📝 The Blog
Pickleball Tips, Guides & Reviews
Original how-tos, paddle picks, and New England pickleball coverage — written to actually help your game.
Latest
From the Blog
Jul 6, 2026
Pro Pickleball’s Biggest Stars: The Players to Know
Meet pro pickleball's biggest stars — Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, Federico Staksrud and the challengers. A starter guide to the pros to watch.
Jul 6, 2026
What Is Major League Pickleball? Teams, Format & 2026 Season
Major League Pickleball explained: 23 teams, four-player rosters, rally scoring, the Dreambreaker tiebreaker, and the 2026 May–August season.
Jul 6, 2026
PPA Tour vs. MLP: How Pro Pickleball Actually Works
PPA Tour, MLP, UPA, APP — pro pickleball explained in plain English. How the tours merged, who runs the sport, and where to watch in 2026.
Jul 6, 2026
The Half-Volley in Pickleball: Handling Balls at Your Feet
The half-volley in pickleball: how to hit the short-hop ball at your feet in the transition zone — technique, when to use it, and drills to stop popping it up.
Jul 6, 2026
Playing Pickleball in the Wind: Adjustments That Win Outdoors
How to play pickleball in the wind: adjustments for headwind, tailwind, and crosswind, which shots to use and avoid, and why wind rewards the smarter team.
Jul 6, 2026
How to Beat Bangers in Pickleball (Without Out-Hitting Them)
How to beat bangers in pickleball: block don't swing, reset their pace, keep every ball low and short, and turn a power player's biggest weapon into a liability.
Jul 6, 2026
Point Construction in Pickleball: Build Points, Don’t Force Them
Point construction in pickleball: the neutral–pressure–attack framework, how to earn attackable balls instead of forcing, and the patience habits of winning players.
Jul 6, 2026
How to Anticipate in Pickleball: Read Opponents Like a 5.0
How to anticipate in pickleball: read the paddle face, body, and contact point to know the shot before it's hit — the skill that separates 4.5 from 5.0.
Jul 6, 2026
Pickleball Singles Strategy: How to Win the Whole-Court Game
Pickleball singles strategy: how singles differs from doubles, serve and return tactics, court positioning, the passing-shot game, and the fitness it demands.
Jul 6, 2026
Pickleball Partner Communication: Calls, Signals & Teamwork
Pickleball partner communication: the essential calls (mine/yours/switch/bounce), who takes the middle, hand signals, and how good teams talk between points.
Jul 6, 2026
Poaching in Pickleball: When to Cross & How Not to Get Burned
Poaching in pickleball: what it is, when crossing into your partner's side wins points, how to do it without leaving your court open, and poaching etiquette.
Jul 6, 2026
Stacking in Pickleball: What It Is & How to Do It
Stacking in pickleball explained simply: what it is, why teams do it, how to stack on serve and return without getting lost, and when it's worth the trouble.
Jul 6, 2026
Pickleball Doubles Strategy: The Complete Playbook
Pickleball doubles strategy: the serve-and-return game plan, getting to the net together, who covers what, targeting, and the patterns that win at every level.
Jul 6, 2026
The Split-Step: Pickleball’s Most Important Footwork Habit
The split-step in pickleball: what it is, why it fixes late reactions and lunging, exactly when to time it, and drills to make it automatic.
Jul 6, 2026
Pickleball Groundstrokes: Forehand & Backhand Fundamentals
Pickleball groundstroke fundamentals: forehand and backhand technique, footwork, compact swings, and the drills that build consistent, controlled baseline shots.
Jul 6, 2026
How to Hit an Overhead Smash in Pickleball
How to hit an overhead smash in pickleball: the footwork (turn, don't backpedal), the swing, where to aim, and how to stop missing the easiest shot in the game.
Jul 6, 2026
How to Volley in Pickleball: Block, Punch & Roll Volleys
How to volley in pickleball: the ready position, the three volley types (block, punch, roll), where to aim, and the drills to build fast, reliable hands at the net.
Jul 3, 2026
Indoor Pickleball in New England: Where to Play in Winter
Indoor pickleball in New England — where to play through winter, how to find indoor courts by state, indoor vs outdoor balls, and what to look for in a facility.
Jul 3, 2026
The Best Pickleball Ball Machines (Are They Worth It?)
The best pickleball ball machines: what to look for (capacity, oscillation, spin, battery, remote), whether they're worth it, and top options for solo practice.
Jul 3, 2026
Best Pickleball Grips & Overgrips (and How to Use Them)
The best pickleball grips and overgrips: the difference between them, how to build up grip size, cushioned vs tacky options, and how they help prevent pickleball elbow.
Jul 3, 2026
The Best Pickleball Nets: Portable & Permanent (2026)
The best pickleball nets for 2026 — portable nets for driveways and courts, plus permanent systems. What to look for, regulation height, and top picks.
Jul 3, 2026
The Best Pickleball Drills to Level Up Your Game
The best pickleball drills for every skill — dinking, the third-shot drop, resets, hands battles, serves, and footwork — plus solo drills you can do alone.
Jul 3, 2026
Pickleball Terms Glossary: The Lingo Explained (A–Z)
A plain-English pickleball terms glossary — dink, kitchen, ATP, Erne, stacking, DUPR and more, each defined simply, with links to full guides.
Jul 3, 2026
The Best Pickleball Paddles for Seniors (2026)
The best pickleball paddles for seniors: what to look for (lightweight, control, comfort, large sweet spot), how to protect your arm, and top control-oriented picks.
Jul 3, 2026
Pickleball for Seniors: Benefits, Safety & How to Start
Pickleball for seniors: why it's the perfect sport for older adults, the health benefits, how to start safely, injury prevention, and the best paddles for seniors.
Jul 2, 2026
Why Is It Called Pickleball? The Real Story
Why is it called pickleball? The two origin stories — the "pickle boat" and the dog named Pickles — and which one history actually supports, plus who invented the sport.
Jul 2, 2026
Pickleball Court Dimensions: Size, Lines & Layout Explained
Pickleball court dimensions explained: the 20 × 44 ft size, net height, kitchen (non-volley zone), service areas, and how much total space you need — same for singles and doubles.
Jul 2, 2026
How to Build a Pickleball Court: Dimensions, Cost & Steps (2026)
How to build a pickleball court: the space and dimensions you need, surface options, net setup, a full cost breakdown, and a cheap DIY backyard option.
Jul 2, 2026
Pickleball vs. Tennis: Key Differences (and Which to Play)
Pickleball vs. tennis: court size, equipment, serving, scoring, and physical demands compared — plus whether tennis players can cross over, and which is right for you.
Jul 2, 2026
Pickleball vs. Padel: What’s the Difference? (2026)
Pickleball vs. padel: the real differences in court, ball, paddle, scoring, and where each sport is popular — and which one is right for you.