Cantiere delle Marche (CdM) is crafting a unique experience for a fortunate U.S. client by building a 165-foot explorer yacht that includes a full-size pickleball court. This yacht, the second Flexplorer 165 model sold by the Italian shipyard, has been customized to meet the owner's distinct preferences, making it a standout within the explorer range.

There seems to be no middle ground on pickleball. People either love it or they hate it. We’ll leave it to others to debate pickleball’s merits as a sport, but it is good for us as a society. That’s because you can’t play pickleball alone.

Over the years, social scientists have criticized and bemoaned younger generations’ substitution of technology and social media for in-person social interactions. However, the decline in social interaction is older than millennials and Generation Z. People have been talking about the lack of civic engagement in every sphere of life at least as far back as the 1990s, when political scientist Robert Putnam published his essay “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.”

Vince Vaughn has acquired a majority ownership stake in the Coachella Valley Scorpions, one of 12 teams in the two-year-old National Pickleball League (NPL). Vaughn, a known pickleball enthusiast and actor, joins co-owner and team member Kim Jagd, who retains a minority share. The NPL, a professional league for players aged 50 and over, has seen significant growth, doubling its teams since its debut season.

Coco Gauff, the American tennis star, found herself in an awkward situation at the Olympics when U.S. rugby player Ilona Maher brought up pickleball. Known for her social media presence, Maher approached Gauff on the street before the Opening Ceremonies in Paris. The conversation turned tense when Maher mentioned pickleball, prompting Gauff to try and walk away before Maher pulled her back. While their interaction was playful, it highlighted Gauff's serious disdain for the rapidly growing paddle sport.

Imagine playing pickleball on a yacht, where every dink and drop shot is performed over the water. That's the unique experience offered by M/Y Aretha, a luxury yacht cruising the Adriatic, which features a full-sized, inflatable pickleball court attached to its side. This floating court has captured attention and raised some playful questions. What happens if the court drifts away? Do paddles double as oars? And does the "kitchen" offer gourmet delights like steak tartar and caviar?

Starting this fall semester, all 25 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system will offer pickleball as a varsity sport, according to an announcement made by the school system on Monday. This initiative expands on last year's groundbreaking move when Montgomery County became the first in the nation to introduce varsity pickleball, initially launching teams at 11 schools. The inclusion of pickleball is part of the county’s corollary sports program, which aims to enhance interscholastic athletic opportunities for all students, particularly those with disabilities.

Club in El Segundo. Scheduled to open later this year, the club aims to blend competition with social interaction in a fully converted indoor warehouse. Founder Brett Drogmund, who discovered pickleball during the pandemic, is spearheading this project to create a community-centric space that combines live music, a dance floor, and a full-service bar and restaurant with ten pickleball courts. The club will offer rentable courts, paddles, and balls, and will not require membership fees, making it accessible to all.

Christy’s of Indiana is currently holding an online auction to sell off the entire inventory of the now-defunct Pickleball Rocks business. Jack Christy, Jr., the owner of the Indiana auction house, anticipates a successful auction due to the current high demand for pickleball gear. Spread across 7,000 square feet of storage space at Christy’s, the inventory includes a wide array of pickleball items such as hats, shirts, balls, nets, promotional magnets, license plate frames, and a significant number of paddles. Notably, there are 3,200 carbon fiber paddles, mostly bundled in lots of four to attract individual buyers and players.

Pickleball has been gaining traction as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, often touted for its health benefits and potential as a solid workout. To understand how pickleball stacks up against other racquet sports, a comprehensive analysis by measuring physical activity across various sports, including pickleball singles and doubles, tennis singles and doubles, squash singles, and racquetball singles. Using an Apple Watch to track metrics such as calories burned and heart rate, data from 70 different sessions to draw meaningful comparisons.

While College Football 25 may not be available for PC gamers, pickleball enthusiasts have something new to celebrate. The rapidly growing sport has made its way into the gaming world with the release of PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 by FarSight Studios. This new game aims to capture the excitement and competitiveness of pickleball, featuring career and quick play modes, a character generator, and even motion-captured pickleball professionals like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns.

Stance: One common mistake is standing too tall at the kitchen line. This reduces your mobility and forces you to bend over to hit the ball, leading to popped-up dinks. Stay low, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your body in an athletic stance. Always play lower than your opponent.

Sunday, July 14th, was a monumental day in global sports, featuring the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s final, the European Championship final, the Copa America final, and the MLB draft. Amidst this frenzy, the 2024 Major League Pickleball mid-season tournament hosted its finals, broadcasted on ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel. The tournament, officially titled the 2024 Advil Targeted Relief MLP Mid-Season Tournament, reverted to an end-to-end competition format, culminating in winners being awarded and money disbursed by the weekend's end.

Pickleball players in Los Angeles will have a new facility to relish later this year. California Smash Pickleball and Social Club have signed a new 25,300-square-foot lease at 815 North Nash Street in El Segundo. JLL’s Gary Horwitz, Caroline Bethel, and Kamil Agha represented California Smash in the deal, while Gateway Business Properties’ Jim Sullivan and Andrew Hardin represented landlord Gretchen B. Farrell Trust. The new complex, currently an industrial building, is set to open with 10 padded indoor pickleball courts, a full-service bar, restaurant, and a dance floor.

Amazon Prime Day 2024 has brought some notable deals, including a significant discount on the Diadem Edge 18K pickleball paddle, a favorite among CBS Sports Essentials readers. This popular paddle, which is usually priced at $230, is now available for $154, offering an opportunity for pickleball enthusiasts to upgrade their gear at a reduced price.

Rick Barry, the 12-time NBA All-Star and 1975 Finals MVP, has channeled his competitive spirit into pickleball, achieving remarkable success at the age of 80. Over the weekend, he showcased his skills at the Golden State Warriors' pickleball tournament at Chase Center’s Thrive City. Barry’s passion for the sport has earned him numerous accolades, including a triple crown at the U.S. Open in Naples, Florida, where he won gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in his age group.

Today, we're diving into the five significant changes that have transformed pickleball over the years. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, these updates are essential to keep up with the evolving sport.

For those who are passionate about pickleball, the hunt for the best gear is constant. Thankfully, Amazon Prime Day is emerging as one of the top opportunities of the year to score great deals on pickleball equipment. Our team has already spotted discounts of up to 50% on top brands like Joola, Onix, and Franklin Sports, with the promise of even better deals on July 16 and 17.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic expressed his concerns about the future of tennis following his Centre Court win at Wimbledon 2024 on Saturday, July 6. Djokovic, 37, warned that “tennis is endangered” and highlighted the rapid growth of paddle sports like pickleball as a significant threat. He urged for collective action to prevent tennis clubs from being converted into pickleball and paddle courts. Djokovic emphasized the need for improvements in tennis to attract a larger audience, drawing comparisons to the successful marketing strategies of Formula 1.

Today, we're going to talk about the strategic placement of your third shot drop in pickleball. When you don't know your opponents well, it's essential to communicate with your partner. Start by dropping to their forehand first, then switch to their backhand. Observe which shot they handle better. Once you identify their weaker side, consistently aim your third shot drop there to get to the kitchen more effectively.

One of the most important aspects of pickleball is making the right decision between hitting the ball hard and hitting it soft. Understanding when to counterattack and when to reset is crucial for elevating your game to a professional level.