Unexpected Pickleball Players Take the Stage (a 2-parter)

Good evening, picklers.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: Unexpected Pickleball Players Take the Stage (a 2-parter)

• Bite-sized: USA Pickleball Honors the OGs with a New Legacy Trophy

• Golden Pickle: Would you watch this movie? The Pickleball Murders…an unofficial movie concept where the best pickleball players gather at a rich man’s house to play the ultimate game of pickleball

PICKLE TALK

Unexpected Pickleball Players Take the Stage (a 2-parter)

1/ Picture this: stethoscopes, scrubs, and… paddles? 🩻

In a rally unlike any ER shift, doctors, nurses, and local supporters are hitting the court at the La Cañada Country Club in sunny California for the first-ever POSH Pickleball Tournament on Nov 3.

But this isn’t just for fun—it’s a mission to fund life-saving medical gear that could make all the difference in hospitals and clinics.

With 80 teams of healthcare heroes and community members ready to compete, this one-day tourney has high stakes and a higher purpose.

Every point scored is another step toward raising funds to put essential medical equipment in the hands of those who need it most. So, as they trade their lab coats for court shoes, they’re putting in the effort, away from the hospitals, and onto the court to do some even more good.

If there is one thing about pickleball, it’s that it brings communities together and that alone is a big win. It’s becoming a way to rally communities together.

So, if you’re looking for a different kind of healthcare hero moment, keep an eye on this charity showdown where every game played is a game-changing effort for patient care.

The event is currently SOLD OUT, but if you would like to join the player waitlist, check out the website here!

2/ Badminton Vet Swaps His Racket for a Pickleball Paddle: The Story of Richard Peete

Meet England’s Richard Peete: former badminton league player, new pickleball devotee, and proof that sports can have second acts. 🎬

Here’s the story…At 67, Peete left competitive badminton after it started taking a toll on his back, but his competitive drive stayed strong and did not want to give up on paddle sports all together.

So, when his former badminton partner invited him to join a pickleball club, he figured, why not?

Turns out, the game clicked and hit the spot.

He said, “I enjoyed it, and my back didn’t hurt nearly as much. After 50 years of high-level badminton, I made the switch and started learning the ropes in pickleball.”

And so, Peete’s pickleball journey began.

So, what’s the draw? To him… 

It’s not just the lower-impact game but the community vibe that keeps him on the court. “There’s a real camaraderie. People from all walks of life come together, and it’s all technique, placement, and strategy—not just smacking the ball as hard as you can.”

BITE-SIZED PICKLES to watch out for this week 👀

1/ 🏆 USA Pickleball Honors the OGs with a New Legacy Trophy

USA Pickleball just unveiled the Founder’s Legacy Cup—a nod to pickleball’s roots, debuting at this year’s Biofreeze National Championships in Mesa, AZ, from Nov. 9-17.

This isn’t your average plain, golden trophy. No sir.

It’s SPECIFICALLY designed to celebrate the game’s original trio of founders: Barney McCallum, Joel Pritchard, and Bill Bell, the legends who started it all back on Bainbridge Island in 1965.

So what’s the deal with the new Founder’s Legacy Cup? Alright, alright. I’ll share!

The trophy features a walnut base (shoutout to the Pacific Northwest vibe) with 90-degree corners.

Atop, a gold cup holds match-winning pickleballs from gold, silver, and bronze medalists, creating a little piece of history every year.

The Founder’s Legacy Cup won’t just sit pretty; it’ll be on display at Nationals for photo ops with competitors and fans alike.

Talk about the past, present, and future coming together.

2/ 🏓 6 Drills to Master Your Pickleball Game, Straight from ‘ThatPickleballGuy’

Ah. Another day, another drill video. But this one gives you quality AND quantity.

We’ve pulled six essential drills from Kyle “ThatPickleballGuy” Koszuta’s latest video, so you can start training like the pros right away.

1. Openers: Ace Your Serves and Returns 🎯

Nail the basics with this serve-return drill. Serve deep to put your opponent on defense, and aim for a deep return to keep them in the backcourt. Rinse and repeat, and watch your control improve.

2. The Charmin Drill: Third Shot Drop 🧻

Soft hands, sharp focus. Practice controlled drop shots from all angles to keep the ball low and get to the net. Aim for the kitchen to limit your opponent’s power.

3. Space Invaders: Charge the Net 🚀

Get out of “no man’s land” with this advance-to-the-net drill. Practice resets and close the gap—score some extra points by timing each move.

4. Setup Smarts: Dink with Purpose 🕹️

Don’t dink defensively—make each shot count. Place your dinks to move your opponent, setting up the perfect attack shot.

5. Tight Corners: Up-the-Line Dinks 🎯

For those precision lovers, work on up-the-line dinks in a tight space. You’ll learn control and finesse that crosscourt dinks can’t teach you.

6. Lightning Hands: Kitchen Quickies ⚡

Fast hands are a must. Keep a basket of balls at the ready to practice rapid-fire exchanges at the net, with an emphasis on low, downward shots to keep the opponent off balance.

Bonus Drill: Skinny Singles for All-Round Skills 💪

One-on-one skinny singles integrates all the moves you need. Practice every skill in real-time with no partner to lean on.

Focus on improving these 6 skills for the next 2 weeks and watch your pickleball game skyrocket.

GOLDEN PICKLE

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1. The Pickleball Murders…an unofficial movie concept where the best pickleball players gather at a rich man’s house to play the ultimate game of pickleball. If they lose, they die. 🔪
   

2. Halloween 2024 for is over. 🎃 But this is exactly what I’d expect a pickleball costume to look like.

3. It’s not pickleball. It’s piggleball 🐷…according to one naughty, little piggy. (meme alert)

4. Miss the last Pickle Talk? College pickleball is going down right now starting TODAY (November 1st). This year, there are 64 schools going head-to-head for a short at $30,000 in scholarship money. That’s a jump from last year’s 36 teams. THAT is all going on on the DUPR Youtube channel.