The sports scene in North America is changing fast. In major cities, demand for recreational facilities has exploded—especially in pickleball hotspots like New York and Los Angeles. Courts that were once half-empty are now booked out like exclusive restaurants. With urban space limited and weekend slots scarce, the question becomes: how do we get more people on the court without building more of them? That’s where sports tech steps in. Platforms like CatchCorner are turning booking chaos into a smooth tap-and-play experience, cutting through the friction of phone calls and long waitlists.

Effective counterattacking in pickleball starts with understanding three key zones. The dominant side (zone one), the body (zone two), and the non-dominant side (zone three) each demand a unique approach. Most players struggle in zone two—where getting jammed is all too common. The fix? A one-handed counter, timed close to the body, with a short punch powered by the shoulder. Less is more when the pace picks up, and letting the ball come in a little can make all the difference.

In the emoji-obsessed world we live in, it seems almost everything has its own icon—except pickleball. That’s the spark behind a San Diego-based movement, spearheaded by startup TeachMe.To, to get Apple to finally add a pickleball emoji to the iOS keyboard. Led by company president Nick O’Brien, the effort is backed by a Change.org petition aimed at reaching 25,000 signatures. The emoji? A clean, community-approved design featuring a square paddle and iconic yellow ball. After all, if curling and archery get to be emoji-official, why not the sport that millions of us are actually playing?

Pickleball isn’t just a sport—it’s becoming a love language. The new series How I Met My Partner is making waves both on Pickleballtv and at the Denver Film Festival, where it was nominated in the Unscripted Category at the 11th annual SeriesFest. Blending romance and recreation, the show dives into real-life stories of couples who met mid-rally, paddle in hand. Whether it’s the charm of spontaneous chemistry or the shared joy of sport, the series taps into something a lot of us believe but rarely say out loud: maybe the person we’re meant to meet isn’t on an app—they’re on the other side of the net.

Improving your serve and return isn’t about reinventing your swing—sometimes it’s just about fixing your toss and using your legs. In this lesson, Kennedy offers game-changing tips for players struggling with consistency, spin, and depth on their serve. She starts with the fundamentals: contact out in front, not over the waist, with a toss that isn’t erratic or side-flung like a game of dodgeball. From there, she adds the crucial detail—aiming for depth, adding topspin, and using your hips—not just your arm—for acceleration. If your serve’s been landing in the middle of the box or worse, now you know why.

Pickleball in 2025 is all about speed, aggression, and a ruthless shot selection that doesn’t give your opponent room to breathe. The seven “deadly shots” covered here offer a blueprint for players looking to impose their will on the game. From the dripping hybrid of a drive and a drop, to the intimidating Ernie and its high-flying glory, each tactic is built to pressure opponents from every angle. Toss in the speed up, the powerfully orchestrated shake-and-bake, and the underestimated angled overhead, and you’ve got a toolset that makes defense feel obsolete. Mastering these shots means mastering the momentum.

Every player has blind spots, and unfortunately, most of them are standing smack dab in the kitchen. From involuntary flinching to ill-timed panic drives, many common pickleball errors fly under the radar simply because they feel so natural. But don’t let your instincts fool you. Flinching when someone speeds up a shot isn’t bravery—it’s biology. Same with driving balls from awkward spots or misreading spin because the ball has you hypnotized. Even more damaging is believing your improvement hinges solely on court time. In reality, small mental shifts and smarter drills (some of which can be done in your garage) can make a world of difference.

Experience counts—especially in pickleball. And for players in their 50s and beyond, there are five essential tips that can significantly raise your level of play without requiring you to sprint like you’re 25. It all starts with one thing: get to the kitchen. Every. Single. Rally. The non-volley zone is where the game is won or lost, and arriving there quickly after your return gives you a huge strategic edge. Forget blasting a low, hard return—lift that return higher over the net and buy yourself time. If you’re not at the kitchen by the third shot, you’re likely stuck reacting to pace you can’t control.

Anyone who’s ever faced a tennis player on a pickleball court knows how it starts: blistering serves, heavy drives, and a barrage of pace. They look like they’re controlling the match—until they’re not. The secret? Stop playing their game. Four key tactics can neutralize the power and flip the pressure. First, take a step back on the return and aim deep crosscourt. This adds time, changes tempo, and allows you to move into position without eating a forehand to the chest. While you’re advancing, have your partner shift more toward the middle to cover for your temporary vulnerability. You’re not trying to win the point here—you’re just surviving the opening.

Elite pickleball players do more than just keep the ball in play—they manage every shot with purpose, precision, and positioning. The game starts with something many ignore: returning to a ready position immediately after each shot. Staying square, paddle up, and eyes forward drastically improves reaction time and keeps players from getting caught flat-footed in hands battles. Combine that with consistent contact points—always out in front and between the hips and shoulders—and you’re suddenly turning neutral rallies into pressure situations for your opponents. None of that happens, of course, without proper footwork. The best players are constantly adjusting their position with short, efficient steps that support balance and shot control.

