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Master the Mental Game with Food That Feeds Your Brain
Perhaps you’ve noticed this pattern. You drill and rec-play systematically each week, yet your talents on the court from day to day are wildly unpredictable. Last Tuesday you were queen of the court, but today you can’t seem to get a ball over the net. What is going on? It should be no surprise that the barrier may be nutrition-related. Just like steady practice can improve your skills over time, consistently eating foods that feed your brain may make a difference in your spe

Brandi Givens
3 days ago4 min read


A New Court in Town: Pickleball Hits Boston Big
PickleBOS Boston, Massachusetts The sports culture in and around the Boston area is iconic to say the least, and adding pickleball to the mix has been in high anticipation. Well, now the wait is over for this fervent sports community. As one of the last major cities in the United States without a true dedicated indoor facility, PickleBOS with two locations has drastically changed the sports landscape in the New England area. Eleven courts in South Boston and 10 due to open so
Drew Wathey
3 days ago2 min read


From Multiplex to Match Point
CenterLine 33, a former 16-screen movie theater in Northern California, has been transformed into one of the most distinctive indoor pickleball clubs in the country, where private courts, stadium seating, luxury amenities, and a vision for the future are redefining the player experience. There is an old joke about a senior pickleball player, hooked on the sport, who prays, “Dear Lord, please tell me there will be pickleball in Heaven.” The Lord answers: “My son, I have good n

Matthew Schwartz
3 days ago9 min read


Rancho Valencia: A Premier Racquet Sports Destination
Set across 45 acres of lush gardens and citrus groves in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa blends luxury, privacy and world-class racket sports in an intimate, Spanish Colonial–inspired setting. The property features 49 elegantly appointed casitas, each with a private patio and fireplace, along with three private residences, offering a refined backdrop for both weekend escapes and extended stays. Today, it sits at the forefront of a growing trend in hi
Laura Gainor
3 days ago2 min read


Ignacio de Elia
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina Current Residence: Tampa, Florida Age: 39 Education: Undergrad at Torcuato Di Tella, Master’s at San Andrés, MBA exchanges at Kellogg School of Management and at FGV in Brazil Employment: Brand CFO at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse Marital Status: Married, one son DUPR Rating: 5.1 doubles, 5.5 singles Favorite Shot: Forehand drive and backhand roll You are 6 feet, 6 inches tall. How do you use your height to your advantage? I extend as much as I

Alice Tym
4 days ago2 min read


The Art Of Deception
We have established the importance of consistency, doing repetitive drills, and establishing good muscle memory. The problem is you do not want to be predictable. Yes, you want your shots to be consistent, but if your opponent knows where you will hit the ball, you have given him the advantage. Deception is setting up to hit one shot and at the last minute hitting the ball in a different location. A deceptive shot is especially effective early on in a match to keep your oppon

Alice Tym
Aug 214 min read


Eyes on the Ball
Why protective eyewear belongs on every pickleball court. She's not just protecting her eyes, she's seeing the ball better because of her Vantage Labs glasses. photo credit: Vantage Labs. Pickleball is one of my biggest passions, and I talk about it to anyone who will listen. I’m a believer that pickleball can make the world a better place by bringing people together and spreading joy. But every time I step onto the court, something else takes over. It’s not my two-handed bac
Lydia Hirt
Jul 226 min read


Every Player Feels It—Few Players Fix It
The Pickleball Cowboy on Competing When the Stakes are High You’re in a tournament. The match matters. Maybe it’s for the gold medal, maybe it’s to avoid a drop in your rating, maybe it’s just a game against a rival you’ve never beaten. You’ve been playing solidly all day—clean serves, consistent dinks, effortless resets. Then the score hits 8-all. And something shifts. Your paddle feels heavier. Your feet slow down. You float a serve long. You pop up an easy third-shot drop.

Kyle McMakin
Jul 228 min read


Put Spring in Your Sport with the Power of Nutrition
March is National Nutrition Month® and the 2026 theme is: Discover the Power of Nutrition. This spring, try refreshing your insight on how food can help your game bloom. From the most casual rec player to the budding pro, balanced nutrition really does have the power to give us that winning edge. How Food Can Germinate Better Athletes Eating well doesn’t just shape how you look in your athletic wear. A nutrient-dense eating plan can: Supply energy for your body and brain to f

Brandi Givens
Jul 224 min read


Costa Navarino: A one-of-a-kind destination for the international pickleball community.
For those seeking the ultimate combination of accommodation and sports, Costa Navarino in Greece has emerged as a standout destination for active travelers. Located in the Messinia region of the southwestern Peloponnese, the destination blends Mediterranean beauty, world-class hospitality, and a growing lineup of racket sports, making it ideal for a premier pickleball vacation. Costa Navarino is currently home to four 5-star premium resorts, each designed to showcase the regi
Laura Gainor
Jul 212 min read


