New research highlights another reason to get on the court ASAP.

A report shared by Yahoo Life found that pickleball players experience depression at a 60% lower rate than the general population. Keep reading to learn more.

🧠 Pickleball Cuts Depression Risk by 60%

The findings came from data collected via the Apple Heart and Movement Study, surveying thousands of participants about their physical activity and emotional well-being.

Here’s why pickleball seems to be a standout:

✔ Social engagement – Regular group play combats isolation.
✔ Physical movement – Cardiovascular & motor skills engagement lifts mood.
✔ Sense of play – Fun, coordinated activity taps into natural resilience mechanisms.

Other supporting research backs this up. A 2023 meta-analysis from Frontiers in Psychology found that social sports reduce symptoms of depression by up to 34% compared to solo workouts.

In pickleball, community happens almost by accident, whether you're jumping into a drop-in match, joining a league, or making casual friends courtside.

Dr. Calum MacRae explained that activities combining physical coordination and social touchpoints can create cascading benefits for mental resilience and emotional well-being.

🎯 Want a More Consistent Serve? Add Topspin

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: If you’re tired of sending serves into the net or way out of bounds, here’s the scientifically-backed fix: add topspin.

Most beginner serves are slow, flat, and predictable. As players try to hit faster serves, inconsistency creeps in, especially when wind, timing, and ball imperfections come into play.

But that’s where topspin changes the game.

Topspin puts a downward force on the ball, allowing you to swing faster, aim higher over the net, and still land deep serves reliably. It gives you larger error margins on height and distance while making your serves faster, tougher to return, & harder to anticipate.

Key benefits of a topspin serve:

✔ Higher speed with better control
✔ Kick-bounce effect that throws off returns
✔ Built-in error protection for windy days & off-center hits

To generate topspin, brush up the back of the ball with a low-to-high swing path.

• Think of a light, fast paddle motion, not a muscle-powered smack.

• Keep your grip relaxed & imagine “lifting” the ball into the court.

Adding topspin doesn’t just make your serve land more consistently, it makes it land with authority.

Step Up Your Game (and Stay Comfortable Doing It)

There’s nothing worse than feeling weighed down or worn out mid-match. The FreshShot from Acacia Pickleball was built for players who stay all-in from first serve to last rally — wider fit, plush CloudGel cushioning, and extra durability in all the right places. Fresh colors, breathable design, and grip that keeps you moving.

Find your next favorite pair right here.

🌍 One Man, One Court, and Pickleball’s Global Expansion

Ron Ponder isn’t chasing fame or medals—he’s chasing a bigger mission: helping pickleball grow in every corner of the world.

Already a USA Pickleball Ambassador, Certified Referee, and Director of Officiating for DUPR, Ron recently took on another major role as Chair of the Officiating Committee for the Global Pickleball Federation.

His latest adventure: Madagascar, one of the most remote and remarkable places on Earth.

When local organizers asked him to referee their national tournament, Ron didn’t hesitate. He arrived to find 18 players, one modified tennis court, four shared paddles, and an incredible spirit.

Over three days, he taught the game, trained a new referee (a teenager named Nicholas), and helped players fall in love with pickleball.

The event wasn’t just a one-off. It helped solidify the Pickleball Association Madagascar as the official national federation, making Madagascar the 65th member of the Global Pickleball Federation, in alignment with the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP).

Thanks to Ron’s efforts—and the passion of players half a world away—pickleball is now thriving in a place few would have ever imagined.

In a sport where million-dollar sponsorships dominate headlines, it's grassroots pioneers like Ron who show us where the true heart of pickleball lives.

🔗 Read more about Ron’s story

Around the Picklesphere

🛫 Inside the life of a traveling pickleball pro
🏓 Latest paddle review: The Titan Pro 14L
👜 Pickleball bags worth traveling with
👀 These drills up your court awareness

🤫 California Cracks Down on Pickleball Noise

Pickleball players in Laguna Beach, California are now facing a new rule: only quiet paddles allowed at Lang Park:

• The city council passed a law requiring players to switch to quieter equipment after years of noise complaints from residents of a nearby senior community.

• While sound barriers had been installed around the courts back in 2023, they weren’t enough to satisfy complaints.

• Now, no games are allowed on Mondays, and afternoon play is restricted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Under the new rule, Park Rangers will enforce paddle compliance, and violators can face fines.

To ease the transition, the city is offering quiet paddles from two different brands at cost ($120 each) and has already sold more than 200 paddles to players eager to stay compliant.

This is one of a few ways towns across North America are cracking down on pickleball noise. Thankfully, Laguna Beach seems willing to make decisions that don’t completely prevent pickleballers from playing.

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