If you’re serious about turning up the heat in your pickleball game, there are three drills that can supercharge your offensive instincts. These exercises aren’t about hitting harder—they’re about attacking smarter. First up is the Dead Dink Attack Drill. In any game, you’re going to get those soft, lifeless dinks that barely make it over the net. Instead of tapping it back like a polite guest, this drill trains you to either roll with topspin or speed up off the bounce. The goal? Turn fluff into firepower. Feed after feed, you train your instincts to recognize these opportunities and strike with intent.

When it comes to the third shot drop in pickleball, most players assume it’s all about having “soft hands” or “good touch,” but that myth has held back more careers than bad paddle technology. The truth? It’s preparation and technique that make the difference. From positioning right after the serve to how you turn your body early and move toward the ball, every detail matters. Consistent third shot drops start long before the ball even gets to you, and mastering this shot means understanding timing, footwork, and how to glide into your shot rather than standing flat-footed like a spectator.

If you’re feeling stuck in your pickleball game and wondering why that elusive next level keeps slipping through your paddle, you’re not alone. Common mistakes — from lazy footwork on dinks to overhitting at the kitchen — are often the culprits holding players back. A top-level breakdown identifies seven key errors that almost every player makes, and correcting just a few of them can have a massive impact. From relying too heavily on your forehand to poor communication with partners, these issues sabotage your performance more than you realize, especially in the transition zone where many points are won or lost.

Pickleball isn’t just giving you quicker hands and a better tan — according to a new study, it’s giving your brain a massive boost too. A report from Apple using Apple Watch data found that frequent pickleball players reported 60% lower rates of depressive symptoms compared to non-players. That’s a staggering statistic, but anyone who’s spent an afternoon dinking, laughing, and pretending not to care about the score could’ve told you: pickleball is good for your soul. It’s a full-body, full-mind reset disguised as a really fun game — no Peloton subscription required.

A new 27-acre park is officially coming to north Palm Desert, and it’s serving up something pickleball players will love: four new courts built with wind abatement features. Dave Erwin Park, located near Dinah Shore and Gerald Ford Drives, will also feature basketball courts, a splash pad, a community garden, dog parks, walking paths, and outdoor fitness equipment. Approved unanimously by the city council, construction is set to begin in March 2026 and will take about 16 to 18 months to complete. With thousands of new homes being built nearby, this park is part of Palm Desert’s big plan to grow alongside its community — and, let’s be honest, to keep everyone properly caffeinated on sunshine, bocce ball, and dinking drills.

Kenny Loggins isn’t just playing in the Danger Zone—he’s serving there. The ‘80s hitmaker is officially entering the pickleball pantheon with his very own tournament, and it’s every bit as wild as it sounds. The Kenny Loggins Pickleball in the Danger Zone Tournament hits Santa Barbara from May 2–4, fusing retro rock vibes with fast-paced paddle action, all to benefit the Unity Shoppe and families impacted by the Los Angeles fires. Think: fewer power ballads, more power serves.

A recent round of scientific studies is trying to tell us that golf is better for your health than pickleball. Apparently, leisurely meandering around a manicured field for five hours while chasing a tiny ball and shouting at geese offers more “long-term health benefits” than a sweaty, competitive kitchen battle. Adorable. But here at the Crenshaw Pickleball Club, we respectfully (and energetically) disagree. Sure, golf might be lower impact—if you don’t count the toll of waiting behind a foursome of retirees debating hybrid clubs. Meanwhile, pickleball has you sprinting, swinging, and laughing in actual game-like intervals, not existential contemplation between holes.

Eighteen-year-old pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters is already a living legend with 148 titles to her name, but for the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, she’s adding a wildcard to her resume—partnering with tennis legend Andre Agassi. The unlikely duo will compete in mixed doubles, with their debut match set for April 30, airing live on CBS Sports Network. Waters says she’s motivated by growing the sport. Agassi jokes she’s simply tired of winning and wanted a challenge. Whether it’s savvy marketing or genuine chemistry, this team-up is the latest power move in the sport’s rapid evolution.

Once considered the sidekick role in doubles pickleball, the right-side player is officially having a main-character moment in 2025. Where once they were the safe and steady setup artist, new-era right-siders are taking control—aggressively. Thanks to pros like Gabe Tardio, Christian Alshon, and even Matt Wright’s late-career pivot, the right side is no longer the beta position. These players aren’t waiting for left-side partners to finish points. Instead, they’re stepping into the middle, taking balls out of the air, and dictating pace and placement. It’s a role reversal that requires precision, court vision, and a paddle built for attacking.

There’s a serve in pickleball that gets more dirty looks than a lob at a tournament, and yet—it’s completely legal. Meet the screwball serve, a curving sidespin shot that baffles opponents and ignites comment sections. When executed correctly, it bends across the court in a way that disrupts timing, footwork, and decision-making. While it might look questionable to the untrained eye, the serve follows every rule in the book—upward swing, paddle below the wrist, ball below the waist. And once you see the ball veer into your opponent’s body or float deceptively wide, you’ll understand why it feels like cheating—without actually being cheating.