The Pickle Talk
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Pain, Pickleball, and 3 Precautionary Tales

Pain, Pickleball, and 3 Precautionary Tales

PLUS: American Idol features pickleball + Pickleball thieves in Las Vegas

Welcome back, picklers

Read time: ~5 min

If you saw a dude with a pickleball paddle and you felt all warm and fuzzy inside, then you're a total softie with a heart of pure gold.

But if you saw a guy about to whack a handicapped person with a paddle, then it's time to seek professional help. Immediately.

All jokes aside…

Let's get on with the newsletter.

How to read The Pickle Talk:

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.
Next, come back and dive into the links that caught your eye.
Last, go play some pickleball and stir up conversations with your newfound knowledge.

Enjoy :)

TODAY’S BANGERS:

Pickle Talk: Pickleball is pain, literally
Bite-Size Pickle: American Idol meets pickleball. $22k quiet panel installation after endless complaints. APP extends Franklin partnership.
Golden Pickle: Pickleball Thieves in Las Vegas

Let’s get into some... PICKLE TALK 🎙️

1/ Pickleball is pain, literally

In today's world, pickleball often gets painted as this chill, low-risk sport.

But as players like Ben Johns show up & amp up the intensity, it's becoming clear that pickleball can lead to some unexpected injuries.

Last week, we asked you to spill the beans on your pickleball horror stories, and boy, did you deliver.

Let's dive into some of your tales, shall we?

***

"So, picture this: it's 2021, beautiful day, playing a casual game.

I reach for a ball that wasn’t abnormally out of my range, and bam! I tear my calf muscle like it's nobody's business.

It felt like a knife cutting through my leg.

Had to be carried to my car, and the drive home was pure agony. Took me out of the game for four months, and I'm still not back to 100%.

Moral of the story? Always stretch, and invest in some decent shoes & gear.

Who knew pickleball could be so brutal, right?"

***

"After playing for a couple of hours, felt a bit dizzy afterward. Figured it was just thirst and hunger, but nope, turns out I was having a mini heart attack.

I'm a seasoned athlete, never thought something like this would happen. Now, I'm looking at a solid 12 weeks of recovery, including some intense rehab.

Big wake-up call for me.

Lesson learned. Listen to your body, guy and gals, even if you think it's just a little fatigue from a game of pickleball."

***

"Here's the deal. I thought I was a healthy player at 55, until my knees started screaming at me.

Hospital trip later, and boom, turns out I've got osteoarthritis in both knees. Doc said surgery was the only option to fix them up. It's been a rough ride, let me tell you.

I’ve been out for a year now and miss playing like I used to, but hey, gotta take care of those joints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder that pickleball isn't all fun and games.

As the sport gains traction, it's crucial to stay mindful of the potential risks and take care of yourself out there on the court.

After all, we're all just trying to have a good time, not end up in the ER, am I right?

BITE-SIZE PICKLES

1/ ➜ Happenings: Pickleball meets American Idol

If this isn't one of the best wholesome advertisements for pickleball, then I don't know what is.

On one of the biggest singing competition platforms in the world, American Idol judge Katy Perry challenges judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to a game of pickleball during a visit to her hometown of Santa Barbara, California.

With Lionel and Luke on a team, Katy pulls her 75-year-old mom, Mary Hudson, to be her partner and, without a sweat, beats the boys and wins the game.

Watch it below :)

***

2/ ➜ Happenings: Boston town approves $22,000 “quiet-panel” install

Never-ending pickleball noise complaints have kinda become so normal that news channels are sick of reporting on them.

But 1 complaint recently made headlines after a half-million-dollar pickleball installation nearly 3 years ago.

Residents near the Hollis Field outdoor pickleball courts in Braintree, Massachusetts, are grappling with noise complaints as the sport's popularity surges in the area.

With approximately 560 members in the Braintree Pickleball Players group, games on the 8 courts go on for 13 hours a day, every day of the week, from April through November. The constant sound of pickleball games has led to frustration among neighbors, prompting the town council to approve the installation of $22,000 worth of sound-deadening acoustic panels.

Despite efforts to address the issue, some residents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the panels, especially as tests revealed noise levels peaking at over 85 decibels in nearby homes.

***

3/ ➜ Happenings: APP & Franklin partnership, extended :)

The favorite ball is BACK to live another day.

Franklin Sports and the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) have teamed up again to keep the pickleball fun rolling.

With the extension to their partnership…

You'll start seeing even more Franklin gear and cool stuff at APP Tour events, like signs, fun areas to hang out, and lots of love on social media.

Plus, players at these events will get to use Franklin's top-notch pickleball gear, like the famous X-40 pickleball and FS Tour Series paddles. It's a win-win for pickleball fans everywhere, and Franklin is pumped to be the official ball supplier for both the APP Tour and USA Pickleball.