Pickleball to the moon 🚀

Did Ben Johns pick the right partner?

March 20, 2025

 

In what has become a yearly tradition, pickleball was again named the fastest growing sport in the U.S. in 2024, according to the latest report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

It’s the fourth straight year pickleball has held the top spot in terms of growth, and there are now an estimated 19.8 million players in the country. That’s a 45.8% increase from 2023 and a 311% jump over the past three years. 🚀

More details on pickleball participation below.

We also have an important question to ask today: Is Anna Leigh Waters the greatest female athlete in the world? 🤔

Also in this issue:

  • The tennis vs. pickleball debate is clash of philosophies 💭

  • Breaking down Ben Johns’ results with new partners 🤝

  • Getting a DUPR rating just got easier 5️⃣.0️⃣

  • Let court positioning determine your shot selection♟️

  • Win a JOOLA Agassi Pro 🙌

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

JOOLA X AGASSI GIVEAWAY - FIFTEEN Agassi Pro paddles

We are excited to partner with JOOLA to give away 15 of their brand new Agassi Pro Series line paddles. The winners can choose from either the Agassi OR Graf pro paddles.

SIGN UP HERE and also get 100 BONUS ENTRIES HERE!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Anna Leigh Waters shows why she’s the 🐐

If Anna Leigh Waters wasn’t dominating pickleball she’d probably be playing for the U.S. Women’s Olympic soccer team.

She makes the impossible possible every time she steps foot on the pickleball court.

She’ll out-run you in singles and she’ll out-smart you in doubles. At the risk of bringing out the haters, we ask: Is she the greatest female athlete in the world today?

POLL

Is Anna Leigh Waters the greatest female athlete in the world today?

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FEATURED STORY

Community and inclusivity fuel pickleball’s growth

Over the past several years we’ve witnessed pickleball capture the hearts of millions with its unique blend of fun, accessibility and community spirit.

But as its popularity has soared, the sport has faced an unexpected adversary: the tennis community.

From dismissing it as “not a real sport” to attempting to claim it as their own, tennis enthusiasts have repeatedly tried to undermine pickleball’s legitimacy. But here’s the truth: Pickleball is a distinct sport with its own roots, philosophy, and identity — and it’s here to stay.

Pickleball vs. tennis: A clash of philosophies

At their core, Pickleball and tennis are not just different sports — they represent entirely different philosophies.

→ Community vs. competition: Tennis is often described as a “gentleman’s war,” where players face off in intense, individual battles. It’s a sport of power, precision and dominance. Pickleball, on the other hand, is a medley of collaboration and camaraderie.

→ Inclusivity vs. exclusivity: Tennis has long been associated with elitism, from its country club origins to its expensive equipment and private coaching. Pickleball breaks down these barriers with affordable paddles and simple rules. Tt’s a sport for everyone — whether you’re 8 or 80, a seasoned athlete or a first-time player.

THE PROS

Did Ben Johns choose the right partner for 2025?

We’ve now seen a month’s worth of play from Ben Johns with men’s doubles partners not named Collin, and much like the second half of 2024 with his brother, the results have been a mixed bag.

He’s teamed up with three different men’s players in four tournaments since he and Collin won the PPA Tour Masters in January.

Tucson Open: Bronze with Hayden Patriquin – Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon beat them 11-6, 10-12, 11-5 in the semifinals.

Mesa Cup: Silver with Gabe Tardio – Daescu and Alshon beat them 11-5, 11-1, 10-12, 5-11, 11-7 in the final. Find the recap here.

Cape Coral Open: Gold with Daescu – they beat Alshon and Federico Staksrud 11-2, 11-7, 11-1 in the final. Find the recap here.

Texas Open: Gold with Tardio – they beat Alshon and Staksrud 11-1, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 in the final.

While Johns seemingly made the decision to split with Collin because he felt like he needed more offense from the right side (which is why he picked Patriquin and Tardio to start out with), he appeared to play his best with Daescu, who – like Collin – is a more grindy and consistent type of player.

The on-court vibes were not good with Collin in the second half of 2024, and that apparent tension may have had more to do with the Johns brothers’ results falling off than their actual play styles. With Daescu, Johns got a similar type of player as Collin on the right side, but he appeared more mentally engaged and like he was actually enjoying himself on the court.

Their relatively easy win together in Cape Coral begs the question: Should Johns look to pair more with Daescu going forward?

DON’T MESS AROUND

Me headed to pickleball knowing I'm about to take it way too seriously

GET IN THE GAME

Get your first DUPR rating in a few simple steps

Getting your first DUPR rating can feel like a big step. If you’re new to the game or haven’t logged any matches yet, we’ve got the perfect solution: MyDUPRCoach—a free app that connects you with top pickleball coaches for skill assessments and official DUPR ratings.

How it works:

✅ Download the free MyDUPRCoach app
✅ Connect your DUPR Player ID
✅ Answer a few simple questions about your skill level
✅ Book a session with a coach in your area or submit a gameplay video
✅ Get your coach-assigned DUPR rating — no matches required!

Whether you’re just starting or looking to get a trusted rating fast, MyDUPRCoach is your shortcut to playing at the right level.

Ready to get rated?

Btw: If you’re a club looking to become a DUPR Assessment Center just like The Fort, PKLYN, Pickle&Chill, Austin Pickle Ranch, TTC Clubs and many others, reach out to [email protected]

New pickleball participation numbers dropped recently, and trending is a perfect word to describe what those numbers show.

📈 Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. played pickleball last year, more than soccer and baseball.

👦🏻👴🏻 The growth has occurred across all age groups. Players in the 25-34 age group make up 17% of total participants, followed by 65+ (15%) and 18-24 (13%). There also were more than 1 million new players under 18.

INSTRUCTION

Understand court positioning for better shot selection

We’ve all been there: Your opponent pops a ball up for what should be an easy attack, but you miss an aggressive shot in the net or long or wide.

The next time something like that happens, think about where you were positioned in the court when you went for the attack. Were you off balance or outstretched? If so, an attack probably wasn’t the right shot selection.

3 keys to better positioning and shot selection

  1. Recognize your own shot’s quality. If you hit a deep serve, take a step forward — the chances of a weak and short return is greater.

  2. React with your feet first. Many amateurs stab at a reset with their paddle before they even try to get behind the ball with their feet.

  3. Focus on the split step. You don’t have to be crazy with your feet like James Ignatowich, but split-stepping before every shot is critical. Having your core centered and your legs bent will prepare you to react and also stay in control.

Next time you’re on the court, be conscious of your positioning and how balanced you are on each shot. Being balanced will give you a greater chance of making a defensive shot and will also increase your chance of finding an offensive opportunity.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Get 30% off The Kitchen merch through Friday

You may have noticed that much of The Kitchen merch is green. As such, we thought it would be fitting to have a weeklong sale to celebrate St. Patty’s Day.

So head over to our merch page and use code STPATTYS30 at checkout to get 30% OFF through Friday, or click here to have the discount automatically applied to your purchase. 🍀

QUICK HITS

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