Are You Quietly Costing Yourself Points at the Kitchen Line?

Smarter kitchen play, a mindset reset, a community moment, and cold-weather gear actually worth it.

Author

Empower Pickleball
January 29, 2026

If you’ve been buried in snow, without power, or just staring out the window itching to get back outside, we’re thinking of you. Winter has been a lot lately.

Here are a few things to help you play better, stay warm, and keep the pickleball itch satisfied.

TIPS & TRICKS

The Habit That’s Quietly Costing You Points at the Kitchen Line

It feels instinctive. The ball comes fast, it dips at your feet, and backing up feels safer than standing your ground.

Gina Cilento says that instinct is one of the most common habits holding players back. Giving up even one step at the kitchen line hands over time and control to your opponent, and it quietly turns neutral points into defensive ones.


💡 Why It Matters: Because staying uncomfortable at the kitchen line is how you build better hands, better instincts, and better habits, even if it costs you a few points early on.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Why Most Pickleball Goals Fall Apart (and What Works Better)

By now, most pickleball New Year’s resolutions have already started to fade. Not because you don’t care, but because they’re usually built around outcomes you can’t fully control.

Instead of helping you improve, rigid goals often pile on pressure and make the game feel heavier than it needs to be. There’s a simpler shift that takes the stress out of progress and actually helps habits stick.


💡 Why It Matters: Because how you show up to play matters more than the number you’re chasing, and that mindset is what keeps improvement going past the first few weeks.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

How Pickleball Is Helping Fund Confidence for Kids

Some pickleball events are fun. Others stick with you.

Confikids is focused on helping kids build confidence through access to sports, enrichment, and community opportunities. Pickleball is one of the ways they bring people together to support that mission.

This event used pickleball as the connector to rally supporters, raise funds, and shine a light on the work Confikids is doing to expand access and opportunities for kids across Massachusetts.


💡 Why It Matters: Because pickleball has become a powerful way to bring people together around causes that extend far beyond the court.

  • Pickleball Is Showing Up in College Class Schedules 🎓 One SEC school now offers a pickleball class for students, complete with instruction, match play, and tournaments. The pipeline into collegiate pickleball keeps getting clearer.

  • Pickleball Just Made It Onto the Water 🚤 A full-size floating pickleball court debuted at the Toronto Boat Show, giving players a very different way to play and showing how far the sport’s creativity is stretching.

  • NPL Is Now Champions Series Pickleball 🏆 The National Pickleball League has rebranded as Champions Series Pickleball, leaning into competitive play for 40+, 50+, and 60+ athletes. Same foundation, clearer focus, and a name that reflects who the league is really built for.

Power Comes in Waves

If you want more power without giving up touch, the new CRBN TruFoam™ Waves is built for exactly that. It uses a redesigned TruFoam™ core to deliver explosive put-away power, while still keeping resets, control, and spin feeling clean and consistent.

Why players are paying attention: one paddle, one thickness (14mm), no core crush, and power that shows up when you accelerate.

Click here to see the paddle everyone’s talking about and save 10% off at check out.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

Are you playing hard, or are you just playing dangerously?

This week, Gina and Neil tackle the "Banger" mentality. They discuss why speed and power often mask bad technique and how to find the balance between being aggressive and being reckless.

They also share a cautionary tale from the Chicago Open about what happens when you underestimate your opponents and "play down" to a level that isn't yours. If you want to stop popping the ball up and start placing it with purpose, this one is for you.

📺 Watch it on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

A Cold-Weather Essential Worth the Investment

If you’re playing pickleball in the Northeast right now, you know the struggle. Snow everywhere, temps in the negatives, and even indoor facilities somehow still freezing. The craving to play doesn’t stop, but being cold absolutely messes with it.

So this week’s pick is the investment that’s actually worth it. I borrowed my mom’s ororo heated vest for an NFL game a few months back and immediately bought my own. It keeps your core warm without bulk, layers easily, and works just as well on the court as it does on the sidelines, at a game, or walking the dog.

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