Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

Which rule changes are coming in 2024? Today, we’ll reveal the rule changes you need to know, discover a pro player who just came back from heart surgery, and learn how to properly hit a backhand flick.

Let’s get started! 👇

For the past several years, the month of December doesn’t just mean it’s the holiday season — it also means it’s time for the annual changes to the USA Pickleball Rulebook!

Don’t worry, the changes aren’t too big this year — like you still have to serve underhand, and the kitchen is still a thing.😄 But there are a few slight tweaks…

• Carrying the ball, or “hitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but is carried along on the face of the paddle,” is now a fault, regardless of intent. (Previously, it was allowed if it was unintentional.)

• Double hitting the ball, however, is still allowed — provided that it is part of a “continuous, single-direction stroke by one player.”

• Remaining timeouts can now be added to the total amount of time taken for a 15-minute medical timeout. Previously, after 15 minutes went by for a medical timeout, the injured player had to retire.

Another new rule says that if you believe your opponents are using illegal paddles, you are now specifically authorized to ask the head referee to determine if the paddles are legal.

That makes perfect sense, except what could the previous rule have been… to challenge your opponents to a duel? Or to call the police on them?

Also, what if you suspect your opponents are using banned substances? Can you demand an immediate urine test?

Or what if your opponents are wearing such bright shirts that it’s affecting your ability to dink with them at the kitchen? Hmmm, maybe we’ll just have to submit these very important concerns to the USA Pickleball Rulebook next year. 😊 

James Ignatowich, one of the top pickleball players in the world and member of MLP’s Dallas Pickleball Club, shares with us how to hit the one-handed backhand counter.

“I think a common misconception or mistake that players make when they want to counter the ball hard with one hand, is that they tense up their arm. They clench their arm up and try to muscle the ball.

But if you muscle a counter, your arm isn't going to move as fast — if you're in a fast exchange, you want to have a loose arm. If you look at the guys with the fast hands, their arms are usually pretty loose.

If you want to test the theory, try to clench your arm up as hard as you can and then try to move it from side to side and you'll see that it doesn't actually move that fast. But if you loosen your arm up and then you try to move it from side to side, it can move a lot quicker. I think the power that you impart on a counter, especially a one-handed backhand counter, is more of a result of how fast your arm moves or how fast your paddle moves, rather than how much you can muscle the ball.

So in conclusion, be loose, try to meet the ball out in front, and don't try to hit it hard. You should just focus on being fast and loose. I've noticed that the harder I tried to hit it, the slower it would go and the faster that I tried to be with my paddle, the faster it would go. So don't muscle the ball.”

Follow through on your serves, returns, and drives!

Many players, especially beginners, stop their swings short instead of following through over their shoulders.

If you find yourself forgetting to follow through all the way on your forehand drives, serves, and return of serves, try catching the paddle with your non-dominant hand at the end of your swing. This will help you get your follow through all the way over your shoulder!

Get Your Pickleball Rating!

Ready to get your FREE UTR-P rating? Just follow these easy steps and you’ll have your new pickleball rating in moments.

Players without match results will have a provisional rating from P1-P5 (beginner to expert). After a few matches, you’ll see a reliable decimal rating from 1 - 10.0. Get rated now!

Do you like defense? Then check out how many balls this team digs out! 😲

A Change of Heart!

Thomas Wilson, 33, is young, healthy and one of the best pickleball players in the world. But earlier this summer, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening congenital heart defect by a team of doctors in Austin, Texas.

Wilson had noticed for some time that during particularly important tournament matches, his heart rate would go extremely high and stay there.

After many doctors were unable to pinpoint the problem, Dr. Rodney Horton of the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, made the congenital heart defect diagnosis — and told Wilson that he needed surgery on it the very next day!!

The surgery was high-risk, but it luckily went extremely well.

Plus, the procedure did not require opening up Wilson’s chest, but rather going through his groin and neck to cauterize certain areas. For that reason, Wilson was back to playing MLP matches about a week later!

“It’s weird because it all happened so fast,” said Wilson. “I was just thankful to be alive first of all. I didn’t really care about pickleball much because obviously your life kind of flashes before your eyes and you take a few steps back for the big picture.”

What can we all learn from Wilson’s recent health scare? First, if something in your body really doesn’t feel right, then look into it. And beyond that — appreciate what you have and be grateful that you’re alive and can play pickleball.

The kitchen is a sacred place — please respect it. 😄

Franklin’s Got Balls!

Introducing: the only type of blue balls you DO want. 😄 Why? Because not only does Franklin lead the way with their iconic outdoor X-40 balls, but they also make incredible indoor X-26 pickleballs — and they come in different colors, like blue, pink, and more!

Want to become a high-level pickleball player? Who doesn’t?

If so, you have to be able to hit a backhand flick. Matt demonstrates below.👇

Key takeaways:

• Hit it from the yellow zone

• Use your wrist

• Brush up on the ball to create topspin

Canada’s Eugenie "Genie" Bouchard, former #5 ranked female tennis player in the world, will make her professional pickleball debut in January when she teams up with Tyler Loong in mixed doubles at the PPA Tour’s Masters in Palm Springs.

She won’t be the only tennis player at the tournament, as Sam Querrey, Donald Young, and Jack Sock will be playing there as well. Good luck Genie!

Thanks for the read. See you soon!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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