The guide to bodybagging (safely)

Introducing the "Sleeping Bag"

January 30, 2025

There is a massive amount of money flooding into pickleball right now, and that is projected to continue in the coming years, according to a new study.

A report from Market.us projects the sport’s global market value to jump from $1.9 billion in 2023 to a staggering $7.9 billion by 2033.

More on how and where the industry boom is happening below.

Also in this issue:

  • Nowhere to hide 🙈

  • The art of the bodybag 🎯

  • Electric pro games at Kitchen HQ ⚡️

  • Adidas making moves 🚀

  • Build your dream court right 👷

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

New shot just dropped: The ‘Sleeping Bag’

Wanna see some creative pickleball? Watch this point, where the guy on the right dives for a net ball and quickly realizes he can’t escape the kitchen. He takes cover, and his opponent quickly sees the opportunity for a body bag…

…And he takes that opportunity, just in a way nobody was expecting.

POLL

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INSTRUCTION

Learn to execute (and avoid) the bodybag

Pickleball players and observers have long debated the ethics of going for bodybags, with talk of unwritten rules and poor sportsmanship by those who don’t like where the modern game is headed.

That debate heated up earlier this month when Ben Johns fired a particularly aggressive attack at Quang Duong during a match at the PPA Tour Masters. If you haven't seen it, you can see the replay here and here.

Regardless of whether you think Johhs' shot at Duong was over the top — only 24% of respondents said they felt that way in a recent poll in this newsletter — it has become clear in the past year that trying to hit an opposing player in the chest or shoulder area is part of the game.

There are a few keys to executing the shot (safely):

  1. Take a small backswing: Too much of a backswing would be a giveaway and allow extra time for opponents to get out of the way.

  2. Relax your wrist: This allows you to create lag before whipping the paddle head through the ball.

  3. Aim for the paddle-side hip or shoulder area: This causes the classic “chicken wing” error if an opponent tries to counter.

Here’s how you can counter:

  1. The scorpion: Crouch down and put the paddle above your shoulder or head. This allows you to hit down on the ball, sending their speed up back to their feet.

  2. Let it go! Easier said than done, of course. But just because you think you can counter anything doesn't mean you should try. This is also where the scorpion position helps — if a ball is going out, all you have to do is move your paddle down, rather than trying to get your whole body out of the way.

FEATURED STORY

$7.9 billion by 2033

Pickleball is about to be worth more on the global market than ever before.

A new report from Market.us projects the sport’s global market value to jump from $1.9 billion in 2023 to a staggering $7.9 billion by 2033. That’s a 15.3% annual growth rate, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in sports.

For comparison, $8 billion is enough to buy:

💵 Over 30,000 luxury penthouses in NYC, assuming each costs $250K
💰️ Over 150 of Jeff Bezos' yachts (his ship Koru cost $500 million)
💲Free community college for roughly 3.5 million students in the U.S.

Where’s the $$$ coming from?

Gear sales – Paddles, balls, & apparel accounted for 41.5% of all revenue last year.

More courts, more tournaments – New facilities are popping up & prize pools are getting bigger.

Coaching & training surge – As player numbers skyrocket, lessons & clinics are thriving.

Online dominance – Over 55% of pickleball purchases happened digitally in 2023.

Right now, North America leads the charge, but Europe, Australia, and Latin America aren’t far behind.

THE KITCHEN HQ

The most visible court in the world

Top pros Dekel Bar, Julian Arnold, Jack Munro, & John Cincola dropped by The Kitchen headquarters this week for a casual game, so of course we had to get some clips.

As one viewer said, “I burned 100 calories just watching 👏”

We’re inviting more of the best in pickleball over for games like this — stay tuned by following our Kitchen HQ Instagram page.

TRENDING

Adidas has been making huge moves in pro pickleball the past two weeks.

The company recently signed world No. 1 Federico Staksrud and rising star Mari Humberg, strengthening its pro roster ahead of the 2025 season.

We also know some new paddles are coming from the iconic brand, and if they’re good enough for some of the sport’s top pros, they’re sure to be a hit among players.

Meanwhile: the PPA Tour is making its debut overseas by hosting the Australia Pickleball Open in Melbourne. Ahead of the tournament, Tom Evans and Helena Spiridis — both standout talents from Australia’s National Pickleball League — officially signed exclusive contracts with the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.

ORIGIN STORY

Building the best courts in pickleball

When a homeowner called CourTex just weeks after his brand-new backyard pickleball court was finished, he was panicking.

After a single heavy rain, chunks of acrylic paint started peeling off, revealing major mistakes beneath the surface. The contractor he hired was NOT a court specialist. The fix required a full rebuild.

This is exactly why CourTex has become the go-to for expert pickleball court construction. With deep experience in both backyard courts and pro-level venues—including Major League Pickleball and The Kitchen’s own HQ (see in-progress pic above)—CourTex understands that a great court starts with the right foundation.

They’ve even landed on the INC. 5000 list three years running for their rapid growth.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Up your game with the Dink Master

A reliable drilling buddy is hard to come by. Good thing most people have access to a garage or back patio where they could set up this training aid.

The Dink Master Pro and Dink Master from Enhance Pickleball are durable hitting surfaces that provide accuracy targets for you to practice placing dinks and speedups.

An added bonus: Both products come with a drill catalog.

🔗 Buy the Dink Master Pro here, and check out our full list of great training aids

QUICK HITS

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