Blinded By Pickleball: A solution to keep you safe on the courts

Welcome back, picklers

Read time: ~5 min

There you go… the literal reason why you should never step into the kitchen.

In today’s newsletter, you’ll learn why eyewear might be something you want to invest in sooner rather than later.

Also, pro tennis player, Genie Bouchard, admits that her tennis skills aren’t as useful as one might think when playing pickleball.

Now, let’s get into the newsletter.

How to read The Pickle Talk:

1. First, don’t click any links just yet. Read it all the way through, and then send it to a friend you think might benefit too.

2. Next, come back and dive into the links that caught your eye.

3. Last, go play some pickleball and stir up conversations with your newfound knowledge.

Enjoy :)

TODAY’S BANGERS:

• Pickle Talk: Blink and You'll Miss It. The Need for Eye Protection in Pickleball.

• Bite-Size Pickle: Genie Bouchard’s TMZ interview about pickleball. The NFL on pickleball. BestofPickleball releases the most bizarre moments video.

• Golden Pickle: MLP sued for $175,000 by a former marketing agency

Let’s get into some... PICKLE TALK 🎙️

Blink and You'll Miss It. The Need for Eye Protection in Pickleball.

So, I recently stumbled upon a 2022 Research Square article that dropped a surprising stat: over 800 tennis-related eye injuries happen annually on average.

Initially, I was shocked by the idea of a ball getting close to my eyes as it had never happened before. However, after conducting some research, it became clear that this is a common occurrence with terrifying effects.

Ever heard about Tim Puetz, the pro tennis player? In 2021, he faced a serious eye injury at the Qatar Open, leading him to forfeit the game.

And then, out of the blue, my Instagram feed pops up with Cassidy Phillips, a serial entrepreneur, sporting a discolored eye after getting smacked right in the eye during a pickleball match, leaving him temporarily blind.

Now that…was a reality check, big time.

According to pickleball science, these little balls can zip at speeds of up to 40 mph, and some folks on Facebook claim they can crank it up to 45 mph with a forehand smash.

And that kind of velocity could wreak havoc on your eyes, as Cassidy Phillips unfortunately experienced.

So, what's the game plan moving forward, now that you and I are armored with this new knowledge?

I reached out to The Pickle Talk community, and here are some solutions they shared:

1. No-lense Sunglasses: Offering minimal protection but still better than nothing, it creates a barrier against potential eye contact with the ball. The key is to find frames that are on the smaller side and don't snug too close to your eyes.

2. Impact-Resistant Glasses: A bit more expensive but more effective, consider anti-scratch and anti-fog resistant options or explore glasses designed for high-impact sports like racquetball or baseball. Here’s a pair by Onix that you could consider.

Now, warning.

If you're thinking of just using regular glasses or sunglasses with lenses in them, I'd strongly advise against it. The lenses most likely aren't shatter-proof, and polarized sunglasses can mess with your depth perception.

Choose wisely, folks. The wrong choice might do more harm than good.

*BITE-SIZE* PICKLES

1/ ➜ Happenings: Genie Bouchard, the pro tennis star turned pickleball player, wants everyone to know that pickleball isn't just a walk in the park, even for a tennis pro like herself.

During a chat with TMZ Sports in Las Vegas for Super Bowl week, she spilled the beans: moving from tennis to pickleball isn't as smooth as folks might think.

Despite her tennis background, joining the PPA Tour and diving into pickleball came with its share of challenges. She even faced a tough loss in her singles debut. Bouchard made it clear: pickleball requires a whole new set of skills, and she's determined to nail them down as the sport continues to blow up across the country.

***

2/ ➜ Happenings: NFL Films recently caught up with some pro-NFL stars and coaches to chat about... wait for it... pickleball. Yeah, you read that right. And guess what? For once, it wasn’t meant to make fun of our beloved sport.

In a 5-minute video, these NFL giants had some pretty positive things to say about the sport.

CJ Beathard, QB for the Jaguars, dropped some truth bombs, saying, "Pickleball takes a lot of skill and technique." And he's not alone. Others chimed in, praising how pickleball helps with their reflexes and agility on the big stages.

Who would've thought, right? It's like a whole new side to these tough guys.

It's getting some serious street cred from NFL pros.

Take a watch here! It made me smile from ear to ear :)

***

3/ ➜ Happenings:

The BestofPickleball YouTube channel just dropped a wild one: "The Most Bizarre Moments in Professional Pickleball." (51k views in 6 days)

If you’ve got a moment, watch paddles snapping like twigs, players going full Hulk with paddle slams, and even streakers dashing across the court.

Trust me when I say you don't want to miss out on this pickleball madness.

GOLDEN PICKLES

🎫 VISIT: Travis Kelce’s, Taylor Swift’s BF, Chicken N Pickle restaurant-pickleball combo is now OPEN.

🎫 PROOF: Playing with a friend vs. Playing against your friend. Too accurate.

🎫 Discuss: Pickleball seems to attract over-thinkers

🎫 VIDEO: The pickleball scammer featured on Inside Edition. Must watch, updates included.

🎫 Extra Reads: MLP sued for $175,000 by a former marketing agency, claiming the organization refused to pay for prior services

ICYMI…

Snap Shots 📸 of the Week

No pickle left unturned 🥳

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Thanks for reading!

Until next time, picklers.

Jonathan W.