Apparently Pickleball Is Becoming a Dating App

MLP officially kicks off this weekend... plus pickleball dating, Squid Socks, Game On Jewelry, and the shots that quietly pressure your opponents.

Author

Empower Pickleball
May 21, 2026

The 2026 MLP season officially kicks off tomorrow in Dallas, and it feels like the calm before the storm. New teams. New partnerships. New formats. And somehow the women’s side keeps getting more stacked every single season.

If you’re planning to watch this weekend, matches start at 11 AM CT on PickleballTV, with Bay Area Breakers vs. Texas Ranchers opening the season.

Also… we’ve got something very fun launching in the next few weeks, so if you’re not following us on Instagram yet, now would be a good time.

And if you’re single? Keep scrolling. Apparently pickleball is becoming a dating app now.

TIPS & TRICKS

Your Dinks Don’t Always Need to Be Soft

A soft dink keeps you neutral. A cross-court dink with pace puts your opponent under pressure.

Senior Pro Gina Cilento says the best aggressive dinks stay controlled and compact while adding just enough pace to rush your opponent.

The difference comes from:

  • Taking the ball slightly out in front

  • Staying balanced through contact

  • Pushing through the shot instead of flicking at it

  • Disguising the aggressive dink until the last second

💡 Why It Matters: A paced cross-court dink forces quicker decisions, rushed hands, and weaker replies instead of letting your opponent settle into the rally.

👉 Learn how to apply pressure without overhitting.

GEAR

Which Squid Socks Make Sense for Pickleball?

Most players don’t think much about socks until something starts feeling off—blisters, hot spots, foot fatigue, or constantly adjusting during long sessions.

Squid Socks has multiple styles built for different types of players, so we broke down the lineup to figure out which option makes sense depending on how and where you play.

The ankle sock ended up feeling like the most versatile overall, while the no-show feels lighter for hotter climates and the crew offers the most structured, locked-in support.

💡 Why It Matters: The more movement happening inside your shoe, the more your body is constantly compensating during play.

OPINION

Pickleball Dating Is Becoming a Real Thing

There’s a reason people keep joking that pickleball is the new dating app… except it’s not really a joke anymore.

Between open play, mixed doubles, singles mixers, pickleball speed dating events, and even pickleball-specific dating apps, people are genuinely meeting through the sport at a pretty surprising rate.

It makes sense. Pickleball naturally creates repeated interaction, casual conversation, and shared routines in a way most sports really don’t.

💡 Why It Matters: Pickleball keeps putting people in the same place over and over again—and real relationships are starting to come out of it.

COMMUNITY

Gracie Tucker Traded Her Apron for a Pickleball Paddle

Before she was helping players experience pickleball around the world, Gracie Tucker was running a milkshake bar in Nashville.

Now she works with Pickleball Trips, helping players combine travel, culture, and pickleball into experiences that feel more like real connection than traditional vacations.

The travel looks incredible, but the bigger theme throughout this story is how often pickleball ends up changing people in ways they never expected. Players booking trips after divorce, strangers becoming close friends, and people rediscovering confidence through the game in completely unexpected ways.

💡 Why It Matters: The longer pickleball grows, the more it’s becoming tied to identity, community, and major life changes—not just competition.

Train for the Shots You Miss

A lot of players spend thousands on gear… but barely train the unpredictable parts of pickleball that break down during matches.

The ProServe-XF is built to simulate real-game pressure with:

  • Randomized shot placement

  • Topspin, backspin, dinks, and lobs

  • Speeds up to 75 MPH

  • Faster reactions and decision-making under pressure

It’s less about feeding perfect balls and more about preparing for messy, real points.

👉 Get $200 off using code EMP200FREE + free shipping available right now.

Pickleball Jewelry I’ve Been Subtly Hinting At

My anniversary is coming up, and sometimes my SO needs a little assistance in the gift department… so naturally I’ve been leaving some very subtle hints about Game On Jewelry lately.

I keep coming back to their sapphire and citrine 14K gold pickleball pieces. They’re simple enough to wear every day but still feel special enough for an anniversary or big occasion. I’ve even started noticing pros wearing them on court too.

They also have sterling silver options, but I’m definitely a gold girlie. They’d honestly look really good layered with a few simple chains too.

👉 If you love pickleball pieces, these are worth a look.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have something happening at your courts?

The wins, the drama, or the moments that stick with you—we’d love to hear it.

If people are talking about it, it’s probably worth sharing.