Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

Time keeps marching on and we always have to be looking forward. But it's also important to look backwards so we can reflect on what happened and better prepare for the future. Today, we'll look back at the five biggest pickleball takeaways from 2024, meet Ben Johns' new men's doubles partner, discover the first-ever international pro tournament in Japan, and a lot more.

Let’s do this! 👇

2025 is up and running, but before we get too far into it, let's take a look back at 2024 in the world of pickleball. Here are our Top 5 takeaways from last year...

Pickleball Is Getting Younger: According to Pickleheads, the age group with the largest number of players is now 18-34, which makes up almost 30% of the sport's participants. The other age groups are well represented too, but it's a good sign for continued growth when we know that young people are playing at a very high rate. 👍🏼

The PPA and MLP Merged: Two giant entities in the world of professional pickleball came together, the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP), to create the United Pickleball Association (UPA). Even though both groups kept their own names and brands, the merger has been helpful in gaining sponsors, and creating efficiencies. The consolidation was also backed by a $75 million investment from a private equity firm and a group of various team owners, which has helped increase pro pickleball players’ salaries to an average of $260,000 a year.

Record # of Pickleball Facilities Opened: More and more indoor and outdoor facilities opened or were announced in 2024. Rhythm and Rally, the world's largest indoor facility in Macon, Georgia (with 32 courts covering two floors) got a full year under its belt. Plus, the new biggest indoor facility in the world was announced, which will be a nearly 190,000 square foot facility with 50 indoor courts in Scottsdale, Arizona. As for outdoor facilities, The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was built this past year. It will have 43 courts, including a stadium court, and is set to open later this month.

National and International Growth: For the third year in a row, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), 48.3 million people played pickleball at least once in 2023. So imagine how many played in 2024! As for international growth, pickleball is being played in 70 countries, and the pickleball industry is currently valued at $1.5 billion, with an expectation of reaching $4.4 billion by 2033.

Pro Tennis Players Moved to Pickleball: 2024 represented the start of pro pickleball careers for former top tennis pros, including Jack Sock, John Isner, Eugenie Bouchard, and Donald Young. But it was also the huge names in tennis, like John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova, and Steffi Graf, who played in high-profile exhibition pickleball matches. And the biggest tennis star of all to embrace pickleball, Andre Agassi, has doubled down on his commitment to grow our sport all around the world. More recently, like a few weeks ago, the Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios said that he will play in a pro pickleball tournament alongside Jack Sock in 2025. 💪🏼

Eliminate Spin from Your Defensive Dinks

If someone is moving you off the court and you have to reach for a dink, it is usually best to hit this shot without applying spin. Spin is created by paddle head speed, so to apply spin you need to swing fast. If you are swinging fast on defense you are very likely to make a mistake, either by hitting the ball too high or into the net. In fact, spin should only be used on offensive dinks. Flat dinks are typically more consistent and will help you get back into the point if you are put in a defensive position.

We feel the need — the need for speed! 😲

Must-Have Essentials

Looking for a cozy layering piece that hugs you in style? The JOOLA women’s ribbed jacket checks all the boxes. Made with soft ribbed fabric, this full zip hoodie is perfect for running errands or hitting volleys. Functional details include a drawcord tie at the hood and an inverted pleat at the center back making for full range movement during wear.

Product Highlights:

• Slightly rolled forward shoulder seam detail

• Full zip hoodie silhouette with drawcord detail

• Inverted box pleat detail at center back for movement during wear

Material: 90% Polyester 10% Spandex

Pickleball’s greatest player of all time, Ben Johns, did a little Q + A with us…

The Pickleball Clinic: What three aspects or areas of pickleball do you think will evolve the most over the next 10 years?

Ben Johns: I think the #1 area of growth is going to be international participation. In 10 years I would predict large international professional tournaments, huge fan bases, and much more. I’m sure there are tons of other aspects and areas that will evolve more in the next 10 years, but I predict they will not be nearly as significant as international expansion, so I’ll just leave you with my top one!

Be sure to follow Ben on Instagram and YouTube.

End of an Era

When it comes to professional sports, dynasties are what define eras. Yes, many people love an underdog story, but when you look back over time, it's the dynastic teams that are most remembered.

Whether it's the Chicago Bulls and New York Yankees of the 90s or the New England Patriots of the 2000s, great teams are remembered for their talent and dominance.

Sure, professional pickleball is still in its infancy, but it's got to start somewhere. And in its first chapter, the dynasty on the men's side has been the Johns brothers, Ben and Collin.

The pair won 33 titles together (the next highest total is 10), and won an impressive 56% of the tournaments they played in.

However, in 2025, the brothers have decided to play with different partners. While Collin's partner has not been officially determined, Ben Johns recently announced that he will be partnering with... Gabe Tardio.

If you thought Ben Johns was young (25), then his new partner Tardio is an infant at just 19 years old. 😀

Tardio is from Bolivia and was introduced to the sport at the age of 14 by his grandfather. He has become a force on tour this past year and is known for his aggressive play on the right side.

As for why Ben chose him, “Gabe was my first call,” Johns said. “He applies a ton of pressure, makes plays from tough positions, and has a presence on the court that’s undeniable. Honestly, he’s been the toughest guy for me to play against this past year.”

Good luck, guys! And good luck to anyone who has to face this team in 2025. 😲 

Yeah, it’s not exactly the cleanest of stories. 😄

Hot on Their Tail

Ever dream of being on a high-speed chase? Well, you may finally get the chance when you’re hot on the tail of the person who took your paddle. How will you know where they are? Because of PaddleTrac’s QR code technology that allows you to easily locate and track your paddle with a small sticker placed on the bottom of its handle.

Realistically, it probably won’t be a thief who takes your paddle, but rather a good Samaritan who picks it up. And with the PaddleTrac app, you’ll be able to communicate with the person who has your paddle so it can be quickly returned. Get your PaddleTrac sticker today, and you can have it for FREE when you use code “CLINIC” at checkout.

We normally have a pro discuss a specific pickleball shot in this section, but not today. Today, we'll watch and learn from one of the more influential people in pickleball, Jill Braverman. As the former CEO of DUPR and Chief of Staff for MLP, she knows a ton about the inner workings of the sport at every level. Plus, she's a former D1 tennis player and current professional pickleball player whose career highlights include being ranked as high as No. 3 in the world in singles and in the top 20 in doubles.

Co-Founder of The PIckleball Clinic, Aaron Reznik, recently spoke with Jill about everything from the people who influenced her to pickleball technology and a whole lot more. Check it out below.  👇

The inaugural Japan Open Pickleball Tournament was held in Tokyo in December, and it was the first international pro pickleball tournament held in Japan. It was put on by the Pickleball Japan Federation, and more than 600 players registered for the tournament. The tennis courts at Ariake Tennis Forest Park, which were used for the Tokyo Olympics, were repurposed for the pickleball tournament.

A group of Maui pickleballers, pictured below, made the trip over to Japan for the tournament. They braved the cold weather (yes, it was played outside), and managed to bring back 14 medals ranging across varying levels and age brackets. Aloha Maui picklers. And congrats on your medals. 👍🏼

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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