How Dave Fleming became the voice of pickleball

Time is running out to get a JOOLA Rally Rocket paddle

July 09, 2026

 

Public pickleball courts are the lifeblood of pickleball in the United States.

They’re where first-timers fall in love with the game, friendships are built, communities grow and future champions hit their first dinks. Recently we set out to put together a list of the best public courts in the country — places where the vibes are good and you can seemingly always find a quality rec game.

Find out which courts made the cut below.

Also in this issue:

  • What it’s like to almost take down a pro 😅

  • How Dave Fleming became the voice of pickleball 🎧

  • We’re giving away 10 limited-edition 11SIX24 strawberry paddles 🍓

  • Last chance for early-bird pricing on Honcho pickleball leagues 🐦‍⬛

  • The JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles are going away at the end of July 🗓️

Let’s cook! 👨🏻‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

We’re giving away 10 BRAND NEW limited-edition 11SIX24 Power 2 strawberry paddles

We’re partnering with 11SIX24 to give away 10 BRAND NEW limited-edition strawberry Power 2 paddles.

The Power 2 Series has been one of the most popular paddle releases of 2026, and this latest colorway celebrates the season with a bold new look.

The strawberry collection includes the Hurache-X, Vapor and Pegasus shapes, all with the HexGrit surface that 11SIX24 introduced earlier this year.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

He was one shot away from taking down a pro

Riley Newman is one of the all-time greats in the sport, with more than 75 PPA Tour medals to his name.

So you can imagine what it would be like as an amateur to go toe-to-toe with Newman on the court. That’s exactly what happened in this highlight, which features Newman (top right) in an epic rec game.

The amateurs certainly hold their own, but in the end Newman finished the point with his iconic two-handed backhand.

🔗 Check out this highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

PICKLEBALLERS

How Dave Fleming became the voice of pickleball

In this week’s episode of Pickleballers, PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball announcer Dave Fleming sits down with co-hosts Roscoe and Jared to trace his winding path to the pickleball mic — from calling high school sports in Memphis to ball boying and interviewing tennis legends as a teenager, and finally becoming the defining voice of the sport's biggest broadcasts.

Dave breaks down his origin story in detail: growing up in a sports-obsessed family, his early TV career, and the chance golf cart conversation with Hank Haney that connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe — a meeting that helped shape the modern PPA Tour. He also shares how he almost missed his own start in broadcasting after years working outside sports media entirely.

Dave also opens up about the craft behind the mic: Where catchphrases like "snowman," "crooked number," and "the floor is lava" actually came from, how he handles online criticism by blocking and moving on. He also gives his predictions for which discipline — gender doubles, mixed doubles or singles — will be the one to break pickleball into the mainstream.

🔗 Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts

PICKLEBALLERS GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re doing a giveaway to celebrate the latest episode of Pickleballers. This week we’re giving away ANY 11SIX24 PADDLE to one lucky winner. Enter here!

FEATURED STORY

These are the best public pickleball courts in the US

Most of us started playing pickleball at our local public courts. We stuck our paddle in the rack, hopped on the court with 3 strangers and had an absolute blast.

While more and more private facilities have opened up in recent years, the public courts are still thriving — and there are more than a few courts in the U.S. that have gained a reputation as being hot spots for epic rec games.

We asked players who have been around the sport for years where they’ve had their best public court experiences, as well as players in our Facebook community.

Here are a few of the locations that came up over and over:

Belknap Park — Grand Rapids, Michigan: Bellknap Park is widely known in the pickleball world, as it has hosted the Beer City Open — a large pro and amateur tournament — since 2018. The park has 21 dedicated outdoor courts, which are free and open to the public. It also has restrooms, water stations, lights and is wheelchair accessible.

Sawyer Point – Cincinnati, Ohio: Sawyer Point is a huge facility that is very popular among Cincinnati pickleball players, and it’s also one of the most photogenic facilities in the country (pic above). It has 24 lighted outdoor courts that are free and open to the public.

Pan American Park — Austin, Texas: Austin has been a pickleball hot spot since the sport started taking off in the late 2010s, and Pan American Park is always hopping. There are 6 outdoor courts that are free and open to the public, and they have lights — perfect for those warm summer nights.

USOP National Pickleball Center — Naples, Florida: This huge facility is home to the U.S. Open, which is held annually in the spring and draws thousands of players from all over the world. It has 65 (!!) courts, including several under a large canopy, as well as amenities like restrooms, food, a pro shop/equipment store and lights.

Green Lake Park – Seattle, Washington — Washington is where the sport was born, and Greek Lake Pickleball is one of the most popular places to play in the Seattle area. There are 11 courts — 8 outdoor, 3 indoor — conveniently located just north of downtown.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles only available through the end of July

The limited-edition JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles have been hot in the streets this summer.

They’ve been so popular, in fact, that JOOLA is running out of them. We’ve been told they only have enough on hand to sell them through the end of July.

So if you’ve been thinking about grabbing one, we’re approaching last chance territory. Get one before they melt!

PICKLEBALL LEAGUES

Get early bird pricing for Honcho’s fall leagues

Adult friendships are down. Pickleball leagues are up. 📈

If you’re looking to meet new people, get some games in, and have something to look forward to every week, joining a Honcho Pickleball League might be the move.

Early bird registration for Honcho’s fall season is open until July 12 and saves you 15%. Use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for an extra discount.

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