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.

Speed-ups might feel like sneak attacks, but in truth, they rarely come out of nowhere. Most players give off subtle cues—dead dinks, paddle position, even eye contact—before launching that blazing forehand. The trick is knowing what to look for and where. Reading a speed-up isn’t about having lightning reflexes; it’s about anticipating the shot based on patterns and posture. If your opponent looks too comfortable, steps back, or subtly shifts their weight, it’s not time to relax—it’s time to sit on your backhand and brace for the heat.

If playing pickleball against Rob Gronkowski sounds like a fever dream, wake up—it’s real. The former Patriots tight end is bringing his signature energy to the courts in Natick for “Pickleball for a Purpose,” a charity event benefiting The Jimmy Fund and the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation. Set for May 28 from 5–8 p.m. at Bosse Sports in Natick, this event blends dinks with donations, and yes, fundraising can earn you the chance to face off with Gronk himself. Because nothing says “charity” like a 6’6” athlete smashing a wiffle ball at your paddle.

The secret to winning hands battles at the kitchen line isn’t lightning-fast genetics—it’s smart, trainable technique. Reflexes can be sharpened just like a serve or backhand, and it starts from the ground up. The split step, a simple hop into a balanced stance, is a game-changer that stops momentum and keeps you ready. From there, keep your head still and your eyes on the ball, using subtle footwork and paddle adjustments to control the chaos. The goal isn’t just to block—it’s to be poised, stable, and one move ahead of your opponent.

Pickleball has officially returned to Central Park for its third straight season, as Wollman Rink transforms once again into one of New York’s most picturesque—and priciest—places to play. Fourteen courts now fill the iconic rink, welcoming players daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The season kicked off with $5 community play and an opening ceremony Thursday afternoon, drawing crowds eager to rally under the Manhattan skyline. With 130,000 visits to the courts in just two years, this isn’t just a recreational fad—it’s a Central Park summer staple.

Laguna Beach has officially joined the growing list of cities regulating the sound of pickleball. In response to escalating complaints from residents at a neighboring senior living facility, the city enacted a new ordinance this week requiring players at Lang Park to use certified “quiet paddles” or face a fine. The move is part of an ongoing effort to reduce noise from the courts, which some Vista Aliso residents say causes significant anxiety and stress. With paddle upgrades running players around $100 each, this isn’t just a soft ask—it’s a literal price for peace.

If you’re not prioritizing your return of serve in pickleball, you’re missing one of the game’s most critical shots. The main goal? Hit it deep. The deeper your return lands, the farther back your opponent is forced to hit their third shot, buying you time and increasing their difficulty. But while that sounds easy in theory, poor footwork, mistimed contact, and trying to rush to the kitchen too soon are what derail most returns. A great return isn’t about power—it’s about placement, spin control, and staying grounded through the shot.

It may look gentle, even laughably simple—but according to ex-tennis pro Jack Sock, the dink is the hardest part of adjusting to pickleball. And he’s not wrong. Despite being a slow, soft shot, the dink demands incredible precision, timing, and consistency. Why? Because your margin for error is microscopic. With opponents ready to pounce on anything remotely high or loose, a bad dink doesn’t just give away a point—it invites annihilation.

Pickleball has officially crossed the cultural threshold. What started as a backyard game with modest buzz is now a full-blown pop culture phenomenon. It’s in Super Bowl commercials, late-night TV specials, reality shows, and movie scripts—and if you haven’t seen it yet, just wait for your next commercial break. From Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara punking pro athletes in a Michelob Ultra ad to E-Trade babies taunting adults on the court, pickleball is no longer playing on the sidelines. It’s the main event.

Major League Pickleball just served up its biggest move yet—rebranding as “MLP Presented by DoorDash” in a blockbuster sponsorship deal that marks the league’s largest financial partnership to date. DoorDash, already a heavy hitter across the NBA, WNBA, and MLS, has signed on as MLP’s title sponsor in a three-year agreement. This collaboration not only swaps out Margaritaville’s name from the marquee but also positions MLP alongside some of the biggest sports leagues in North America, all while giving fans discounts on pickles. Yes, pickles.