Pressure Reveals What You Actually Trained

Mental pressure, recovery mistakes, stronger counters, and more from around the pickleball world.

Author

Empower Pickleball
May 14, 2026

After last week’s poll, it’s officially confirmed. 70% of you are just as obsessed with pickleball as we are. Honestly, that’s a relief.

Next week kicks off the MLP season, which is still one of the most entertaining formats to watch in pickleball. There are a lot of big changes this year too, including the partnership with Champions Series Pickleball. That draft happened last week, and it’ll be interesting to see some of the OGs in the sport competing at the same time as today’s open pros.

We won’t see them at the first MLP event though—the Champions Series teams won’t make their debut until July in Chicago.

We’ve got some really good reads this week… and we’re also introducing a new contributor below. Keep scrolling to see the new kinds of stories we’re adding to our newsletters.

TIPS & TRICKS

Why Your Counters Keep Sitting Up

In fast hand battles, most players instinctively block the ball instead of pushing through it—and that one habit completely changes the exchange.

Senior Pro Gina Cilento says strong counters aren’t about swinging harder. They’re about meeting the ball out in front with a stable paddle face and sending pressure back through the court.

Here’s what that looks like:

  • Keep the paddle face slightly closed or neutral

  • Contact the ball out in front, not beside your body

  • Push through the counter instead of absorbing it

  • Stay compact while still creating pressure

💡 Why It Matters: Passive counters sit up. Strong counters force your opponent into defense instead of letting them stay in control.

👉 Learn how to stop giving attackers easy balls back.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

You Don’t Rise Under Pressure. You Fall to Your Level of Training.

You practiced all week. You felt ready. Then the tournament started—and suddenly the shots that felt automatic disappeared.

According to mental performance coach Coach B, that’s usually not a confidence issue. It’s a preparation issue.

The habits that show up under pressure are the ones you’ve trained long before match point ever happens—and most players spend almost no time training the mental side of their game.

💡 Why It Matters: Pressure doesn’t create your habits. It exposes the ones you already have.

👉 Read why your mental game might need practice too.

COMMUNITY

Why So Many Pickleball Players Feel Worn Down

Around pickleball courts, the complaints are constant:

  • sore knees

  • lingering inflammation

  • low energy

  • feeling wiped after just a few games

That pattern is exactly what pulled nutrition expert Cara Zaller deeper into the pickleball world.

Now joining Empower Pickleball as a contributor, Cara focuses on how nutrition, recovery, and inflammation impact everyday players—and why many recreational athletes underestimate how much recovery matters.

One of her biggest philosophies is simple: “eat to repair the body and reduce inflammation.”

💡 Why It Matters: A lot of players focus on court time while completely overlooking the things that help their body recover.

👉 Meet Cara and learn what she thinks most players are getting wrong.

Your Feet Might Be Taking More Damage Than You Realize

Hard courts, constant movement, and playing multiple days a week can add up fast on your feet, knees, and joints.

Designed to help reduce impact and fatigue, Zelus Insoles use patented SmartCells cushioning technology to absorb force and support better alignment during play.

A few standout benefits:

  • Reduced foot and joint fatigue

  • Better cushioning during long sessions

  • Added support without bulky stiffness

  • Built for both performance and recovery

Less soreness. More support. More time on court.

👉 Use code EMPOWER15 for 15% off.

  • Arizona Wants to Become the Pickleball Capital of the World 🌵 Between major tournaments, exploding court growth, pro training, and the world’s largest indoor pickleball facility currently being built in Scottsdale, Arizona is making a serious push to become pickleball’s official home base.

  • Selkirk Just Acquired Bread & Butter Pickleball 🥖 Selkirk announced it acquired Bread & Butter Pickleball Company this week, signaling that consolidation in the pickleball equipment world is only getting bigger. 

  • Brands Are Finally Going All-In on Women’s Sports 💰 Major brands are investing in women’s sports earlier and more aggressively than ever before—not just through athlete sponsorships, but by embedding themselves into leagues, communities, and long-term growth strategies.

A New Activewear Brand I’m Curious About

I came across a new women’s activewear brand called VIKA this week that just launched in the Philippines through a women-led pickleball event, and honestly… the pieces look really good.

Everything feels very wearable both on and off the court, which is usually what I’m looking for. A lot of the collection looks lightweight, comfortable, and designed for movement instead of just looking athletic.

I can’t speak to the fit, and I’m honestly not sure if they ship outside the Philippines right now, but it definitely caught my attention. I’d absolutely grab a few pieces for the courts.

👉 One to keep an eye on if you’re into elevated athleticwear.

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.