For such a popular sport, the pro tournaments are pretty low-key. In the space of 5 minutes I was able to get Tardio, Patriquin, and Fahey to sign my Doordash merch paddle by just standing near their tent before the start of play. When they are practicing you can watch from 10 feet away. They even have to use the same bathrooms as the spectators (Jorja cut the bathroom line in front of my friend lol).

I was bummed that the Shocks lost but Hayden (my fave) played well and it was a blast to be able to watch him play from so close up. ALW is even more impressive than she looks on video, which is to say watching her play is insane. The whole weekend was a blast.

Watching so much pickle really left a mark on me because yesterday I went to open play and somehow got in a game with players who are 4-4.5 (I'm about a 3.5) and I was dinking and dropping like a champ. I felt like I actually played at their level!

Anyway, I wonder if pickleball will ever get as big as tennis.

Babolat Jet Mach 4 (red colorway)
price: $179
age: 4 months

Adidas Gamecourt 2.0 (black colorway)
price: $59
age: 1 1/2 year less the 4 months i wore the Babolat

Gamecourts were my 1st court shoe purchase so i went with a budget shoe. Played a ton of singles outdoors, played doubles the entire winter season indoors (outdoor court surface). Decided i wanted a high end speed shoe and Jet Mach 4’s just dropped. I had a $90 giftcard to burn so i payed around $100 out of pocket for the Jet Machs, figured i’d splurge. I love the Jet Mach 4’s, fast, stable, insole is thicker than any shoe i’ve ever owned, and they look sick AF. Home er i’ve burned through them in just over 4 months, and you can see the 2nd layer will soon be exposed in the toe. I figure they have 1 or 2 more tournaments left in them. To extend their life i recently went back to the Gamecourts, especially when playing outdoors. Gamcourts are stable, a bit heavier, but solid shoe all around. But the most noticeable thing is the durability of the tread. It’s amazing, and i’ll die on this hill. I know there are always posts asking for durable court shoes and i just can’t see anything beating these Gamecourts. The price is amazing as well, they are on sale at Dicks right now in the $40’s.

Anyway, thought i’d share my experience for the sub.

Just a discussion topic to see if anyone has had a similar experience....

I often "play down" at my local open play because I have an old friend group that I've since outgrown, but still join them if they need some. They're probably 3.0 AT BEST, but I almost never play good when I play with them. Maybe its the unpredictability, maybe it's just me...

Now yesterday a guy who plays advanced joined our group, I don't know him well but I'd guess he's 4.5 and always plays advanced. We beat him twice in a row, which frankly should never have happened, he's definitely way better than the other 3 of us on the court. Maybe he just had a bad day, but it was just interesting to see him have the same experience I have when playing down.

Anyone else have this same experience?

What’s level you think these guys are

Been playing for about 2 years now and have plateaued around the 4.25 level. I drill but have always wondered about getting real coaching. There's no shortage of coaches in my area (San Diego) but how do you actually find a good coach for intermediate players? Looking to hear from people on your experiences. Did you try multiple coaches? Do they give you 1-2 things to drill on? How frequent do you go? Did it actually help? (lol)

Nice little surprise upon hitting the checkout button. Definitely going to be hanging from my bag!

I'm swapping out 50 heavily used pickleballs from my ball machine (mostly X-40s). I don't want to keep them anymore. Any creative suggestions on what to do with them besides plain recycling?

So I recently got my hands on the tour ambassador drop and was expecting something that would wow me. With claims of more pop and power than the vsol pro, which was my main for almost a year now, but I find the tour being much slower and less powerful significantly. Is it because the grit is grabbing so hard it's slowing the ball down with just more dip? It's confusing to me since most reviewers are saying it does in fact have more pop and power but does anyone else have the same issue as me? it feels like a control paddle and I'm a bit disappointed with the under delivery.

What a dilemma. Been adding / removing weights over and over again. Cant seem to tell which is better.

Currently using Vapor Power 2 and J2NF

Often at open play (free outdoor public courts) I’ll play with an older tennis player. I’m a 3.5ish, tall and athletic. He’s maybe a 3.0-3.25ish, his strengths are lobs and baseline drives. He likes to play from the baseline and lets me cover whatever I can get at the net.

I’m there to get a good workout in, and I also play a fair amount of singles, so I’m happy with this arrangement. But it sometimes leads to me taking over games and hitting most of the shots against weaker players or players that haven’t yet adjusted to us.

We often offer to split up, and would never decline if someone else asked us to split.

Is there anything wrong with what I’m doing? Or could ball hogging come off as an obnoxious way to play at open play even if my partner is totally happy with it?

Found this for $40 CAD at a Winners. Looks like it used to sell online for $150 USD?!?!?! Has an anyone used this brand before and like it?

I've always thought receiving a Nasty Nelson was a point for the server. During a pickleball "class" the other day, the serve went wild and hit me on the shin (I was across from the server). I was ready to give them the point, but everyone thought it was a fault.

I was pretty confident in saying a hit like this was called a Nasty Nelson and was a point for the server. But then one of the instructors looked on their phone and said the serve had to cross the centerline. That didn't sound right, but we went on.

Now that I'm looking through the rulebook, 7.E.5 seems to say the instructor was wrong. Am I misreading that? If I was right, how should I explain it next time?

I am currently 3.6 and want to get to 4+. I am fairly new to dupr and wanted to know the best ways to get it up. Is it okay for me to play against 3.3-3.7 players? or do I need to play up 3.7-4? What would the incentive for the higher levels be to want to play with me? (When im referring to these im talking about asking 3.7-4s to do a round robin.) Any advice would help thanks

“How often should a coach intentionally let a player fail during practice? Are we sometimes so eager to help that we accidentally rob players of the learning process?”

Finally arrived this morning after waiting a few weeks.

Hi.

This question goes to those that know - with Labor Day coming up and a number of companies are having sales, I wonder if Selkirk will be one that is?

Also - for those that are ambassadors - when you offer codes for people to buy items, how much usually are the discounts you offer to new buyers? I was told that you get a card that you can use on your second purchase. Is that true?

(I live abroad and am trying to acquire a paddle - I know which one - factoring in the costs of duty and tariffs. Wondering if it’s worth waiting until a friend flys over or if getting it shipped to me is cost-effective..)

Thanks for any feedback.

My paddle is on the left. When placed side by side to another J6CR CBE, mine is clearly less blue and less gritty. Is this an issue? Has anyone tried claiming warranty for a similar issue?

Skateboard grip stuck onto a cheap paddle

Just ordered my first pro paddle. Excited to try this one. Paid $94 which I feel is a good deal.

I was wanting to try Silly Pickles pickleball is there anyone who can tell me about their expiriences? I am wanting a low stakes way of learning and see if I like it.

Throwing his shoes at the end. What a fucking legend. His passion is inspiring.

I’m curious about people’s real, recent experiences playing pickleball.

For instance, the last time you played, was there anything that made it difficult to play the way you wanted? It could have involved the court, equipment, weather, finding players, scheduling, injuries or mobility, skill differences, rules, or anything else.

What happened, and how did you handle it? Did you find a good solution, or is it still a recurring frustration?

Thanks to anyone willing to share!