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Here’s what Apple has to say about pickleball… (hint: it’s good news, y'all)

Here’s what Apple has to say about pickleball… (hint: it’s good news, y'all)

PLUS: The Kitchen Confidant Makeover & MLP founder tries to play games and then resigns

Welcome back, picklers.

Read time: 5 min

A couple things before we get started today:

The Kitchen Confidant is now… The Pickle Talk
We are now hosting this newsletter on Substack

Why the sudden changes?

In short: sometimes things just don’t work out. And that’s okay.

Besides that, everything else is here to stay 😃

Now, onto this week’s newsletter. 👇🏾

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: Here’s what Apple has to say about pickleball… (hint: it’s good news, y’all)
News Stash: MLP founder tries it, fails, and resigns. Pickleball, 9-5. Broken hand? Let’s sue the courts.
Sizzling Skills: Swiper, no swiping! The key to a backhand volley
Kitchen Talk: Will pickleball ever be taken seriously as a spectator sport?

DAILY SCOOP

Here’s what Apple has to say about pickleball…

The mega-zillionaire corp has confirmed what we all already knew and felt in our hearts:

Pickleball is amazing. Duh.

But this time, when the haters be talkin’ smack, we now have Apple to back us up.

Here’s the news:

A new study from Apple and Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed over 250,000 pickleball and tennis workouts recorded on Apple Watch.

Here are the key findings:

Pickleball workouts were slightly longer on average than tennis at 90 mins vs 81 mins.
Both sports showed high effort, with average peak heart rates at 70% of participants' max. This level provides cardiovascular benefits.
Pickleball workouts surpassed tennis in popularity for the first time in July 2023, showing its steady growth.
Utah was the top state for pickleball participation per capita. 1 in 16 participants tried pickleball.
Pickleball and tennis participants showed 60% and 50% lower odds of a depressed mood, respectively, vs. the general pool.
Both sports attracted players of all ages. They remained more popular among men than women, though pickleball had higher female participation.
On average, frequent pickleball players were older than tennis players, at 51 years vs 45 years respectively.

Why this matters?

The real-world fitness data from Apple Watch users provide unique insights unattainable previously. It proves to all the naysayers that YES…

Pickleball can provide meaningful activity for all ages.

The research reinforces the mental and physical health benefits of sports like pickleball and tennis.

Pickleball = Apple Approved ✅

NEWS STASH

MLP founder tries to pull a fast one and then resigns

Happenings: Ooompf! A couple newsletter agos, we announced that MLP and PPA have finally decided to merge once again.

But it looks like MLP founder Steve Kuhn had a different agenda leading to his resignation after trying to subvert the in-progress merger with the Pro Pickleball Association.

What happenened?

Apparently, Kuhn pitched expanding MLP teams during a recent owner's meeting, deviating from the agreed merger plan. The power move didn't sit well, resulting in resignations and ultimately Kuhn's own departure.

While the merger isn't finalized yet, Kuhn's exit boosted its odds since he was an obstacle.

Bottom line: Kuhn's sudden resignation rocks the professional pickleball landscape. But it could unjam the stalled merger for a more unified future. Still, Kuhn's absence leaves MLP's leadership picture murky.

+++++

Pickleball becoming a corporate benefit

Happenings: Would pickleball play time be a benefit you’d want in your offer package?

Well, for companies like Minneapolis furniture retailer Room & Board, it’s become a part of the corporate culture as its meant to boost employee engagement and wellbeing.

Room & Board has had a pickleball court since 2013, but demand exploded recently, with 50+ employees playing weekly. Now, matches feel like normal meetings, booked through office software.

The CEO says it keeps people active vs. just video calls all day. Players say it sharpens cognition and builds unlikely friendships across departments.

Bottom line: While echoes of laughter and groans echo during games, the CEO says it's not disruptive and boosts overall morale.

+++++

Broken wrist? I’m suing…

Happenings: A Vancouver woman is suing the city after injuring her wrist tripping on a lowered tennis net at a temporary pickleball court. The city had converted tennis courts to pickleball by slackening the nets, leaving loose netting.

Here’s what happened:

When Sandra Dueck stepped backward during a game, her foot caught on the netting and she fell, breaking her wrist. She claims the city created a tripping hazard and didn't warn players. Dueck needed surgery and says the injury caused an ongoing disability.

The suit deets: She's seeking compensation for medical costs, lost income, and reduced quality of life. The lawsuit alleges the city failed to ensure the converted pickleball courts were safe. The city could face consequences for prioritizing extra pickleball space over safety precautions.