Sunset Smash
California SMASH El Segundo, California Recently, a philosopher said, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn football,” an update of the famous quote about baseball. And, for every tight spiral coming from the throwing arm of Josh Allen, or acrobatic touchdown run by Derrick Henry, the gridiron has often been the focal point in this country for so many sports enthusiasts. While the sport of pickleball has a long way to go to eclipse the fanatici
Drew Wathey
Jul 213 min read


Camden Chaffin
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio Age: 14 Rating: DUPR of 6.116 in Men’s Doubles and 6.113 in Men’s Singles Favorite Shot: Two-handed backhand roll Favorite Tournament: Worlds PPA – Dallas Describe how you developed your best shot, the two-handed backhand roll. I started playing pickleball when I was 9 years old and not very strong. I used a two-handed backhand for control and power. I practiced with my 18-year-old brother, and I watched instruction videos of Simone Jardim. Unlike a

Alice Tym
Jul 212 min read


T.O. Is All IN
Legendary wide receiver Terrell Owens brings NFL fire to the pickleball court. Terrell Owens, NFL Hall of Fame receiver and avid pickleball player, leaps in the air for an overhead smash during a game at a private court in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The excitement in his voice is palpable and booms through the phone because he is minutes away from doing his favorite thing. “I’m driving to play pickleball right now,” Terrell Owens says from his car in Southern California. Yes,

Matthew Schwartz
Jul 215 min read


Be a Tiger, Not a Cheetah: The Art of Speed Control
One of the earliest lessons most pickleball players learn is simple: Get to the non-volley zone as fast as you can. While that advice isn’t wrong, it’s incomplete—and for many players it becomes a ceiling rather than a foundation. Winning points at higher levels isn’t about how fast you move, it’s about how well you control your speed. On the pickleball court, cheetahs chase; tigers stalk. And if you want better shot selection, cleaner contact and more controlled points, it’s

Suzee Anderson
Feb 264 min read


The Pickleball Puzzle: How to Outsmart, Outlast, and Outplay Every Opponent
In pickleball, every game is a puzzle. Each point is another clue. The best players don’t just react, they solve. Whether you’re facing bangers or defensive grinders, your job is not simply to hit good shots. Your job is to decode and execute your plan against the equation in front of you faster and more effectively than your opponents decode and execute against yours. Power, spin, pace, placement and positioning are not just physical skills, they are information. Every ball

Kyle McMakin
Feb 188 min read


Back to Baseline: A Winning One-Day Meal Plan
You may have watched the after-match interview of an adorable young pro player who openly admitted to having an “awful” diet. It caused chuckles across our pickle-munity to hear that this top athlete is flourishing despite his not-so-golden health habit. I think we all appreciated his honesty, but how is this possible? The truth is that humans can adapt to eating just about anything temporarily. That’s how we’ve managed to survive famines, wars, and now the barrage of temptin

Brandi Givens
Feb 174 min read


LevelUp Pickleball Club Opens in Pittsburgh
Levelup Pickleball Club Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania In the south suburbs of Pittsburgh, where football has normally dominated the sports landscape, pickleball has surged in popularity. Where there were once just about 200 avid pickleballers (eight years ago), that number is now closer to 10,000—and even higher if you add casual players. For Wayne and Lisa Dollard, husband and wife and former collegiate tennis players, their interest in pickleball grew steadily and eventually led
Drew Wathey
Feb 172 min read


Rachel Rohrabacher
Hometown: Tampa, FL Age: 28 Rating: 6.13 Favorite Event: PPA Cincinnati You were an outstanding doubles player in tennis at the University of South Carolina. What of those skills carried over into pickleball? Anticipation at the net and reaction time translated immediately, along with learning how to be a good teammate. Doubles tennis teaches you how to communicate, read your partner, and play with someone else on the court, all of which are essential in pickleball. What

Alice Tym
Feb 173 min read


Caribbean Capital of Pickleball
With 71 courts across eight islands, Sandals and Beaches Resorts are rapidly becoming some of the world’s most exciting destinations for pickleball enthusiasts. Sandals South Coast In the world of luxury travel, the Caribbean has long been known as the capital of sun and sand, but Sandals and Beaches Resorts have officially transformed the islands into the ultimate destination for pickleball, with 71 courts across eight islands. Through an expansive partnership with USA Pickl

Julie Talerico
Jan 307 min read


Pickleball is the Destination
Aurora Anguilla Resort These luxury getaways prove pickleball can be as refined as it is fun. As pickleball continues its global rise, select resorts are elevating the sport from a casual amenity to a defining pillar of the guest experience. In each issue of Pickleball Magazine, we spotlight one property that delivers far more than courts—offering immersive pickleball programming thoughtfully paired with luxury accommodations. Resorts such The Boca Raton, Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Laura Gainor
Jan 296 min read
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