At this point, pickleball people are used to being insulted for the sport they love. But rarely are the insults as nonsensical (and hypocritical) as the ones recently thrown by an NBA commentator.

More on that below.

🤡 Charles Barkley Calls Pickleball “Stupid”

After an early-morning golf pro-am in Birmingham, NBA commenter & former 76ers player Charles Barkley had a few choice words about pickleball.

Barkley, now 62, said he prefers golf because “it’s one of the few sports you can play as you get older.”

Ironically, he added that he doesn’t like playing with old people: his main gripe with pickleball was that when he goes to the gym, “I don’t want to play with no 80-year-olds.”

But his take doesn’t match reality:

• According to the SFIA, the sport is getting younger every year

• In 2024, players aged 25–34 made up the largest group (16.7%), followed by those 65+ (15.4%) and 18–24 (13.3%)

• Plus, over a million kids under 18 picked up a paddle last year

Whatever the case, we’d love to see him lace up and try to keep up with Sheila & Sally at rec play.

Speaking of people who could use a good Nasty Nelson…

Last week, we told you about the player who earned her team a medal by using a Nasty Nelson on the final point of the match—and we asked you to weigh-in.

Seems like most of you agree, it was bad form:

“It’s competitiveness in the worst sense of the word. If you can’t win straight up then get out of the game. This is what she will be remembered for. Not the tough games she won to get to the gold.”
— Reader ncaruso724

💡 The Right-Side Role Is Changing

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: For years, right-side players in doubles were the setup crew: reliable, consistent, and deferential to their left-side partners.

Not anymore.

Players like Gabe Tardio are changing the game, proving that right-side players can attack, create offense, and dominate the kitchen line in their own right.

This meta shift is making doubles more dynamic and forcing everyone to rethink positioning & pacing.

New Right-Side Priorities:

• Attack straight ahead: Aim at the player directly across from you, especially their backhand

• Support the forehand monster: Feed returns into your partner’s strength zone

• Generate speedups: Don’t wait for permission to go aggressive

Think of it like a new triangle: when the right-side player pressures forward, it pulls the defense out of alignment, setting up easy finishes for their partner.

The passive right-side archetype still exists, but it’s not the standard anymore. If you’ve got the reflexes, footwork, and vision, the right side is now a launchpad—not a landing zone.

Pickleball in the Islands? We’re In.

Pickleball + the Caribbean? Say less. Join our very own pro instructor Neil Friedenberg and fellow pickleball lovers for an unforgettable getaway in Turks & Caicos this October.

Spend your mornings drilling and learn with Neil, afternoons soaking up the beach (or playing more pickleball — we get it), and evenings with open play and on-court tips from Neil himself.

📅 October 19–24, 2025
📍 Beaches Turks & Caicos

Rooms must be booked through Vibe Getaways to join the group. Check availability and details here.

🎤 Dua Lipa’s Tour Obsession

Now, for a celebrity who LOVES pickleball: while performing on sold-out arena stages with Dua Lipa, rising pop star Alessi Rose is introducing her to a new obsession.

Speaking from a hotel room in Lyon, France, Rose shared that her band’s off-stage ritual has become “pasta at night, pickleball in the morning.” It’s part of a grounding routine as she opens for Dua Lipa and Tate McRae across Europe and the U.S.

We’re not surprised. Pickleball is easy to travel with, low-pressure, and perfect for burning off adrenaline. And if Dua’s entire tour crew starts playing soon, we won’t be shocked.

Around the Picklesphere

💥 Bring out the ‘boom’ with your serve
👟 What insoles can do for your game
🏃‍♀️ The coach who's shaping pickleball’s future
❤️‍🩹 Mental health deserves just as much attention as your game.

🚫 The Emmys’ Pickleball Slam

The stars weren’t just on screen — they were on the court at this year’s Emmys Pickleball Slam, which raised over $100,000 for two powerful causes: the Television Academy Foundation’s education programs and the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund (WODFF).

The spotlight on support for families affected by California’s January wildfires.

The all-day tournament brought out a spirited roster of television and sports personalities, including The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, Grey’s Anatomy star Jason George, Yellowjackets’ Steven Krueger, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Vince Van Patten.

The event featured red carpet arrivals, a skills clinic, tournament play across beginner to advanced divisions, live auctions, and a high-energy afterparty with awards for the day’s champions.

Winners included Ryan O’Nan and Beata Pozniak (Beginner), John Quinn and Chris Ahearn of Let’s Make a Deal (Intermediate), and Maggie Brascia and Kristen Flagler (Advanced).

Backed by sponsors like JOOLA, Selkirk, CRBN, NBCU, CBS, Nike, and more, the Emmys Pickleball Slam proved that Hollywood’s love of pickleball isn’t just for fun — it can drive real impact, too.

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