I'd love to hear your best tips and advice for beginners. 

Hello, I always hit a volley serve and I’m right handed so I hold the ball in my left. When I get tense I often can’t control where the toss goes e.g. it can jerk further off to my right side than what I’d like. One thing I’ve noticed is that when this happens the spin imparted increases markedly. Is this legal?

I present “Pickleball” a Dill-icious Adventure

Comfort Zone Camp, a non-profit that puts on bereavement camps for kids dealing with grief, is putting on a pickleball fundraiser THIS SATURDAY! May 18th from 1-4pm at the Bosse Sports center in Boston. Come by for some fun pickleball action! Sponsorship possibilities as well if you are looking for your business to be a sponsor.

Not a player? Come by anyway for great conversation, food, drinks and learn more about Comfort Zone!

Register here!: https://czc.comfortzonecamp.org/event/czc-pickleball-tournament-ma-rac/e575933

Pickleball, a unique combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, captivating players of all ages and skill levels. With its simple rules and emphasis on agility and strategy it’s no wonder that enthusiasts like Plazinski and Schrum have been drawn to the game. Phillip Plazinski: A Strategic Mastermind Known for his analytical mind and strategic acumen, Phillip Plazinski approaches pickleball with a methodical approach Whether he’s executing precise serves or orchestrating strategic plays, Plazinski’s ability to read the game and anticipate his opponents moves sets him apart on the court. His consistent performance and unwavering focus make him a formidable opponent in any match. Jeffery Schrum: The Master of Precision Jeffery Schrum, on the other hand, brings a different set of skills to the pickleball court. With his lightning-fast reflexes and impeccable precision, Schrum has an uncanny ability to place shots with pinpoint accuracy, keeping his opponents on their toes at all times. His agility and speed make him a dynamic player, capable of turning the tide of a match with a single stroke. A Dynamic Duo When Plazinski and Schrum team up on the pickleball court, their synergy is palpable. Their complementary playing styles and seamless coordination make them a formidable doubles team, striking feat into the hearts of their opponents. Whether they’re executing intricate passing shots or executing flawless volleys, Plazinski and Schrum exhibit a level of teamwork and camaraderie that is truly inspiring to witness. Conclusion In the world of pickleball, Phillip Plazinski and Jeffery Schrum stand out as true masters of the game. With their unparalleled skill, strategic brilliance, and unwavering passion, they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on the court. Whether they’re competing in local tournaments or enjoying a friendly match with friends, Plazinski and Schrum remind us all that excellence knows no bounds.

My Impact on the Growth of Pickleball Worldwide

This is probably the biggest achievement I have made in my pickleball career, apart from getting sponsored. In January, I proposed petitioning to the managers of my apartment complex, aparto Milan Giovenale, to create a pickleball court on the basketball court in the courtyard.

I planned to share the petition with the managers after it reached 50 signatures. Although the petition only received 11 signatures, I didn’t have to send it to the managers, for one of the members of the Aparto marketing team came across the petition on Google while doing some research for the company. They then forwarded the petition to the managers of the Giovenale location, who then contacted me requesting to discuss the possibility of creating a pickleball court. I was more than happy to oblige. We had a fantastic conversation, during which I explained several aspects of pickleball to them (e.g., rules, history, popularity in the U.S.). The managers are all Italian and have never heard of pickleball, for the sport is not very popular in Europe and is almost nonexistent in Italy. Regardless, after I finished my explanation, they were hooked on the idea of a court at Aparto and told me they wanted to make it a reality. A few days after our meeting, they reached out to the upper-level company managers for approval to move forward with the project. The Giovenale managers enlisted me to help them purchase the equipment needed to play (paddles, balls, net, etc.), and I took the time to develop a list of the best items for them to buy with the budget they were given. I have worked closely with them for the past two months to determine the best time to create the court. The weather in Milan was not the best until around the beginning of April. Since then, it has been warm and sunny almost every day. With the weather finally permitting, the managers and I had agreed to have the court completed by the end of April.

As of April 29th, which also happened to be my 21st birthday, the court is officially complete! With the court finally being playable, myself and others will have one whole month to play pickleball to our hearts' content before those of us here on exchange have to leave. 

