Secrets from Pickleball's Tournament Powerhouse

From smarter serves to better gear and behind-the-scenes advice, this week’s drops are packed with ways to sharpen your game

Author

Empower Pickleball
September 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Is it just me, or has pickleball been oddly quiet lately? Outside of ALW and Anna Bright’s 45-match streak ending, it’s been a rare calm stretch. But calm doesn’t mean boring. This week, we dropped big news of our own: Empower Pickleball is officially a Media Partner of the APP.

Tournament season may be winding down, but that’s the perfect window to check in on your training, stay sharp with drills, and keep an eye on what’s next. We’ll make sure you’ve got plenty to read, try, and think about while the tournament calendar takes a breather.

And if you’re just finding us, here’s the scoop: our Thursday newsletter is written for women, by women with stories, strategies, and community moments that put us as the center of the game. We also drop a second newsletter every Tuesday that’s designed for all players.

TIPS & TRICKS

The Serve Upgrade Every Pickleball Player Needs

Too many players just tap the ball in to start the rally. Senior Pro Gina Cilento flips that mindset and uses the serve as her first weapon—changing speed, spin, depth, and placement to keep opponents uncomfortable.

Her favorite serve variations:

  • Deep + Fast — Pushes opponents back and buys you time.

  • Short or Off-Speed — Breaks rhythm and forces awkward returns.

  • Wide or Body — Pulls players out of position or jams them.

  • Topspin or Slice — Creates unpredictable bounces and errors.

Serving isn’t about predictability. Mix it up, and you’ll start the point on your terms.


💡 Why It Matters: Variety at the line can tilt the whole rally in your favor.

GEAR

No More Paddle Death Grip: Top Picks for Smaller Hands

If your paddle feels bulky, it’s not just annoying — it can slow your reactions, hurt your control, and even leave your wrist or elbow aching. The fix? Finding a paddle with the right grip size. For smaller hands, that’s usually in the 4"–4 ¼" range, with lighter weights and shorter handles for quicker movement.

We rounded up a few favorites that are built with women (and juniors) in mind, from the lightweight Selkirk Vanguard Epic to the reliable Paddletek Bantam TS-5. Each is designed to keep your hand relaxed, your shots crisp, and your confidence steady.


💡 Why It Matters: The right grip size can turn your paddle into an extension of your arm instead of something you’re fighting with every swing.

GEAR

Goodbye Ice Packs, Hello 360° Migraine Relief

Migraines aren’t “just headaches.” They can sideline you from matches, work, and even daily routines. That’s why tools like the TheraICE Headache Relief Hat matter. Instead of balancing ice packs or hiding in a dark room, it wraps your head in 360° relief that’s simple, soothing, and portable.

What makes it stand out:

  • 360° Cooling & Compression — Even relief without juggling ice packs.

  • Hot or Cold Therapy — Cold for migraine pain, warm for tension headaches.

  • Light-Blocking Design — Built-in coverage for light-sensitive players.

  • Comfortable Fit — Soft, stretchy, and wearable during recovery.

For players, that means quicker recovery after long matches, less downtime, and one more way to manage triggers like sun, dehydration, or noise.


💡 Why It Matters: Smart recovery tools can help you keep showing up for both pickleball and everyday life.

COMMUNITY

Melissa McCurley on Tournament Secrets

Melissa McCurley’s name is stamped across pickleball history — from running the first 800-, 1,200-, and 3,000+ player tournaments to building PickleballTournaments.com into the industry’s go-to software. Now serving as VP of Competition at the APP, she’s seen how the sport’s event scene has exploded: tours, leagues, prize money, celebrities, even national TV.

With that growth has come what she calls the “wild west” of tournaments, where everyone’s trying to capitalize. Melissa cuts through the noise with clear advice: what separates good events from great ones, why the director and operator roles matter, and the five factors every player-focused tournament must get right (think venue, hospitality, scheduling, and value for money).


💡 Why It Matters: Players deserve events that are more than just brackets — they should feel like an experience worth showing up for.

  • New Training Program Targets Pickleball Injuries 💪 A professor and a retired pro teamed up to create FITTER Pickleball — an exercise science-based program designed to boost performance and keep players safely on court.

  • Pickleball Pops Up in Unexpected Places 🏚️ In Los Angeles, a homeless encampment added a makeshift pickleball court and garden, giving residents a way to build community and lift spirits in tough times.

  • Dank & Dinks Fundraiser 🌿 Cannabis brands and players are teaming up Sept. 30 in Kansas City for “Dank & Dinks,” a pickleball fundraiser with matches, food, and a consumption tent — all to benefit local nonprofits.

Clearer Courts, Sharper Calls

Struggling with glare, fog, or sketchy line calls? The Brioti FOCOS glasses are built for pickleball — impact-rated protection, no-slip grip, and lenses turned for ball visibility under any lighting. From bright sun to harsh LEDs, they’ve solved the problems most brand skip.

Check out the lineup at Brioti to find your frame. The 4D Boost and 4D Shade lenses are designed for real play, so you can focus on the point instead of your eyesight.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

No new episode this week — Gina and Neil were traveling! But this past conversation is one of our favorites because it gets real about the messy side of open play: the cliques, the gatekeeping, and the way some new players get pushed out. They share stories of rejection, small wins, and what it actually looks like when open play works the way it should.

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

No Slip, No Drip — and Yes, Pickleball Prints

Okay hear me out. My hair’s getting longer, and I’ve sworn off cutting it. That means the second I step on the court, I’m sweating buckets and wiping my face every other point. Hair ties help, but they don’t stop the sweat. I needed something that could actually keep my hair back and handle the flood.

That’s when I found Bondi Band. Female-founded, made in the U.S., and now even rocking pickleball-themed styles. These things don’t slip, they don’t drip, and players literally wring them out after a match. Plus, 10% of the profits go straight to charity. So yeah — sweat controlled, hair in check, and I get to feel good about my purchase too.