Women… it’s not personal; it’s just biology

PLUS: PPA & MLP merger finalized + BTS of building an advanced indoor pickleball facility

Welcome back, picklers

Read time: ~5 min

If there’s one reason to be rich, this would be it. Setting sail for a couple of hours to play ball, never having to fight for another court again…

It’s the dream.

Now, on to 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: Will women ever be as good as men in pickleball? Biology says NO

  • Bite-Size Pickle: PPA & MLP merger finalized. Mary Jane + Pickleball. The Pickleball World Series is coming.

  • Golden Pickle: Behind the scenes of building an advanced indoor pickleball facility

Let’s get into some... PICKLE TALK 🎙️

Women… it’s not personal; it’s just biology

If you are a woman, you might have been in a similar situation like this: You are playing mixed doubles, and it just seems like the opposing male player continuously targets you over and over. No matter how hard you hit, no matter how much you try to spin the ball, the opposing male player returns with something even more powerful, and ultimately, you lose the point.

*Sigh*

Ladies. I want you to know this: it’s not personal, it’s just biology. And it’s just the game of pickleball: to target the weaker player to gain a point.

Watch any mixed doubles match, and you will see the strategy used again and again. Watch any doubles match and you will see players getting a feel for the weaker player and target them specifically. But this begs a sensitive question: Can a woman ever be as good as a man playing pickleball one-on-one at the pro level?I remember a few years ago watching this clip of Serena Williams stating that men’s tennis and women’s tennis are “completely different sports” and even as the #1 female tennis player, “Andy Murray would beat me 6:0 6:0 in 5 to 6 minutes.”

Women did not like that blunt admission at all. After all, it seems like we are still in a fighting-for-equality era. And making such a “bold statement” dilutes that goal.

Don’t get me wrong, Serena is an amazing tennis player in her category, but what she says is very true and has been proven on live television. Just watch this clip of mixed doubles tennis players and the inability of the female players to return a serve.

Just like any sport, there is a reason why they are separate. In a report by Duke Law’s Center for Sports Law and Policy, it states that:

Pulling out an example, in the single year 2017, Olympic, World, and U.S. Champion Tori Bowie's 100 meters lifetime best of 10.78 was beaten 15,000 times by men and boys. 

So how does this translate to pickleball?

In pickleball, the numbers that we have to make a similar comparison are DUPR ratings. Let’s compare, shall we?

As of December 2023, the top female, ALW, stands at a 6.173 rating. The top male, Ben Johns, stands at a 7.192 rating.

So based on the numbers, that would put ALW at roughly 43 if placed in the male category.

It doesn’t take a genius to notice that men’s pickleball just hits differently. Watch this clip of these 2 pros, and you’ll see what I mean:

When it comes to pickleball, and sports in general, men will always have the upper hand due to their genetic makeup. So really, there’s nothing to argue.

What does that mean for female players?

If you are playing mixed double, YOU have the power of choice. So choose your male partner strategically.

A male partner can bring a different dynamic to the game, leveraging his strengths to complement yours. It's not about relying on someone else to win; it's about teamwork and collaboration.What a positive spin on a sensitive subject, huh? :)

*BITE-SIZE* PICKLES

Big news in the world of pickleball.

The Carvana PPA Tour and MLP by Margaritaville have officially joined forces, backed by a whopping $75 million investment.

Over 150 of the top players have signed on for multi-year contracts, promising a jam-packed calendar of events that'll keep fans entertained.

Annual player payouts are set to skyrocket by nearly 250% in 2024, opening up more opportunities for the pros. With 25 PPA Tour tournaments and MLP events on the horizon, it's safe to say we're in for one heck of an exciting year on the courts!

***

2/ ➜ Happenings: High on pickleball and…🧐💨

Mike Flynn, known for FlynnStoned Cannabis Co. in downtown Syracuse, NY, is branching out into pickleball. He's set to open a large indoor pickleball complex, complete with a restaurant serving alcohol, at a former golf course in Lakeland.

Additionally, Flynn plans to open a separate marijuana store on the property. It's an unexpected move, but it speaks volumes about Flynn's penchant for unconventional ventures, blending recreational sports with his existing cannabis business.

***

You've likely heard about pickleball's rise in the States, but the global momentum is just as noteworthy.

Times Group, a key player in India's news and entertainment, is teaming up with Pickleball Asia to introduce the Pickleball World Series. Starting in the US and spanning continents with six major events annually, this series is making waves internationally.

Led by Pranav Kohli, known for his work with Pickleball United, the series aims to revolutionize player compensation, offering substantial prize money ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per event, along with appearance fees and covered travel expenses.

Vineet Jain of Times Group sees this partnership as a strategic move to promote pickleball in India, projecting its potential to surpass tennis in participation. With 60 million players worldwide, the Pickleball World Series aims to unite players globally through its unique ranking system, the Pickleball World Rankings. Explore more at www.thepickleballworldseries.com.

GOLDEN PICKLES

🎫 WATCH: 13-year-old boys beating grown a** men in pickleball. The next GOAT of pickleball being born right before our eyes….👀🎫

🎫 If you want to be entertained for the next 8 minutes of your life…then watch these 10 pickleball rallies that will have your mind going 🤯

🎫 YouTuber, Matt Risinger (1.1 million subscribers), shows you the behind-the-scenes of what it takes to build an indoor pickleball court from scratch. FYI…it’s harder than you think.

ICYMI…

Snap Shots 📸 of the Week

No pickle left unturned 🥳

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Until next time, picklers.

Jonathan W.