🔥 Agassi's Pickleball Revolution + Wedding Paddles & 19 New Facilities!

The Ultimate Pickleball enhances speed, bounce, and durability. 🏓

The Ultimate Pickleball, a patented innovation addressing speed and durability issues, is launching with tennis star Andre Agassi, transforming high-performance gear and enhancing competitive play in pickleball.

• The Ultimate Pickleball addresses critical issues of speed, bounce, and durability, enhancing gameplay experiences for athletes.

• Life Time has filed a patent for the ball, marking a significant advancement in pickleball equipment innovation.

• The launch event features tennis legend Andre Agassi, increasing visibility and cultural significance for pickleball gear.

• The new ball will be available at tournaments and Life Time's pro shops, reshaping competitive play dynamics.

Rob’s Riff:

Life Time introducing a patented ball is an interesting development. The ball that gets adopted by clubs, facilities and amateur players is often the ball that tours use. At this time it’s Vulcan and Franklin. Selkirk balls have made their way into a lot of Selkirk sponsored facilities. Life Time is in the unique position of being able to sell their balls into all of their facilities and out of all of their facilities. Time will tell if it gains traction outside of it’s own ecosystem and time will tell if there’s real innovation with the ball.

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Record 210 participants at Northern Rivers Pickleball Tournament 🎉

The Northern Rivers Pickleball tournament saw 210 participants compete in 27 events, highlighting the sport's rising popularity in Australia and showcasing community support and local involvement in organizing.

• The Northern Rivers Pickleball tournament attracted a record 210 participants, including players from interstate and New Zealand.

• Competitors participated in 27 events over three days, showcasing the region's growing enthusiasm for pickleball.

• Local volunteers played a vital role in organizing the event, ensuring smooth operations and essential services were provided.

• The tournament's success reflects pickleball's expanding popularity in Australia, inspiring local athletes to engage and compete.

Rob’s Riff:

We saw a 200+ player event in New Zealand last week, a 2k+ player event at the English Open and 210 player event now in Australia at Northern Rivers. Since seeing pickleball last year in Europe and India, the world is gaining ground faster than I imagined, but are still lagging in infrastructure with permanent courts, introductory classes and events. But global adoption will only accelerate. The time is now.

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Solo drills enhance pickleball skills with community support. 🏓

A pickleball enthusiast, DHawkInSky, creates a solo drilling routine to reach a 4.0+ ranking, sparking community discussions on varied practice methods, video analysis, and the importance of self-assessment.

• DHawkInSky's solo drilling routine focuses on wall shots and machine drills to improve their skill level.

• Community members emphasize the need for variety in practice routines to avoid burnout and enhance skill development.

• Video analysis is highly recommended for self-assessment, allowing players to critique their performance and strategies.

• Engaging with the pickleball community provides motivation and innovative training ideas essential for ongoing skill enhancement.

Rob’s Riff:

Video analysis is a huge deal in getting to the 4.0+ level, as is drilling and shot reps. Just seeing yourself in game play will usually shock you. You don’t understand how off your court position is or your shot selection.

I haven’t shared this much, but I actually do a steady dose of video analysis for clients. If interested, hit reply and let me know what you are struggling with.

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Austin Parks & Rec with over 15 public facilities to play pickleball! 🎾

Austin offers over 15 public pickleball courts near UT, promoting spontaneous play and a vibrant community atmosphere through inclusive venues like the Austin Tennis Center and Austin Pickle Ranch.

• Austin Parks & Rec hosts over 15 public pickleball facilities, allowing spontaneous play without reservations for enthusiasts.

• Key venues like Westenfield and Shipe Neighborhood Parks offer daily open play from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• The Austin Pickle Ranch features the largest dedicated facility, with 16 courts with lessons and programming.

• Community establishments like Austin Tennis Center and The Pitch create a social environment for players of all skill levels.

Rob’s Riff:

My first time ever playing pickleball was at Austin Tennis Center. I got a lesson from Calvin Keeney, drove home and created a new Instagram account called picklerob in which I declared I’d go pro within a year. That was August 2019, five years ago on the nose.

Austin, at the time, had zero permanent pickleball courts. How times have changed.

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Pickleball-inspired wedding blends fun and elegance beautifully! 🎉

A Maine wedding creatively fused pickleball elements with elegance, showcasing personalized design trends that reflect couples' passions and marking a shift towards unique themed ceremonies influenced by increasing pickleball popularity.

• A Maine wedding creatively melded pickleball elements with elegant aesthetics for a memorable celebration of love.

• Customized paddles and vibrant décor showcased how sports can influence wedding design and personalization.

• The event highlighted the increasing trend of tailored weddings reflecting couples' passions and interests.

• Pickleball's popularity signals a shift in wedding themes, encouraging uniqueness and personal expression in ceremonies.

Rob’s Riff:

This is good, old fashioned fun. Who wants a traditional wedding when you can make it pickleball themed? It is amazing at how much this sport brings people together. How much joy it can create. How much happiness and fulfillment it can bring. Big congrats to the newlyweds, may their dinks be low and their lobs be high.

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Pickleball Kingdom expands with 19 locations in Indiana! 🏓

Pickleball Kingdom is launching 19 new indoor facilities in Indiana, featuring advanced courts and programs, aimed at enhancing community engagement and expanding pickleball's accessibility and franchise opportunities nationwide.

• Pickleball Kingdom is expanding into Indiana with 19 new indoor pickleball facilities launched by franchisees Patel brothers.

• The new centers will feature state-of-the-art courts, professional coaching, youth programs, leagues, and tournaments.

• This expansion aims to enhance the pickleball experience and foster community engagement among local players.

• Pickleball Kingdom's growth in Indiana supports the sport's accessibility and opens franchise opportunities across the nation.

Rob’s Riff:

The onslaught of pickleball facilities continues at warp speed. These openings are unique from other franchises because of the sheer volume in which they are opening. 19 facilities at a time in Indiana is boss mode. 15 Picklr’s opening on the Front Range in Colorado. Their has been such heavy demand for pickleball courts for so long, but at some point supply will exceed demand. I just don’t know if we are close to that, or if there is an absurd amount of runway left.

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