Today is a very special day for our sport: it's National Pickleball Day!

To celebrate, we're going to quiz you with some obscure pickleball facts. If you’re a true pickleball fan, keep scrolling to take the quiz.

We’ll select one person who answers all three correctly to win something nice. NO CHEATING! _{(We can tell).}

In this issue:

• You know what they say about “down the middle…”

• 3D-printed pickleball?

• Guide: who should play left or right side

• Wanna watch some perfect pickleball?

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

TRIVIA

Bet You Can’t Get All Three Right

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Not Just FAST Hands. BETTER Hands.

Hands battles when you're a rec player: usually end the point.
Hands battles when you're a pro? Just the beginning.

A net bounce resets the pace of the ball in this crazy point, leading to some delicate dinks. But Lacy Schneemann (front left) quickly takes advantage of an opportunity to go down the middle, taking her opponents by surprise.

Look for opportunities like this in your own games.

BONUS!

Since You Asked…

Many of you asked for a deeper analysis of last week's unforgettable highlight of the week (perhaps highlight of the month…or even year?)…so we made it happen.

Check out this awesome breakdown from Kyle Koszuta (thatpickleballguy). You’ll be glad you did.

FEATURED STORY

Innovations in Pickleball(s)

Fact: about 500 million pickleballs will be produced this year. While we love that sign of growth for the sport, this estimate comes with a dark side...

Some say 77 million pounds of plastic will end up in landfills because of pickleball. For scale, FIFTY school buses only weigh ONE million pounds. That’s a lotta balls.

But two new companies aim to make pickleball more environmentally friendly, less wasteful, and less noisy than ever before.

➝ Pro-Pickle just revealed the world's first compostable pickleball made from a blend of wheat straw and rice husks.

You'd be forgiven for wondering how such a thing can hold up to the swats and slams of the game. But a representative tells us their ball actually outperforms the bounce standard for tournament play.

➝ Meanwhile, 3D printing company Accel Digital just released their 3D-printed, fully recyclable, "quiet" DigiPro Series ball.

The USAP-approved solution slashes 10 decibels off the usual sound of a standard pickleball, producing a softer noise they say is more akin to a "click" than a "pop."

See the 3D ball's fascinating design and learn about The Kitchen's Official Ball, The Dura Fast 40.

INSTRUCTION

It's NOT Just About the Forehand Covering Middle

Pickleball has nuances that lend different roles to different sides of the court.

No, it's NOT just about whose forehand covers the middle.

Doubles partners need to be self aware. They'll play much more fluidly if they determine who has the strengths that make them primed for playing on the left vs. the right side:

LEFT SIDED PLAYERS:

• Have an array of different attacks at their disposal (strong flicks, misdirects, etc.)

• Can move an unattackable dink around

• Are able to slide to cover the middle with their forehand

• Have strong cross-court dinks

RIGHT SIDED PLAYERS:

• Have a general aura of unattackability

• Counter speedups well & hit them back hard ('clubby hands')

• Never need to overextend themselves

So, doubles partners, ask yourself:

• Are you and your partner's play styles in line with any of the attributes above?

• Where do you feel most comfortable attacking & defending from on the court?

See some examples and learn more from top pro Connor Garnett.

GEAR

Guaranteed Consistency: The Engage Pursuit MAXX

You can never go wrong with Engage. They’re as solid and dependable as they come.

With its Enhanced Friction Carbon Surface, the Pursuit MAXX offers amazing spin & a soft feel.

Get yours here.

TRENDING

We knew the Collin Johns' leaked letter from last week detailing his MLP opinions wasn't intended for the eyes of the internet. Still, that didn't stop other pros from weighing in on the matter.

It seems most people agreed with at least part of what Collin had to say, but not how he said it.

Regardless, the effects of all this seemed to take a toll on Collin:

There's a saying that goes, "you have the right to present yourself as you wish to be seen," or something like that.

Whoever leaked this robbed Collin of that right and obscured the important role pros have in changing the game for the better.

EVENTS

It's NPL Weekend!

The first competitive league for players 50+ kicks off its fourth weekend tomorrow during PickleCon at the Kansas City Convention Center.

Each National Pickleball League event features three pods of the best players in this age group – Mens, Womens, & Mixed doubles, competing in a unique teams-based format.

Not in Missouri? Stream the action on NPL’s YouTube channel and enjoy some of the most high-level pickleball you’ve ever seen.

COMMUNITY

Happy National Pickleball Day

Last week, we asked you why you keep playing pickleball.

While any answer to that question is legitimate, we think it says a lot about the people in this sport that so many of you chose the "All of the Above" option.

We were particularly enthused by reader Wayne M.'s response:

"I love every part of pickleball, and at 74, it keeps all of my faculties tuned up! The exercise, the skills to play, the socialization all contribute to overall well-being.”

HUMOR

You Only Live Once…

QUICK HITS

• Chill, Bro: If this happens to you, are you fighting him?

• This is Legal? Will Howells pulls this off smoothly, somehow

• Divine Intervention: This could have ended very badly 😬

• It’s Inevitable: We’ve all become this guy

• Pickleball Archetypes: Choose your fighter

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