Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

Which two pickleball titans just combined forces? What should you do to adjust to outdoor pickleball? Today, we’ll explore those subjects and a whole lot more!

Let’s do this! 👇

We don’t talk too much about mergers and acquisitions in this newsletter, and for good reason — we prefer to discuss pickleball!

But when two of the biggest titans in the sport come together, we kind of have to talk about it.😄

And it doesn’t get much bigger than the PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association) and MLP (Major League Pickleball), two leagues with some of the biggest names in individual/doubles pro tournaments and pro team competition, respectively.

The proposed unification was initially announced more than six months ago, but had been delayed until last week.

There are many aspects to the merger, but here are the main things to know…

• The consolidation will unite the two entities into a single holding company that is backed by a $75 million investment from a group of investors. (source: CNBC)

• Both leagues will still keep their own names, formats and brands.

• More than 150 professional pickleball players have multi-year contracts with this new entity.

• Combined annual player payouts in 2024 are expected to increase by nearly 250% compared to 2023.

The unification of these two giant leagues will definitely be something to keep an eye on, and it will be interesting to see how this new entity balances the player schedules between team and individual competitions.

Individual sports, including golf, tennis, and swimming, have been able to successfully produce popular team events, such as the Ryder Cup, Davis Cup, and Olympics, respectively.

But those events are often held once every few years. To hold individual and team events all concurrently appears to be a bit of a new thing. We can’t wait to see how it all pans out!

Take your game to the next level with… consistency.

Today's tip is for all of you 3.0 players who want to reach the 3.5 and above level. Focus on developing consistency in your fundamentals. That is, serves, returns, and third shots. One of the biggest differences between 3.0 and 3.5 players is that 3.5 players hit their serves and returns consistently, and their third shots are usually in.

That isn't to say that their shots are all perfect (especially the third shot), but they can play at a much higher level of overall consistency than 3.0 level players. Don't worry too much about hitting perfect drops, drive winners, or huge serves and returns. Just focus on getting your shots in and getting the point going. Once you develop this level of consistency you can begin to work on strategy and advanced shot making. But the first step is consistency!

A former professional tennis player, a current professional pickleball player, and a part owner of MLP’s Florida Smash, Travis Rettenmaier shares his thoughts on how to make pro pickleball more appealing.

“Pickleball is the Jekyll and Hyde of sports. With the recreational game soaring and 40 million people playing the game socially, there is a question to be asked…

Why is the professional game failing to get eyes and interest? There are a variety of opinions here as there should be, but to me the rules need to be adjusted. First and foremost, let’s implement a shot clock. The team serving has 25 seconds to end the point. This would lead to more firefights, incredible defense and match times that are more predictable.

Part 2 is the sport does not showcase athleticism. This could be fixed simply by moving the posts 3-6 inches apart on either side. Imagine being rewarded for a great angle and how much more movement, dynamic athleticism and chaos this would create. The points and shifting would be incredible leading to more excitement and “wow” moments for viewers.

Pickleball is the greatest sport in the world socially and recreationally. Let’s move the professional game forward and highlight speed and athleticism to ultimately appeal to the most important piece of the puzzle…. the fans!”

Get a look behind the scenes of Travis’ pickleball journey on Instagram.

JOOLA — Join the Conversation

“The Perseus or the Scorpeus?” “The Hyperion or the Hyperion C2?” “14mm or 16mm?” These are the questions and subsequent conversations happening on the courts between pro pickleball players, high-level amateurs and those trying to take their games to the next level.

Why? Because when you’re taking pickleball seriously and striving to be the best player you can be, then you’re using the best paddle out there. And that’s JOOLA, trusted by the best pickleball players in the world, including the undisputed best player in the world, Ben Johns.

Join the conversation and check out which model you like most right here. Plus, use code “clinic10” at checkout for 10% off!

Now THAT’s a backhand slice! 👇

Let’s Take it Outside

As spring approaches, many of us will be coming out of our indoor pickleball caves and heading back outdoors! That's great, but it does take a little getting used to. Here are the three biggest things you'll need to reacquaint yourself with when returning to outdoor pickleball.

1. Sun

The sun is perhaps the main reason we have life on earth. It provides warmth, energy, gravity to keep us in our orbit, and light for us to see and plants to grow. Thank you for all of that, sun.👍

BUT it also makes it really difficult to see high volleys or overheads during the middle of the day. And it burns when we don't wear sunblock. So "no thank you" for all of that, sun! 😃

Our only advice here is to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats. And if you're building a new court, don't position it east/west! Otherwise, you'll be looking straight at the sun in the morning and at sunset.

2. Temperature

Related to the sun is of course the temperature. While it is getting warmer out, there will still be some cold days — and that means layers!

Don’t be that hero playing out there in a t-shirt at 55 degrees. Then the clouds roll in, the temperature drops ten degrees, and now you're shivering — or even worse — asking to borrow someone else's sweaty hoodie.

3. Wind

The biggest difference between outdoor and indoor pickleball is probably the wind. Yes, it is a real thing, and yes, you have to know how to deal with it. 

Essentially, work with it! In other words, if you're hitting against the wind, you have to hit a little harder. If you're hitting with the wind at your back, hit the ball a little softer or use more topspin. If it's blowing to your right, aim a little more left — and vice versa. 

So there you go, the three biggest things to look out for as you transition to playing outside. Good luck out there! 

Stop fighting about silly things like money or your in-laws, and start fighting about pickleball! 😂 

Sonrei - Our Official Sunscreen Brand!

Remember our friend, the sun, from earlier? Sure, it's the reason for life on earth, blah, blah, blah.😄 But it also poses a real danger. Seriously, if you're not paying attention to sun safety, you're making a big mistake. We're definitely taking it seriously, which is why we just chose Sonrei as the official sunscreen of The Pickleball Clinic!

Why Sonrei? Because they're not just any run-of-the-mill sunscreen you can find at your local pharmacy. They are a top suncare brand leading the way in sun safety technology. For us pickleballers, we need a strong, sweat-proof sunscreen, and Sonrei offers both mist and gel options. In fact, Sonrei is all about options, which is why their motto is: "Crafted for every kind." They have a variety of products including traditional and mineral options. Rest assured they are all fragrance-free, paraben free, vegan, and are designed for all skin tones, types, and pigments. In other words, Sonrei is committed to inclusion — kind of like pickleball.

So go get yourself some Sonrei mist or gel sunscreen, and then get outside and play some pickleball!

Pickleball on Screen 🎥🎞️ 

Want to learn the best ways to cheat😂 and make excuses😄 on a pickleball court? Then this video is for you! (Just remember, it's a JOKE!)

Want to hear from Dan Brooks, the creator of the upcoming comedy movie, In a Pickle?!! Then this video is for you!

Take a look at Austin, the “Amazon Man.” He looks like someone who you might call IN SHAPE! And trust us, he knows about the body and how to take care of it. Check out these 5 stretches he recommends you do before playing.👇

Key takeaways:

• Arm circles

• Side-to-side “hugs” - with a twist

• Hip flexor stretch

• Squat and twist

• Lateral lunge

We know there are many celebrities interested in pickleball, and we’ve mentioned a few in previous newsletters. But we just scratched the surface. Here’s a list of some more celebrities who love to pickle…

• Justin Bieber

• Ellen DeGeneres

• Michael Phelps

• Leonardo DiCaprio

• Larry Fitzgerald

So if you bump into any of them and want to say “hi,” your opening line should definitely be about dinking!😄👍

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

Join the conversation below! ⬇️