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Afghan refugees find solace in pickleball

Afghan refugees find solace in pickleball

Riley's mystery partner. APP goes to Europe.

June 23, 2023

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In This Issue:

Getting the most out of The Shift
PB saves the world
APP in Sweden
Riley’s new partner
It still feels right

Happy Friday. Let’s go!

Capitalizing on the Shift

On Monday, we talked about what to do when you get pulled wide. Resist the urge to attack down the line and send the ball cross-court.

Well, no one does that better than Anna Leigh Waters. She has a deadly two-handed backhand and turns the opportunity into a chance to hit a winner.

She gets pulled out wide here
The Kawamotos shift to cover the line
ALW torques the ball crosscourt and leaves no chance for recovery

This shot is more effective in this scenario because the Kawamotos’ shift. The smart move for them is to cover the line and the middle. That leaves the cross-court angle open.

It's a matter of taking what the defense gives you. A student of the game can think one step ahead. When you see the shift coming, it's time to adjust. And make them pay.

The key is not to panic. You’re at a disadvantage, but there’s a lot of open court out there.

As you get more comfortable out wide, you’ll be able to attack from this position. Time to work on recognizing and capitalizing on this situation in your own game.

Make Money off Your Home Court

As if you need another reason to add a homecourt to your backyard, now you can share your court with local players when you aren’t using it.

Swimply allows court owners the chance to rent out homecourts and players the opportunity to reserve a private court for their game.

PB’s Power to Heal

Steve Kuhn of MLP always says that pickleball can heal the world. Maybe he has a point.

On a recent Friday at Pickle in the Middle in Brooklyn Park, instructors taught the game to a group of Afghan refugees who fled to Minnesota after the Taliban took control of their country two years ago.

For many refugees, events like this pickleball outing are the only time they leave the house for nonessential reasons.

“These are some of the struggles that they’ve shared: that there’s depression and isolation,” the Pickle in the Middle program lead says in a recent article.

So what better way to acclimate them to their temporary home than to show them America’s fastest-growing, social sport?

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Verfuerth dedicates her life to showing those with spinal cord and brain injuries just how much they can still achieve in their lives. Her preferred method: pickleball.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re running around and moving really well or whether you’re still in a wheelchair, it’s a good, supportive environment,” says one of Verfuerth’s clients at a recent pickleball program.

For those struggling with the physical and mental impacts of paralysis, pickleball can help increase brain function and blood flow, as well as hand-eye coordination, a report says.

“It not only improves their prognosis, but gives them a moment to focus on what they can do, not what they can’t.”

Pickleball Invades Viking Country

Välkommen till Sverige...Welcome to Sweden. Pickleball is going global, and the next stop is Scandinavia. Let’s just hope Ikea doesn’t start producing impossible-to-build portable nets.

The APP announced Wednesday a partnership with Pickleball Sweden and sponsorship of the 2023 Sweden Open.

This event is an extension of the APP's international presence. They have also partnered with Pickleball England to power the 2023 English Open.

"With participation quickly on the rise throughout Sweden and across Europe, this is the right time to start adding the APP’s experience and knowledge of staging world-class events to our international partners.”

APP Founder and CEO, Ken Herrmann

Each expansion into a new country provides a whole new audience and pool of players to get hooked on pickleball. It appears the APP is piecing together the framework for a global pickleball tour.

Footwear Specifically Designed for Pickleball

That’s right: Selkirk, the brand known for their paddles, sells shoes now. Not just any shoes: ones that help you move faster on the court.

The S01 Pro Court Shoe combines extended sole wraps, a tapered lateral side flair, and a responsive outsole flex plate to withstand the sliding movements you make at the kitchen line.

The S02 Premium Court Shoe offers lifted heel geometry that helps get you there faster, while the aerated midsole keeps you cool and comfortable.

Don’t miss out on the ultimate style upgrade with the Selkirk Labs S01 in vibrant red and the sleek S02 in timeless black.

With sizes tailored specifically for men, ranging from 10 to 11.5, it’s time to elevate your game with Selkirk Labs today! Click here to grab a pair.

The End of an Era

You know what they say about ‘all good things’…

Riley Newman released a video on his Instagram yesterday showing appreciation for his longtime doubles partner, Matt Wright. Together, they’ve been impressive.

18 months of playing together
27 tournaments played
27 medals earned
1 Jim Kloss prediction proven correct

But apparently it’s not enough, and most are insinuating that the split was spurred by Newman. Newman has ‘that dog in him’, as the kids say. He wants to win, and even though he and Wright are arguably one of the best men’s doubles pairings to ever exist, Newman isn’t here to settle for silvers.

“I’ve enjoyed the memories,” he says in the video, “But it’s time for a change.”

“I’ll be playing men’s doubles with _____________.”

Cliffhanger. But that didn’t stop the fans from speculating who his next partner would be, and we posed the question on Instagram and Twitter: who gives Newman the best chance to topple the reign of the Johns Brothers? Some popular responses:

Dylan Frazier - not likely given his strong relationship with JW Johnson
Julian Arnold - there’s a chance, and they’d certainly bring the energy
AJ Koller - this, to us, is the most obvious answer
Jack Sock - and this was the most intriguing
James Ignatowich - we’d love to see this one. Lots of upside, but James is still a little too volatile

Riley is clearly the #2 doubles player in the world, but he’ll always sit at #3 at best as long as Ben and Collin Johns continue their dominance. Newman will announce his new partner next week, but our question is: is there anyone that can help him topple the Johns Bros?

You’re Worth At Least $10 Million

Rob and Stone are joined by the Iceman AJ Koller for an MLP courtside podcast. AJ covers his new paddle deal with Takeya and addresses the state of paddle technology.

Koller grades pros on their non-tennis abilities and the guys admire James Blake’s game during MLPalooza. It’s audio only this week. Pick your favorite platform here.