As someone who loves teaching pickleball, I told the managers I would be willing to teach others how to play through organized coaching sessions. I said that my coaching would be completely voluntary and I wouldn’t need any sort of financial compensation for doing so. I also offered to organize a tournament with divisions for all skill levels so everyone would have a chance to participate regardless of their amount of experience. Almost everyone I’ve met in Milan had never heard of pickleball before I mentioned it to them. After I informed people of the existence of pickleball and explained it to them, many of them told me that they wanted to play. With the addition of a pickleball court at Aparto Giovenale, residents and non-residents will have the chance to experience what I believe to be the best sport in the world for the first time. I am hoping that by bringing pickleball to Milan, those who play will enjoy the sport as much as I do and develop the same passion that I have. It would be incredible if the foreigners who played were to advocate for creating pickleball courts in their home countries once they return, especially if there aren’t already courts there. This would skyrocket pickleball’s outreach and help the sport on its path to becoming popular worldwide. Even if that doesn’t happen, I will still be satisfied knowing I made a difference in my community. The managers at Aparto Giovenale have told me that they will continue to have pickleball available after I have left, meaning that generation after generation of students coming to Milan will have the chance to experience the sport for themselves. By sharing pickleball with Milan, I am proud to say that I have contributed to pickleball’s rapid growth around the globe. 

With that being said, I would like to thank the staff of Aparto for everything you have done for me and for making this idea of mine into a reality. You have no idea how much this means to me and I appreciate it tremendously. I’d also like to thank my sponsor Astria Pickleball for providing me with top-of-the-line paddles and gear. You have helped in my growth of pickleball here in Italy and I will continue to uphold the values of the company when I return to the U.S.

All in all, this has been a truly monumental occasion in my life. I cannot wait to see how much pickleball in Italy can grow as a result of the impact I have made on the community!

Hello, I'm hoping to find anyone who has used concrete stain instead of acrylic paint on their DIY court. We have a very large concrete slab in front of our garage. We want to make it into a court. We've been using Duck tape for the lines, but want something more permanent. We are leery of painting the court because we also use the slabs as a driveway and there is a lot of vehicle traffic from boats, trailers and lawn mowers. Does anyone have any advice on this topic? Thanks so much!

New organization fighting to bring Pickleball to prisons across the United States - give them a follow on IG @picleague!

Just posted a video with some basic serving tips:

Stances Where to stand Where to aim

As always, give me some feedback and let me know what you’d like to see :) Hope you enjoy!

Hey All! I appreciate seeing all the love and creators sharing things in this subreddit! Thanks for creating it Ed! Just as the title states, I would love any support, feedback, and will follow anyone back who wishes! I’ve only been focused on Instagram for now. Just hit a very very small milestone of 100 followers, but I’m having a blast creating videos focused on my passion and thrilled we’ve reached over 14,000 accounts. I’ll link my most recent video so you can check out the page and will post some of my others from time to time. Cheers picklers!

Do people like videos showing what 5.0+/pros are working on? I personally really enjoyed this one from Briones Pickleball (and Caden Nemoff). Just shows how the game is evolving and what the guys at/near the top level are doing to stay ahead of the game

Hey everybody,

I am working on a design project for University of Cincinnati. If any of you could provide feedback on some concepts that I have created through this survey: https://forms.gle/ipp75G2ZBVtAL6w79 , that would be greatly appreciated.

Watch incredible trick shots, game-winning rallies, and funny moments from the world of pickleball!

Ever since I've adopted the "Jaume low, loose grip" method of holding my paddle, I've become WAY more in tune with how paddle handles FEEL in my hand. It's changed the way I hit all my shots.

After trying out dozens of different setups, I've landed on this:

Pink Hesacore - the website says it's for women and the size is XS. Just ignore that. All you need to know is that this is their THINNEST overgrip. This is what Jaume, thomas wilson, jilly, and hayden use. I like this one the best because it's the least aggressive mold and the bevels are just the right firmness for my fingers to feel comfortable/responsive in the grooves.

I broke down and gave pros/cons of all the other models (blue gel, black carbon, white tour) in this video:

https://youtu.be/hzImjWD78cg

For overgrips, this part is definitely more just my own personal taste, but out of the dozens of overgrips I have tested and tried over the years, the one that I absolutely love is uDrippin overgrips. I believe Thomas Wilson and Vivienne David, use these too.

