Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

You know when someone says something but they actually mean something else? Today, we’ll analyze what your partner is really saying to you, take a look at some incredible pickleball stats, learn a new third shot strategy, and a whole lot more.

Let’s go! 👇

When you're playing pickleball, it's customary that you communicate with your partner. Here is our list of the most common things said from one partner to another — AND what each statement actually means. 😄 

"Good Idea": This means that you hit a horrible shot, but what you were trying to do was correct. 😂

"Feel free to take that shot up the middle": This means that you should have taken the last shot. Your forehand was probably in the middle so it was yours, and more importantly, you should take it when it happens again.

"I'm there next time": This is the opposite of what’s being said above. This means that you took your partner’s ball, which probably led to you two losing the point. 😄 And like the statement above, don't do this in the future. 😠

"Let's stack": This means that your partner thinks he or she is much better than you, so they need to be on the left side — if they're a righty — so they get their forehand in the middle. (There’s a small chance that it could also mean the opposite: that your partner thinks you're much better and that they are getting embarrassed and exposed on the left side and want you to take over.)

“Sorry I popped that up”: This actually means "sorry I popped that up." 😉 It’s possible that your partner is implying that you hit a shot that led to an offensive shot back, which then made them pop it up. But your partner would have to be extremely passive-aggressive to mean that.

"That ball was going to hit the fence": This means that you should not have hit that last ball because it was going out. It may have only been going out by a foot or two, but they're exaggerating it to convey how obviously out they thought the ball was going.

(By the way, it's not always so easy to pull back on a ball that's hit very hard. And heaven forbid if you ever did the opposite and let a ball go that wound up falling in — that same partner would have a heart attack. 😄)

When in Doubt, Drop the Ball in the Kitchen!

I know it’s much easier said than done, but the best defensive play is usually to hit the ball in the kitchen. This is because it makes your shot harder to attack and gives you more time to recover since the ball will stay in the air for longer than a drive. Next time you practice, try to work on your resets and dropping the ball from different spots on the court. Improving your defensive skills is one of the best ways to start winning more games!

We’ve got two words for this: fast and smooth. 😎

What’s In a Name?

You know those nice acquaintances you see every so often? You may not remember their names, but you know their essence and what they're all about. That's what Shakespeare was talking about when he wrote "What's in a name?... A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” (Nothing like quoting Shakespeare to make you feel intelligent. 🧠)

Anyway, what we're trying to say is that Jigsaw Pickleball Cocktail is changing its name to Jigsaw Potassium Cocktail to better reflect its key ingredient, potassium, which plays a crucial role in muscle function, hydration, and overall health. But don't worry, it's the same great electrolyte drink that you know and love. Don't believe us? Here's a video about it.

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

The Pickleball Clinic: What are the most important ingredients for being a great pickleball player?

Ben Johns: Loving the game, working hard, and being a ready and adaptive learner. It’s really all about getting continually better and those 3 qualities I’ve found are most conducive to getting better!

Be sure to follow Ben on Instagram and YouTube.

Let The Good Times Roll

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) recently published the “2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report.”

It talked about the growth of pickleball in America, and it presented some very impressive statistics.

But there are even more recent numbers at the international level that you should know about. For starters, pickleball is now played in more than 70 countries!

Do you realize how incredible that is? Can you even name 70 countries? 😉

Now let's talk money. In 2023, the global pickleball market was valued at roughly $1.5 billion.

That's not too shabby, but by 2033, it’s expected to reach $4.4 billion.

Pickleball's roots are starting to take hold in the world's two largest countries, China and India, and it is also growing in Europe and South America.

When you combine those people with the already large base of players in the U.S., Canada and Australia, it's no wonder why people are projecting such a bright future for our sport.

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Actually, that's pretty debatable, especially if you like warm weather. But since it's a well-known holiday song, then perhaps some people feel that way? 

Regardless of whether you like this season or not, the holidays are a nice time for you to give gifts to your loved ones. That's why we made our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide! Check it out HERE.

Why is everyone always looking for the quick fix? 😄 

The Best Version of Yourself

Want to play like a pro? Well, that's not going to be so easy. It’s going to take a lot of practice, natural ability – oh, and you’ll probably have to quit your job. But do you want to play as well as you possibly can? Then that is easy, just use a JOOLA paddle, the best pickleball paddle made.

Take a look above. On the left, you've got the Mod TA-15, and on the right, you'll be looking at the JOOLA 3S. They are the top-of-the-line paddles from the top-of-the-line pickleball paddle company. Check them both out right HERE.

Our friend James Ignatowich, who is also one of the best pickleball players in the world, dropped by to give us a tip. As you may have noticed in some of his previous videos, James thinks a bit outside the box and doesn’t always parrot the advice you may have heard in the past. That’s exactly what you’re getting today, as James will explain why he drives and does NOT drop when he receives a deep return. Watch below. 👇

Key Takeaways:

• A deep return actually makes hitting a good 3rd shot drop very difficult, as you will be behind the baseline, leaning backwards, and unable to hit the ball at its apex.

• Because a deep return makes it difficult to hit a 3rd shot drop, instead try hitting a low 3rd shot drive to the middle, where the net is at its lowest point.

• There is no need to crush this drive. Just try to make sure it’s low, which should give you an easier 5th shot that you can hit a drop on and make your way up to the kitchen.

A man named Roger BelAir is continuing his pursuit of bringing pickleball to gated communities, and by that, we mean prisons. Yes, BelAir strongly believes in rehabilitation through pickleball — and he's not alone, as he has been able to bring the sport to 40 prisons across 11 different states, including to California's San Quentin State Prison (pictured below), where members of rival gangs have played with one another along with the prison's warden.

“Something like 95% of people are eventually released from prison,” said BelAir. “If we can make them better people on the inside, it’s better for all of us once they get back outside.”

Another thing you may not have known is that we’re running a huge holiday giveaway right now on Instagram and Facebook. We’ve partnered with a bunch of great brands and there will be 5 lucky winners! Enter from the links above if you want your shot at an ultimate holiday pickleball basket! 🎁

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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