The Pickle Talk
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The 3.0 Curse & How To Break It

The 3.0 Curse & How To Break It

PLUS: $15 million, PINK pickleball courts + 3 ways for pickleball loners to connect

Welcome back, picklers

Read time: ~5 min

Pickleball has touched down in Uganda, and from my POV, these kids are already killin’ the game.

Who says you need to build a $20K court when all you need is Mother Earth?

Now, 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: The 3.0 curse & how to break it
Bite-Size Pickle: $15 million, pink pickleball courts & 2024 pickleball health study, released
Golden Pickle: DIY Pickleball picker upper using just 3 things

Let’s get into some... PICKLE TALK 🎙️

1/ The 3.0 curse & how to break it

So, picture this: Mia, one of the regulars at the club, was feeling totally stuck. She was convinced she had fallen victim to what we call the "3.0 curse."

You know the drill, right? You work your butt off, tweak your grip, perfect your swing, and still, you just can't seem to break through to that 3.5 rating.

Well, we were having a chat about it when, out of the blue, a semi-pro player sitting nearby chimes in with some seriously sage advice.

Here's the gist:

Improvement boils down to three things: technique, athleticism, and mental awareness.

But here's the kicker: most folks forget about the mental game. They get so caught up in their own heads that they forget to pay attention to what's happening on the other side of the net.

Once your technique is on autopilot, it's time to start reading your opponent like a book. Are they all about power shots? Do they struggle with cross-court hits? Once you figure that out, you've got the upper hand.

So get this: Mia weaponized her newfound advice, hits the court again, and it's like a light bulb goes off. Armed with her new insights, she finally breaks free from the 3.0 curse.

***

2/ Pickleball loner? The apps to get you connected

Feeling a bit solo this Valentine’s and itching for some court company? No sweat, I've got the scoop on how to find a pickleball buddy (or maybe even a court crush) to make your day extra special.

Here are the top 3 pickleball social apps I've found:

Facebook Yup, believe it or not, Facebook is your ticket to connecting with local pickleball peeps. Just hop on, search your area with the magic word 'pickleball', and bam! You've got your very own crew of players ready to rally.
TeamReach Got a squad already? TeamReach is the way to go for organizing schedules, chats, and keeping everyone in the loop. I heard about it from a buddy who swears by it for smoother communication.
Pickleheads Picture this: a free website and app that hooks you up with all the local game action, court spots, and helps you set up matches. It's like a social hub just for pickleball fanatics.

No more flying solo! Get out there and serve up some love this Valentine's Day, pickleball style!

BITE-SIZE PICKLES

1/ ➜ Happenings: PINK pickleball courts anyone?

So, imagine this: Barrett and Meg had this awesome idea for a pickleball hangout called Rally in Charlotte.

But getting it off the ground? That took serious hustle! After a ton of rejections, they finally landed a sweet $15 million investment.

As it turns out, in the post-pandemic world, folks are all about experiences, and Rally's got that vibe. Picture pickleball, drinks, and good times with friends. They pitched their hearts out to anyone who'd listen, even playing pickleball with potential investors.

Traditional lenders said nope, but local backers came through big time. Now, Rally's booming with growing sales and a dream to make pickleball the go-to spot for business networking. Pretty cool, huh?

***

2/ ➜ Happenings: 2024 pickleball health update time!

Alright, listen up. There's some serious buzz about pickleball injuries, and here's the deal: a recent study dug into federal injury data and found a whopping 90-fold increase in pickleball-related fractures over the last two decades.

That's a big jump, especially for a game that's been hailed as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.! The risk is hitting older adults hard, especially ladies over 65, who are more likely to face bone issues like osteoporosis.

But get this: While women take the brunt of the fractures, it's the guys who end up in the hospital more often. Ouch!

Now, before you panic, there's some good news too: pickleball's been linked to some pretty sweet health perks, like better mental and physical well-being.

But with great fun comes great responsibility, right? So, stay safe out there, stretch those legs before hitting the court, and chat with your doc about how to keep those bones strong.

The study was presented Monday at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).