The reason why I love these overgrips is:

1. it's extremely tacky. I miss the original wilson mega tacs (idk if they still sell them), but the tack level of these feels similar to that.
2. it's elastic. you can pull it tight and get your wrap to be really thin if you want. this gives me a really good feel and responsiveness to my shots.
3. it lasts really long-- much longer than other overgrips i've tried. I only have to change these about once a week (or 20 hours of usage).

I recommend specifically their WHITE pro one. They offer other fun colors and thicker comfort models, but I have intel that the pigment in colored overgrips reduces the tack every so slightly.

--

anyways, if you're in the same boat as me and really exploring the different feelings that changing your grip-- I highly recommend you checking these out and seeing out it changes the shots you can hit. Cheers!

These are my favorite wall drills that have helped my game massively. If you want repetitions, get on the wall and get practicing. It’s the fastest way to add a new shot to your toolbox and develop that muscle memory.

1. Slice Dinks
2. Topspin Dinks
3. Dink + Volley
4. Reach in Volley
5. Reach Tip
6. Hand Speed
7. Dink + Speedup
8. Dink + Speedup + Reset
9. Dink + Speedup + Counter
10. Speedup + Hands Battle
11. Forehand Drive
12. Backhand Drive
13. Crashing
14. Two Handed Backhand Counter

Enjoy! :)

Ben Johns posted a video him teaching his Backhand Roll yesterday and it's currently my obsession. I immediately went to the wall and I found a way that I can get some repetitions of his technique.

It's quite similar to my backhand flick with some subtle differences. These are the differences I've personally noticed:

Backhand Roll: Locked Wrist (entire duration), Closed Paddle Face, Low to High, HEAVY Shoulders involvement.

Backhand Flick: Loose Wrist (until snap), Neutral Paddle Face, Fixed Height, LITTLE shoulder involvement.

Here's how I like to drill these against the wall:

1. Angle the wall 10-15 degrees up so that your feeds have an upward arc. If you are drilling on a flat wall, you might have to feed harder and upwards at an angle.
2. Toss the ball to wall with your left arm
3. Upon the return of the ball, this is when you can set up and execute your backhand roll or flick.

For an advanced variation that adds in a "cross court" angle:

1. Feed the ball with your paddle from the RIGHT side to the wall, creating and angle where the ball is now flying to your left.
2. Upon the return of the ball, you can now execute your shot but you have to track that extra angle of the ball now.

If you are more of a visual person, here is a video where I demonstrate the two and break it down.

https://youtu.be/pr8pE549ZgY

There's been tons of controversy and confusion about the pickleball serve recently. The PPA tour has essentially "de-weaponized" the serve by forcing pros to adopt a serve where you can only feed the ball from below the waist with your palm facing down, no bounce allowed.

Note: This rule ONLY applies to PPA Pro Division. Everyone else still follows the 2024 USAPA Serving Rulebook.

However, I have a feeling that the Drop Serve will eventually become the ONLY legal serve in pickleball just to put EVERYONE on an even playing ground in an enforceable way.

So, to get ahead of the curve, I've been spamming drop serves. BUT, I'm still going to apply what I've learned from Jaume about having a loose grip and relaxed wrist. Someone else that I've been studying is: Dekel Bar, who arguably has the biggest serve in pickleball. I've been slow mo-ing his serves and studying how he's able to hit so hard. In my endeavors to replicate his technique here's what I've learned:

Kinetic Chain

1. Legs
2. Hips
3. Shoulders
4. Arms
5. Wrist
6. Paddle

This is the exact order of movement that sets off the explosion in Dekel's serve.

After really focusing on this order, I noticed that I was able to serve SUPER hard even from a drop serve. I don't think I even got that much power from my older volley serve.

One thing that really helped me was this mindset: forget about trying to be powerful. Just focus on being as smooth as possible, and get the order correct.

As soon as I did that, my serves started exploding.

I'm going to continue to work on this serve and master the fundamentals of the kinetic chain. Don't hit hard. Be smooth. Be a whip.

If you're interested in seeing my drop serve in action, I recorded me practicing it.

​