IntoPickleball_Newsletter_01-18-24

January 18, 2024

Hello! This week, as wild weather sweeps across the country, we’ve never been more thankful for indoor pickleball courts! Ready to get your game on? We’ve got the pro techniques and advice you need. Learn how to master Riley Newman’s signature shot, what to do when an opponent makes a questionable call, and ways to control your paddle and improve your swing (hint: you may need to loosen up). If you do love to be out in the snow, check out this spectacular winter pickleball retreat. 

Photo courtesy of Riley Newman

RILEY NEWMAN SHOWS YOU HOW TO SCORE A WINNING SHOT

Learning how to master the two-handed backhand helped Riley Newman become a top player and accumulate multiple pro titles. “The shot gives [me] lots of control and stability, especially when people are slamming balls fast. Plus, it’s fun!” Newman says. “It always gets the crowd going.” Amateurs can pull it off, too, he adds. Here, Newman shares his signature technique, including how to shovel up the ball and aim it around the post. Give it a shot and wow your fellow players.

Photo by G L Askew II

TRICKY SITUATION: WHEN AN OPPONENT MAKES A QUESTIONABLE CALL

Play enough pickleball, and this is likely to happen to you: During a game, another player makes a call that is questionable—and that also just happens to favor him or her. Should you challenge the call or let it go? We asked celebrity pickleball coach Matthew Manasse. “Don’t be afraid to speak up,” Manasse says. Learn his advice for handling this tricky situation like a pro, including what to say, and you’ll be ready with the perfect response the next time it happens.

Photo courtesy of DinkDunk Pickleball Spa

PLAY AND GET PAMPERED AT THE WORLD’S FIRST WINTER PICKLEBALL SPA

If you’ve ever dreamed of playing pickleball in a winter wonderland, start planning a trip to Quebec. On March 16, the DinkDunk Pickleball Spa opens with a pickleball court nestled in the snowy Canadian wilderness, a natural cold plunge pool, an outdoor sauna and hot tub, and full-body massages. This pop-up venue is open for one week only and space is limited. You can sign up now to try to score a four-day, three-night custom package for two that includes court time, luxury accommodations, complimentary merch including paddles, a full body massage, and more starting at $4,715. 

POWER MOVE FOR PADDLE CONTROL: IMPROVE YOUR GRIP STRENGTH

To gain more control of your paddle you need to work on your grip, says Jeffey Beck, a clinical exercise physiologist. Many players hold the paddle too tightly, which can lead to fatigue, he explains. By strengthening your arm and hand muscles with Beck’s workout plan, you can improve your grip without clenching and tiring yourself out. As a bonus, you’ll gain flexibility as well.