Where is pickleball growing the fastest?

High school pickleball expansion. Dental horror story leads to bronze medal.

October 11, 2024

Happy belated World Pickleball Day. Hopefully, you made it out on the courts.

We want to take a second to highlight the ‘World’ part of the holiday. Along with DUPR, we took a minute to clock the international growth and see which countries are helping pickleball become a global sport.

Here are the countries with the most pickleball players logging games in DUPR:

In This Issue:

🌎 Tracking pickleball’s global expansion
🏫 High school pickleball growth in Western Mass
🦷 Chaotic updates from singles day in Las Vegas and Dallas

Mark your calendar for next year.

Our Picks ☝️

💰 Facility: “World’s Largest” Facility set for Scottsdale

Axios Phoniex reported on the “World’s Largest” pickleball facility with plans to open in Scottsdale in 2026. PURE Pickleball & Padel will be home to 50 pickleball courts and will span nearly 190,000 square feet.

🐂 Retirement: Rafa Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis

Rafa Nadal officially announced his heartfelt retirement from pro tennis. Will he follow Jack Sock, Genie Bouchard, Sam Querrey, and Donald Young to pro pickleball? We can only hope.

💰 Podcast: Donald Young Joins the Picklepod

Speaking of Donald Young, look out for a new PicklePod dropping on Monday with Young as the special guest. He shares the biggest lessons learned in his crossover from tennis and provides details on his upcoming Atlanta pickleball facility.

🎥 Video: NBA player J.J. Barea Pulls Out All the Tricks

J.J. Barea was an early adopter of pickleball and was seen playing pickleball with Luka Doncic back in 2020. These days Barea looks like a certified 5.0 player. Watch the array of putaways used to end this point against pros.

What’s Right & Wrong With Your Ready Position

A consistent ready position is a hallmark of top-level pickleball players. It enables them to react quickly and easily handle fast-paced exchanges.

But many players overlook this crucial habit, leaving them vulnerable. Let’s explore what players get right and where they go wrong when maintaining a strong ready position. Here's what Selkirk-sponsored pickleball instructor Jordan Briones has to say.

What Players Get Right

  1. Starting in a Strong Ready Position: Most players start with their paddle up, feet set, and focus on the ball. This initial stance gives them an advantage for the first few shots in a rally.

  2. Good Paddle Placement: The best players consistently return their paddle to the center of their body after each shot, whether they’re dinking or in a fast exchange. This keeps them ready for anything their opponent might do.

What Players Get Wrong

  1. Dropping the Paddle After Shots: A common mistake is hitting a shot and letting the paddle drop to their side. This makes it much harder to respond to a quick counter-attack.

  2. Inconsistent Reset: Many players forget to reset their paddle after hitting forehands or backhands. Without bringing the paddle back to the middle, they’re slower to react, especially in fast net play.

Actionable Steps

  • Reset After Every Shot: Make it a habit to bring your paddle back to the center immediately after each shot.

  • Visualize a Magnet: Think of your paddle being magnetically pulled back to your center to reinforce the habit.

By mastering this simple habit, you’ll be better prepared for every shot and more consistent in your play. Watch the full video for more tips from Jordan Briones.

Selkirk’s VANGUARD Series Got an Upgrade

Introducing the Selkirk VANGUARD Pro, the latest marvel in the VANGUARD series.

With its four layers of 12k raw carbon fiber—double what you see in standard paddles—the VANGUARD Pro offers unmatched stiffness and multidirectional support. This means you get durability that lasts and spin that doesn’t quit.

The VANGUARD Pro also delivers control and power. Its thermoformed foam edge reduces vibration for smoother play, letting you keep going with less fatigue. It comes in two paddle shapes: the Invikta for more power and the Epic for the biggest sweet spot.

Let the VANGUARD Pro be your ALL-COURT ally, and see how it can transform your play.

Checking in Around the Globe

The game is on the rise internationally, and the growth is unmatched in Asia. India has the greatest amount of DUPR growth, and with a population of 1.4 billion, it could easily surpass the United States in a few years.

Venezuela is perhaps the most surprising addition to the list. Although they’re rarely mentioned in the international growth conversation, they appear leading the charge in South America.

Several first-time countries have started logging games this year. Those countries include:

Find the full list of international stats and which countries are leading the pickleball revolution here.

Western Mass. Adopts High School Pickleball

Earlier this year, we reported that a youth movement for pickleball was growing in Maryland. Now, high school students in Massachusetts are raising their hands to get on the courts more.

A pilot program has kicked off at high schools in Western Massachusetts, introducing the region's first-ever high school pickleball league.

The league’s coach, Ron Nadeau of Westfield Technical Academy, hopes to make pickleball a varsity sport in the state of Massachusetts. Nadeau believes this league has the potential to encourage more young athletes to get involved in high school sports.

One of the Most Chaotic Days in PPA Singles

Ben Johns is out, Federico Staksrud is done, and even Anna Leigh Waters had to withdraw, making yesterday one of the most chaotic singles days on the PPA Tour.

No. 1 and No. 2 Upset in Men’s Singles
In yesterday’s quarterfinals, Roscoe Bellamy topped Ben Johns in a grueling three-game match in the Vegas heat. In the semis, Connor Garnett knocked out the top seed Federico Staksrud to earn a spot in Championship Sunday.

His opponent in the finals will be Quang Duong, who narrowly escaped Hunter Johnson in the quarters and benefited from a Bellamy withdrawal in the semis.

Genie Bouchard’s Breakout
It was only a matter of time before Genie Bouchard started picking up big wins on the pickleball court. She had her most significant win yesterday, defeating Lea Jansen in the Round of 16 and making a run into the semis.

Bouchard will play Catherine Parenteau for bronze on Sunday. The finals will be a rematch between Kate Fahey and Brooke Buckner.

Men’s Singles Final: Connor Garnett vs Quang Duong
Women’s Singles Final: Kate Fahey vs Brooke Buckner

With temps above 90 degrees in Vegas, hydration will play a major factor in this weekend’s event. Learn how you can stay better hydrated from our next sponsor.

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The Game’s Most Painful Bronze Medal

Grayson Goldin takes the award for the wildest series of events leading up to a pro tournament. He shared the traumatic lead-up to the APP Dallas, and it is a shock that he still managed to win bronze yesterday.

Everyone Hates the Dentist
On Monday, Goldin posted his unnerving story on X. A temporary dental crown installed last week had come loose and fallen out of his mouth. The exposed area led to extreme pain that caused him to pass out and smack his face on his desk on the way to the ground.

Goldin underwent a root canal the next morning to fix the issue and, due to unfortunate circumstances, did so with minimal anesthesia.

One day later, he flew from Florida to Texas to compete in the APP Dallas Open. Goldin made it to the semis but lost to Jack Foster in a heartbreaker match, 14-16, 15-17. He finished the day with a hard-earned bronze.

Haworth Seals the Deal
Chris Haworth added to his gold medal collection yesterday. He was tested with close matches in all five rounds but still managed to bring home another men’s singles title.

Yana Newell Takes the Crown
A Megan Fudge withdrawal helped clear the path for Yana Newell to the women’s singles final. She squared off with the queen of pickleball, Simone Jardim, for gold and walked away with the win.

High temps are also expected in Dallas over the weekend. Find out who is predicted to win double gold, and get a full preview of the event here.

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