600% Increase in Pickleball Courts Has Demand Reaching Courts in People's Backyards

Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic newsletter!

The growth of the game is incredible to see — today we explore cities with the most courts to play in, how to perfect your dink shot, and a whole lot more.

Let’s dive in 👇

A new report has come out with some interesting data that you’ll want to see.

To start…

There's been a 600% increase in the number of public pickleball courts in the 100 biggest U.S. cities since 2017 (from 420 to 2,788).

But municipal leaders across the country say they still can't come close to meeting the demand.

And what’s wild…

There's now about one pickleball court for every 24,000 residents in these cities, according to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a pro-parks nonprofit.

This has cities tapping everything from COVID-19 relief funds to municipal bonds to raise the necessary cash to build more courts.

The cities that have really good park systems tend to be the ones that have a lot of pickleball courts. Beyond that, it falls on private money to build out facilities.

Here’s what the No. 1 player in the world had to say about his favorite cities to play pickleball in ⤵

A weekly thought from pickleball’s GOAT Ben Johns 🐐

“Hey Bulletin readers!

This week I’ll be talking about my favorite places/cities to play. Pickleball has reached so many places there are bound to be some extraordinary spots, which is another thing that makes pickleball so amazing!

First up is my favorite tournament venue - Lifetime San Clemente. Gorgeous venue and facilities, ocean view, CA weather, what’s not to love?

Next is the Bobby Riggs Club in Encinitas, CA. Bobby Riggs is somewhat nostalgic for older players as it has a long-standing tournament that is much beloved. Encinitas is a wonderful area with just about everything you could want. The club has many nice courts and is run by the nicest family in pickeball - the Dawsons.

My favorite international spot to play was in Quito, Ecuador. Although we set the court up ourselves with a temporary net and taped lines, the views simply could not be beaten.

When someone asks where I’ve enjoyed playing the most, these locations are what spring to mind for me. I’m sure you all out there have many other favorites. One thing you can be sure of, pickeball is everywhere!

Until next time,

-Ben”

For more from Ben, follow his Instagram here: @BenJohns_PB and check out his awesome trips on Pickleball Getaways!

Alert: Pickleball’s Most Anticipated Paddle Release is HERE!

The paddles you’ve all been waiting for…already used and trusted by World No. 1 Ben Johns, top pro Anna Bright, newly signed Collin Johns (Ben’s brother), and a TON more pro players…the Perseus and Scorpeus are finally out! These two paddles showcase a leap in innovation and mark the next chapter for industry-leading paddle company JOOLA and their efforts to create the best paddles in the world.

What’s so great about these paddles?

Co-founders Matt and Aaron actually created one of the first-ever paddle review videos covering both the Perseus and Scorpeus. Check it out here and see what all the hype is about!

You can find the Perseus and Scorpeus paddles here, and be sure to use code “clinic10” for 10% off.

Many players are reluctant to play games with those below their skill level because they’re afraid that they won’t get much out of it (or are afraid they’ll be judged if they lose).

Actually, playing with lower-level players presents a great opportunity for you to work on your shots and play out of your comfort zone!

• You can practice shots that you normally won’t take in more competitive games since you may make a lot of mistakes.

Practicing these shots with lower-level players will also allow you to play more relaxed since it’s also likely that their shots will put less pressure on you.

Many players have trouble putting their egos aside and are afraid to lose to teams they “shouldn’t lose to,” but as long as you’re out there getting better, you’re the one who will win at the end of the day!

Pretty much how it goes when you introduce someone to pickleball 😂

Have you tried a PCKL ball? You should…

PCKL Elite 40s are REALLY starting to pop.

Players have consistently said the balls are easy to track, withstand hard hitting games and provide excellent feel that results in predictable flight with solid spin response.

We even saw Pros like Anna Bright play with them at the Pros vs. 5.0s event in Arlington earlier this month.

Now, as an exclusive for Pickleball Clinic readers, you can save when you grab 48 balls and use code PBCLINIC10 at checkout.

From Renting Pools to Pickleball Courts

Swimply is a marketplace for homeowners to rent out their underutilized pools to local swimmers by the hour.

Do you know what they’re now offering?

The ability for owners of pickleball courts to rent them to potential players.

For $30/hour you could play at this incredible court in Los Angeles:

The top barrier to playing more pickleball is a lack of available courts (at a reasonable price).

In a past newsletter, we explored how you can rent a court in Central Park New York City, but it would cost you over $100/hour.

Swimply has over 300 courts listed for rent in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Austin. They plan to be nationwide by the end of summer.

Court rentals begin at $25 an hour with an average hourly rate of $40.

Would you put a court in your backyard?

• Yes

• No

• Already Have One

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Wanna make your own court? Check out this Instagram video of Aaron playing on a court one of his coaches made behind his apartment!

Interview

Aaron had a fascinating discussion with pro pickleballer/coach Mark Price.

A variety of topics were discussed including:

• Do’s and Dont’s

• When to drive vs. drop

• The mindset players need to develop

• Most underrated shot you should be utilizing

Upcoming Tournaments for the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) 🥇

Want to watch or play in the biggest tournaments in the country? The Association of Pickleball Players, known as the “APP”, holds tournaments around the country with 1000+ amateur AND pro players. It’s incredible.

With a goal of activating and serving ALL levels of players around the world, founded by pickleball visionary Ken Herrmann, and loved by all who attend, the APP is a great place to be!

Find out how to play in or watch all the action here!

Having a soft touch is the key to improving your game…

Matt breaks down how to hit a perfect backhand dink 👇

Two of the main tips Matt explains:

1. Keeping your arm straight

2. Keeping the wrist still

A pickleball ball is completely unique from other racquet sports like tennis, ping-pong, or squash.

A speeding pickleball travels at 1/3 the speed of a tennis ball because of its aerodynamic design.

Thanks for reading!

Reply to this email if you have a court in your backyard and would be interested in hosting the Pickleball Clinic to come play sometime 😄 

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

Join the conversation below! ⬇️