Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

We asked a tough question — and our community answered! Today, we’ll look into possible pickleball rule changes, find out which sports are chasing us for the #1 spot, tell you what to do after a bad third shot drop, and a whole lot more!

Let’s go! 👇

We recently asked on our social media accounts — "If you could change one rule in pickleball, what would it be?"

There were a ton of thoughtful (and funny) answers. Here are some of the more popular ones...

"The kitchen line being out on a serve. Makes no sense. Every other line is good." This comment received a lot of support, although a few people pointed out that the line is actually in — "in" the kitchen, which means that the serve is no good. (Sounds a little like word play because the kitchen line is also "in" the rest of the court, but still clever.)

"Change the name of the sport." Now this one kind of stung. Not only because it got tons of likes, but because it brings up a valid point. On the one hand, most of us probably love the silly, fun-loving name of our sport. On the other hand, as we take it more and more seriously, we must also sometimes ask ourselves, "Why can't we just have a normal name like every other sport?"

"The return of serve should also have to clear the NVZ. It’s a clear flaw in an otherwise perfect sport." After reading the comments and hearing about how some rec players like to drop the second shot, especially to slower players, we were like "That ain't right!!"

Not everyone was serious in their responses... (And as you might expect, those answers were some of the most popular.)

"Once a guy over 80 enters the kitchen, he should have an extra two minutes to get back out before the other side hits the ball." This was the most liked answer out of all the comments. 😂 And hey, we get it! 👍

"I would just remove the net… it always gets in my way.” Good point, that would make things a little easier. 😄

"You could volley from the kitchen if you are from Cleveland." Isn't that already a rule? 😂

Many people also responded with versions of "Nothing. This sport is perfect." Thanks to those who wrote that, but whether you think pickleball is perfect as is or could use a little tweaking, one thing is for sure, everyone who took time out to give an answer clearly loves the game!

Professional pickleball player Mary Brascia shares 3 tips on how to stay physically strong while traveling as a touring pro.

“Hi everyone! This is Mary Brascia. I’m currently a touring pro on the PPA Tour / on the Miami Pickleball Club MLP team. What an exciting time it is to be in the pro pickleball world. I feel so grateful to be playing this sport as my profession. However, it is a grind to be on the road all of the time. Here are 3 tips for how to stay physically strong while traveling to tournaments!

1. Get lots of sleep — I try to get 8-9 hours. Tournament days are long, so it’s important to leave the venue when you are done playing & reset for the next day.

2. Arrive to the tournament a day early to train — I am from CA, so the coast-to-coast trips can take a toll on you. This way you can adjust to the time changes and settle in to the conditions at the venue.

3. Eat your vegetables! Sometimes it is hard to stick to your normal diet on the road. We always order a side of broccoli wherever we eat. We also pick up Trader Joe’s salads for tournament days.

Thanks for reading! Follow @marybrascia.pickleball to be on my pickleball journey with me!”

Let’s Get Loco!

Do you want a paddle with a super large sweet spot, feathery soft touch, and control that’s flat-out loco? Then it’s time to get Loco — the newest paddle from Bread & Butter.

Just don’t forget about The Filth, Bread & Butter’s elite power paddle utilizing thermoformed technology, edge wall injection, and a raw T-700 carbon fiber face. It’s sexy, sleek and 100% filthy.

Get them now for 15% off using code “clinic15.”

If you hit a bad third shot drop, STAY BACK!

So many players are taught to rush to the net after the third shot, no matter what. You NEVER want to do this! Why? Because if you hit a high third shot drop, you're a sitting duck if you move up. However, if you stay back, you can try again on the next shot.

It's almost always easier to return slams from behind the baseline than it is in transition or even at the net. So if you stay back on the high thirds, you'll end up with a much higher percentage of getting to the net successfully and working the point, therefore scoring more points.

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two lobs can…

Still Got It!

By now, most pickleballers probably know that we have the fastest-growing sport in America. But what's our competition? Let's take a look…

Using data from the 2023 edition of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation report, ReCreate ranked the 25 fastest-growing sports in America. Here's the Top 5. 👇

As you can see, three of the top five spots belong to winter sports. That's cool, and definitely very different from pickleball.

Alpine and snowboard touring evidently involve skiing or snowboarding in the backcountry on unmarked areas — OK pretty badass. And the sport with the coolest name on the list, "Winter Fat Biking," is all about biking on snow with "fat" tires. 🚴

Then there's "off-course golf," which includes driving ranges like Topgolf. So basically it’s... golf. 😃 Other sports in the top 10 include skateboarding, trail running, surfing, kayaking, and our cousin, tennis. 🎾

So all in all, nothing really new under the sun — and to be fair, pickleball isn’t either since it combines elements of many other racket sports.

Well, good luck to all the other growing sports, but we're still #1 — at least for now.

Get Your UTR Rating — for FREE!

UTR Sports has revealed the UTR-P Rating, a new pickleball rating! Get rated for free now. 

The UTR Sports Platform has been anchored by the UTR Rating, the world’s most accurate tennis rating system. Equipped with over a decade of expertise, UTR Sports is excited to introduce the global rating standard for pickleball.

So what does this mean for you? No more sandbagging, lop-sided matches, or unfair seeding! Find players and partners at your level, and register for the right events and leagues for maximum fun and improvement.

Here’s how it works:

If you don’t have match results, a provisional rating will appear as P1-P5 (beginner to expert). After a few matches, this converts to a reliable decimal rating from 1 - 10.0.

Learn more at UTRsports.net/pickleball. 

But if your team comes back from 10-0, you’ll talk about it for decades. 😂

Footwork is CRUCIAL to having success in pickleball!

Good thing Matt is here to show us the 3 most important moves to master! 👍

Key takeaways:

• Take a good first step to the ball

• Implement a drop step

• Use a crossover step on the backhand

The Paddle That Won Nationals

The paddle that won Nationals is HERE. Used by Nationals Champion, JW Johnson, the FS Tour Series from Franklin Pickleball is here to maximize your game. The series officially drops tomorrow, 12/7, on franklinsports.com, but you can get in on the action early. Head to franklinsports.com to pre-order today and receive a free Paddle Magic Carbon Eraser and paddle cover with your purchase.

The FS Tour Series features T700 raw carbon fiber paddles in two shapes. Choose your paddle shape, thickness, and color, and hit the courts! No matter your strength or playing style, there’s a paddle for you.

Want to build a pickleball court? You can, but it’s not cheap. The cost of building a pickleball court, starting from an undeveloped site, is roughly between $30,000 and $40,000, depending on which amenities you want to include — like lighting, fencing, seats for spectators, etc.

But if you’re cool with putting tape on the cul-de-sac at the end of your street, then you’re probably looking at less than $100. 👍😄

Thanks for the read. See you soon!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

Join the conversation below! ⬇️