Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

What's the biggest pickleball facility you've ever played in? Whatever it is, we know it's smaller than the new behemoth that's scheduled to open in the middle of next year. Today, we'll take a look at the biggest new pickleball facility in the world, compare pickleball to your significant other, find out just how strong the state of pickleball is, and a whole lot more.

Let’s go! 👇

As pickleball continues to take over our country -- in a good way 💪 -- more and more states are emerging as pickleball powerhouses.

Granted, almost every state has at least one really strong pickleball community, and usually many of them. With that said, some states have bigger pickleball populations than others.

Some obvious states that stand out (and are helped by their warm weather and large populations) are Florida, Texas, and California. But then there's Utah, which is randomly a really big pickleball state too.

Well, right up at the top of the list is... Arizona. And it's about to get even bigger with the arrival of what will be the largest indoor pickleball facility in the world.

Kevin J Berk and Brett Warner, founders of PURE Pickleball & Padel, are building a 186,000 square foot facility called "PURE." Located in Scottsdale, it will feature 48 courts, a 1,200-seat pro pickleball arena, a gym, a sports recovery center, and more.

The facility, which will also include two padel courts, will cost $65 million and is scheduled to open in mid-2026.

It will have a restaurant, bar, jacuzzi, and sauna, and it will also have childcare and study rooms for older kids so they can do their homework while their parents play.

PURE will also become the new site for USA Pickleball's headquarters, and it will be the home of MLP's Arizona Drive pickleball team. This is all huge for the sport…go pickleball!

Watch Film of the Pros

Watching the pros play is one of the best ways to improve as a pickleball player. Since the sport is so young, the pros are innovating the game month after month, and techniques and strategies are constantly changing. By watching film, you can pick up on new techniques and strategies that you won’t be able to learn anywhere else. Personally, I’m always modeling parts of my game around things that the top pros are doing. Because of this I’m able to add new shots to my arsenal that give me an advantage over my opponents. The lessons you can learn from watching film are priceless, and can’t be found anywhere else!

OK, so you know how many shots are in this rally. What you don’t know is which team wins it. 👇

Decisions, Decisions

If you play pickleball, then you know there are quite a few decisions to make while you're playing. “Do I take a dink out of the air or let it bounce?” “Should I hit a third shot drop or drive?” “Should I speed up a ball or not?” And that doesn't even include which paddle you should get or where to play or who your partner should be.  

Yes, there are a lot of decisions to make in pickleball. But the good news is that you can eliminate one decision — the ball you choose to play with. Why? Because it's a no-brainer. The Franklin X-40 ball is the gold standard for pickleballs. It's the most balanced, consistent, and durable ball out there, which is why it's the official pickleball of USA Pickleball and The Pickleball Clinic. Get some for yourself today, and use code “clinic15” for 15% off.

Welcome back to Ask Jilly B, a monthly thought-stream from coach & top pro player, Jill Braverman.

How to Pick the Right Paddle

New pickleball paddles drop faster than rain in Florida during hurricane season. How are you supposed to know when it’s the right time to change and which paddle to choose? It’s easy:

1.) If you love your paddle—don’t change!

2.) If you want more pop, power, or a bigger sweet spot, then consider changing.

3.) Start by figuring out which shape you like (square or elongated), then how long of a handle you want (longer for two handed backhands). Then, do you want a power paddle or a softer control paddle?

4.) Demo lots of paddles! Most companies have generous return/trial periods.

You can spend $119 on a paddle and love it, or $299 and love it—there are great paddles at different price points. Maybe just avoid the wooden paddles though. Xoxo, Jilly B

Be sure to follow Jill on Instagram and YouTube.

When Pickleball Meets Your Significant Other

If you follow our Instagram or Facebook pages, or are members of our Facebook Group (the largest online forum in the world for pickleball), then you know that we often ask pickleball-related questions — and we always get amazing responses from you!

Our most recent question was “What’s something you say during pickleball you also say to your significant other?" Granted, that's a fun question. But some of the responses we got were amazing!

One type of answer involved the non-volley zone with responses like "Get out of the kitchen!" or "Go to the kitchen and get cooking." 🧑‍🍳

Then there was the self-deprecating and really funny response of "Sorry!!" Sadly, that person may be in a relationship with another person who responded "Damn that was fast." 😃

There were some really clever responses, like "Let it go!,” "Nice try," and the very strategic "Let’s just try banging and see if that works." 😂

A few responses were a little too risqué for this newsletter, yet funny. But our favorite response was probably this one, "Don’t hurt yourself — it’s not worth the injury." 😃

Thanks to everyone who responded. Do you have a question you think would be perfect to ask our whole pickleball community? Then hit reply and write back to us. Who knows, maybe we’ll feature your question next!

We admit it, pickleball is addictive.

Pickleball is About the Chill Vibes

There are tons of pickleball players out there playing at many different levels. Maybe it's your first week and you're having some short rallies. Or you've been playing a bit and you've finally reached the 3.5 level. Perhaps you're one of the rare 5.0+ players playing in semi-pro or professional tournaments.

The skill levels vary, but the enjoyment levels really don't. That's the amazing thing about pickleball — the good times you have on court has very little to do with how good you are. Sure, we're all trying to get better every day, but pickleball especially is about those chill vibes.

That's what our friends at Club 002 pride themselves on. They get that pickleball is all about community, hanging out, and having fun — both on and off the court. Check out their collection of tees and use code "TPC10" for 10% off.

Normally we feature a pro discussing a specific pickleball shot, but today, we're pivoting to show you an incredible interview Aaron had with Richard Lee, the owner, president, and CEO of JOOLA. Richard will take us through how he started off running table tennis tournaments, how he built his team, acquired JOOLA, got involved with the Johns brothers, and so much more. Enjoy! 👇

For the fourth year in a row, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), our sport has grown more than 300% in the last 3 years, and it continues to get younger and younger, which is a great sign for the future of pickleball. The group with the most number of players is the 25-34 age group, and the total average age is 34.8 years old.

There are now approximately 70,000 pickleball courts in America, and the average professional pickleball player on the PPA Tour and in Major League Pickleball (MLP) makes more than $250,000 a year. While the actual number of pickleball players is difficult to determine, and can vary greatly depending on who you ask, the numbers are REALLY good. That's not to brag or to say that it will keep skyrocketing forever, but it is fair to say that pickleball is in a really good place and we've all chosen a sport that is continuing to flourish.

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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