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Think big when setting pickleball goals
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Everyone has goals. Some are big, some are small, some are just random things people think would be cool to accomplish.
Almost all goals in pickleball are centered around some performance metric. People want their DUPR to increase or they want to medal in a tournament or sometimes they just want to beat up on their friends.
But one thing standing in the way of serious improvement is players setting their goals too low. We explain below.
Also in this issue:
Major League Pickleball reports big growth 🚀
UPA-A reduces paddle certification fee 💵
These pickleball players in Africa are legit 😮
Register for The Kitchen Open Austin TODAY! 📋
National Pickleball League announces expansion 📈
Sore knees? We’ve got the perfect fix 💪
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
These kids in Africa are BALLING OUT
Every single time we see one of these videos, our perception of what’s possible is blown wide open. Prior to 2020, the sport these kids would be playing would be soccer. Not today.
And they aren’t just hitting the ball around. These kids are BALLING OUT. Check out the reset from the kid in grey. Everyone says the next great pickleball pro is from Asia. Why not Africa?
🔗 Check out this point on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
THE KITCHEN OPEN AUSTIN
Last week to register for the best amateur tournament in the country!
WE’RE ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY before registration closes for The Kitchen Open Austin amateur pickleball tournament. Spots are filling up fast and MOST DIVISIONS ARE ALREADY 80% FULL. (See below for remaining spots)
USE CODE “LASTCHANCE” FOR $50 OFF YOUR REGISTRATION. 🤯
REMAINING SPOTS:
Open Division - 30 spots left. Men's Doubles 3.0 - 5 spots left. Men's Doubles 3.5 - 5 spots left. Men's Doubles 4.0 - 2 spots left. Men's Doubles 4.5 - 3 spots left. Mixed Doubles 3.0 - 6 spots left. Mixed Doubles 3.0 50+ - 7 spots left. Mixed Doubles 3.5 - 1 spot left. Mixed Doubles 3.5 50+ - 9 spots left. Mixed Doubles 4.0 - 11 spots left. Mixed Doubles 4.5 - 5 spots left. Women's Doubles 3.0 - 10 spots left. Women's Doubles 3.5 - 9 spots left. Women's Doubles 4.0 - 3 spots left. Women's Doubles 4.5 - 4 spots left.
INSTRUCTION
When setting your pickleball goals, dream big
Almost all of us have goals in pickleball, and almost all of us need to improve in some way to accomplish them.
But many players suffer from setting their goals too low. Here’s why:
Let’s say you are a 3.5 DUPR and your goal is to get to 4.0. The truth is you don’t need to change a whole lot in order to reach that. Maybe you’ll play in a few more tournaments or go drill every now and again, but nothing about you as a player or as a person is going to change drastically to reach that specific goal.
Now let’s adjust and say the new goal is to reach 5.0. That might seem unrealistic when the starting point is 3.5. It’s a big jump, and a lot has to change. But it’s not impossible. It will require a lot of drilling and most likely off-court fitness training as well.
In reality, that same player might not achieve the end goal of getting to 5.0. Maybe they only get to 4.6, but that’s still a huge leap from 3.5, and almost certainly a bigger leap than they would have had if they had stuck with the original goal of becoming a 4.0.
The lesson: Dream big. It will make you better in the long run.
THE PROS
Major League Pickleball reports growth across several business metrics
Major League Pickleball on Tuesday released a report that details several key business metrics from the recently completed 13-event season.
Here are a few of the highlights from the report:
Sponsor revenue more than doubled 2024’s total.
Ticket revenue saw 84% growth.
Total attendance grew 37% (total of 50 event days).
Pickleballtv generated a 141% jump in minutes viewed.
YouTube views increased 230% on MLP’s official channel.
“After a volatile and uncertain start, it’s incredible to look back and see what MLP has become and can do for the sport of pickleball when given the attention and resourcing it deserves,” said MLP Commissioner Samin Odhwani. ”From the staff, to the team owners, to our leadership at MLP, we will look back on the 2025 season as the jumping off point for MLP to become one of the most prominent sports properties in America.”
Next up for the league is the standalone MLP Cup in Dallas Oct. 31-Nov. 2 ahead of the Pickleball World Championships. All 22 teams will be competing, and the format includes pool play into a single elimination bracket.
TRENDING
The United Pickleball Association of America this week announced new pricing for manufacturers to get their paddles certified for use in PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball events and also said it will become a nonprofit in the coming months.
The organization recently implemented its own paddle testing and certification process, and the new price is aimed at making the certification more accessible and to encourage broader brand participation.
Annual fee: Reduced from $20,000 (2025) to $10,000
Per paddle certification: $3,000 (standard 8-week turnaround)
Companies have the option to expedite the testing process for a fee.
The UPA-A is also in the transition phase of going from an LLC under the broader UPA umbrella to a fully independent 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. The change is expected to be completed soon and is meant to "ensure pickleball remains fair, fun, and competitive for all participants, while reinvesting in the growth of the game."
NATIONAL PICKLEBALL LEAGUE
Senior league announces expansion and new amateur tournament series for 2026
The National Pickleball League — a senior pro league made up of 12 teams across the country — has announced it will expand by adding three new age-specific divisions, along with a new series of tournaments that will feature both professional and amateur players.
Along with the existing Champions Pro league for players over 50, the NPL will add separate divisions for:
Players aged 40+
Players aged 60+
A development division for players aged 50+ who hope to be drafted and compete in NPL’s Champions Pro league.
The league will also launch a new tournament series for both professional and amateur players aged 40+ starting in early 2026. Prize money will be awarded in all pro divisions.
“Our mission has always been to showcase the incredible talent, athleticism, and competitiveness of players over age 50, and we’ve seen nothing but this in our first three seasons of play,” said NPL CEO Rod Davis. “With this expansion, we’re creating more opportunities for athletes at every stage of their journey.”
The NPL is currently in the midst of its third season. It will have its regular-season finales this month with simultaneous events in Indianapolis and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The season will culminate next month with Championship Weekend in Seattle from Oct. 16-19. All 12 NPL teams will compete for a share of the $100,000 prize pool and the NPL Championship.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Picklebalm’s roll-on pain reliever is a convenient way to stay pain-free
Picklebalm’s roll-on pain reliever is a great way to deliver targeted comfort exactly where you need it most. It’s perfect for before, during or after your games, and it comes in a convenient bottle that fits in any pickleball bag.
The proprietary C.A.L.M. formula combines Cucumber Seed extract, Arnica, Lidocaine (4%), and Menthol for maximum-strength relief. Other bonuses:
Sweat-proof formula
Hands-free, mess-free application
Fast-absorbing
Refreshing green tea and sage scent
Available at picklebalm.com, Amazon and select CVS stores nationwide.
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