2026
MLP Asia 2026: Schedule, Teams and What to Watch as the League Debuts Nov 13
MLP Asia 2026 starts Nov 13 in Japan: the six teams, every match night, New England start times (4 a.m. ET), Tama Shimabukuro and the auction draft explained.
Nov 9, 2026
Who Is Tama Shimabukuro? The 15-Year-Old Skateboarder Who Became a Pickleball World Champion
Tama Shimabukuro went from sponsored skateboarder to 15-year-old pickleball world champion. His Hawaii roots, his wild origin story, and his rapid rise.
Nov 9, 2026
A Tennis Star in a Pickleball Final: Jack Sock’s Run at the 2026 Worlds
Former tennis star Jack Sock reached the men's singles final at the 2026 Pickleball World Championships. His run, his Selkirk paddle, and what it means.
Nov 9, 2026
What Paddles Did the 2026 Worlds Champions Play?
Every paddle the 2026 Pickleball World Championships champions played - Waters' Franklin, Ben Johns' and Goins' JOOLA, JW Johnson's Paddletek, and more.
Nov 9, 2026
What Paddle Does John Lucian Goins Use? (2026)
John Lucian Goins plays the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus 3S (16mm). The 2026 Worlds singles champ's paddle, his style, and whether it suits you.
Nov 9, 2026
Pickleball World Championships 2026 Results: Waters’ Triple Crown and a 15-Year-Old Champion
Results from the 2026 Pickleball World Championships: Anna Leigh Waters' triple crown, a 15-year-old doubles champion, Jack Sock's run, and every final.
Nov 7, 2026
Pickleball in Farmington, CT: Westwoods’ 8 Courts, Indoor Nights & Fees (2026)
Pickleball in Farmington, CT: 8 courts at Westwoods (14 Westwoods Dr), $15-$25/hr summer reservations, indoor open play at New Horizons Village and Up Club.
Nov 7, 2026
How Long Do Pickleballs Last? Cracks, Cold and the Bounce Test
How long do pickleballs last? There's no official lifespan. Here's the USA Pickleball bounce spec, the cracked-ball rule and how often New England is too cold.
Nov 6, 2026
Drop Volley in Pickleball: How to Kill Pace at the Kitchen Line
The drop volley in pickleball kills a hard drive short in the kitchen. Learn the loose grip, the open face, where to aim, the volley rules and 3 drills.
Nov 6, 2026
Pickleball in Trumbull, CT: 20 Public Courts, Lights & Parking Rules (2026)
Pickleball in Trumbull, CT: 20 town courts at Tashua, Island Brook and Unity Park, free resident reservations, the $112 parking catch, and winter indoor play.
Nov 5, 2026
Pickleball Paddle Warranty: 12 Brands Compared (2026)
Pickleball paddle warranty terms from 12 brands: who offers lifetime coverage, registration deadlines, what's excluded, and the 40°F cold-weather clause.
Nov 5, 2026
Pickleball Timeouts: How Many You Get and When to Call One
Pickleball timeouts explained: 2 or 3 per game, 1 minute each, one 15-minute medical timeout per match, and why rec play has no timeout rule (2026 rules).
Nov 4, 2026
Pro Pickleball Tips: 7 Techniques From the Tour You Can Steal
Pro pickleball tips that work at any level: deep returns, targeted dinks, resets over counters, smart speed-ups and moving as a pair, plus a 4-week plan.
Nov 4, 2026
Is Pickleball Getting a Ryder Cup? Inside the Rise of Nations Cup Pickleball
From the 2024 Atlantic Cup to the 2026 MLP Nations Cup to a 2027 amateur event - how country-vs-country team pickleball became a fixture.
Nov 4, 2026
You Can Play in a Pickleball Nations Cup Too: The Amateur Event Coming in 2027
DUPR s Minor League Nations Cup lets rated amateurs play country-vs-country, Feb 24-28, 2027. Divisions, qualifying and how New England players get in.
Nov 4, 2026
What Paddles Did Team USA Play at the MLP Nations Cup?
The 6 paddles behind Team USA s 2026 MLP Nations Cup win - Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey and more, across 4 brands. Verified, with specs.
Nov 4, 2026
Selkirk Is Moving Away From Widebody Paddles. The Market Isn’t (Yet)
Selkirk widebody paddles are on the way out: Rob Barnes says elongated outsells widebody 8 to 1. Our 823-paddle catalog shows what the rest of the market does.
Nov 4, 2026
Pro Spotlight: Hayden Patriquin, the World No. 2 With the Fastest Hands on Tour
Hayden Patriquin profile: Yucaipa roots, No. 2 in the world, back-to-back Worlds doubles titles, 2026 partners and MLP team, plus his fast hands to steal.
Nov 3, 2026
Pickleball in Cheshire, CT: 6 Lighted Courts at Cheshire Park (2026)
Pickleball in Cheshire, CT: six lighted courts at Cheshire Park, the town's court rental fees, Copper Valley Club, and where to play indoors in winter.
Nov 3, 2026
Pickleball in Stowe, VT: 6 Lighted Courts at Memorial Park (2026)
Pickleball in Stowe, Vermont: six lighted Memorial Park courts, first-come open play, the May-October season, winter options and the plan to move the courts.
Nov 2, 2026
Pickleball in the Rain: Can You Play on a Wet Court?
Pickleball in the rain: what the 2026 rulebook actually says, four checks for a wet court, when to stop, and how often rain hits New England's outdoor courts.
