Can Pickleball Help Bring Clean Water to Uganda?

Achilles injuries, smarter speed-up defense, our funniest podcast yet, and a pickleball rug that somehow exists.

Author

Empower Pickleball
June 18, 2026

The number of commercials featuring pickleball has officially reached the point where I can’t tell if I’m watching sports or being recruited into a lifestyle.

Every commercial break seems to include someone on a pickleball court. At this rate, I’m expecting the next pharmaceutical ad to list “improved third-shot drops” as a potential side effect.

Fortunately, we’ve got better things to talk about this week.

And if you haven’t listened to 99% Pickleball yet, Mari and Nikki may have just delivered our funniest episode so far.

TIPS & TRICKS

The Best Players Sometimes Back Up

Most players are taught to hold their ground at the kitchen line. According to Senior Pro Gina Cilento, advanced players know there are times when taking a small step back is the smarter play.

When an opponent has an attackable ball, that extra space can help you:

  • Create more reaction time during speed-ups

  • Defend shots aimed at your body more effectively

  • Improve your chances of blocking or resetting the ball

  • Stay balanced instead of getting caught flat-footed

The key is recognizing the attack early, stepping back when necessary, and then working your way forward again after a successful reset.

💡 Why It Matters: Sometimes the smartest way to win a fast exchange is to give yourself a little more time to react.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Your Achilles Might Be the Most Important Muscle You’re Ignoring

Pickleball has a reputation for being relatively easy on the body, but Achilles injuries remain one of the most common lower-body injuries on the court. For some players, it starts as lingering soreness or stiffness. For others, it’s a sudden injury that can sideline them for months.

The good news is that many Achilles issues can be improved through proper warm-ups, calf strengthening, sensible workload management, and paying attention to early warning signs before they become something more serious.

💡 Why It Matters: Taking a few simple steps now may help keep you on the court and out of a walking boot later.

👉 See how to protect your Achilles while playing pickleball.

COMMUNITY

How One Pickleball Player Is Helping Bring Clean Water to Uganda

Pickleball introduced Melinda Alcosser to a community she never expected to find. Now, those same connections are helping support an effort to bring clean water to a village in Uganda, where families still face challenges accessing safe water every day.

Along the way, she’s used pickleball to support community projects around the world, proving a paddle can sometimes create impact far beyond the court.

💡 Why It Matters: We talk a lot about pickleball’s sense of community. This story is a reminder that those connections can create meaningful change for people thousands of miles away.

👉 Read how Melinda is using pickleball to help bring clean water to Uganda.

Stop Sliding Inside Your Shoes

Pickleball demands quick movement. Hard stops, lateral cuts, and explosive push-offs. But there’s a small problem many players overlook: their foot moving inside their shoes.

Even with quality court shoes, that internal movement can lead to toe jams, blisters, and less stability when changing direction. Many players assume the problem is their footwear when the issue may be their socks.

Squid Socks use strategically placed grip zones to help keep your foot secure inside the shoe, creating a more connected feel on the court.

More stability. More confidence. Less slipping around mid-rally.

👉 Save 20% on Squid Socks with code EMPOWER20.

  • Kids Are Spending Summer Break on the Pickleball Court 🏓 Students in Vermont wrapped up the school year with a pickleball fun day, and free summer camps and teen open play sessions are already filling up.

  • This Nurse Is Using Pickleball to Build Community ❤️ After years of working in northern communities, a Regina nurse is using pickleball to help residents stay active, learn new skills, and strengthen community connections.

  • A Popular Pickleball Hangout May Be Up for Sale 👀 Houston’s PKL Social says it’s business as usual despite reports that the property’s landlord is exploring a sale. For now, the courts are staying open and the paddles are still swinging.

Zane Navratil & Nico the Lefty Join 99% Pickleball

Content creation. Paddle reviews. Parasocial relationships. Community building.

This week, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado welcome Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty for a candid conversation about what it means to help shape the culture of pickleball. From building audiences to navigating criticism and fostering community, the group dives into the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities that come with having a voice in the sport.

It also happens to be our funniest episode yet.

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

For the Person Whose Entire Personality Is Pickleball

Etsy truly has everything.

I recently stumbled across a customizable pickleball court area rug and just sat there staring at it for a minute. Somehow, it never occurred to me that you could turn an entire pickleball court into home decor.

You can personalize it with your name or even something like “Dink Responsibly.” It also comes in multiple sizes, so whether you’re decorating a game room, basement, or the world’s most pickleball-themed living room, there’s probably one that fits.

I can’t decide if it’s ridiculous or amazing. Maybe both.

👉 If your personality is now 90% pickleball, this might be for you.

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.