Struggling in Windy Pickleball Games? Try These Adjustments

Plus: new gear drops, a great community story, and one big pickleball documentary coming soon.

Author

Empower Pickleball
March 12, 2026

A new pickleball documentary is about to hit streaming.

The Power of Pickleball premieres March 16 on Apple and Amazon, highlighting many of the people who helped build the sport from the ground up and the communities that grew around it along the way. We even spotted a few familiar faces we’ve known for years.

If you’ve spent any time around a pickleball court, you already know the stories are everywhere. And if you don’t get a chance to watch or pre-order it right away, don’t worry—we’ll share our full thoughts in next week’s newsletter.

Speaking of stories, we’ve got a packed issue today. Keep scrolling for great community moments, new gear drops, and how to control that nasty spring wind on the court.

TIPS & TRICKS

Struggling in Windy Pickleball Games? Try These Adjustments

Wind can turn a normal match into chaos. The players who adjust fastest usually win.

Senior Pro Gina Cilento breaks down simple ways to stay in control when conditions get messy, including:

  • Keeping the ball lower over the net

  • Committing to compact, confident swings

  • Giving yourself more margin on dinks

  • Using patience when playing into the wind

💡 Why It Matters: Because windy conditions reward control, patience, and players who adapt first.

👉 Learn the seven adjustments that help you win in the wind.

PICKLEBALL GUIDE

What It’s Actually Like at the US Pickleball Open

Every April, thousands of players and fans descend on Naples, Florida, for one of the biggest weeks in pickleball. The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships returns April 11-18 for its 10th anniversary, bringing more than 3,000 players and tens of thousands of spectators to East Naples Community Park.

Expect nonstop matches across nearly 60 courts, a packed vendor village, live music, gear demos, and pro finals that draw some of the largest crowds in the sport.

💡 Why It Matters: Because the US Open remains one of the few events where amateurs, pros, brands, and fans all share the same courts for an entire week.

👉 See dates, formats, and what to expect at the 2026 US Open.

PICKLEBALL GEAR

A New Pickleball Shoe Is Entering the Market

A new brand is entering the pickleball footwear space.

Chicago-based Stria Sport just released the G1 Pro Court Shoe, developed with feedback from everyday players and world No. 1 men’s doubles player Gabe Tardio. Instead of adapting a tennis shoe, the design focuses on the quick lateral movement, stop-and-go transitions, and long hours on the court that define pickleball.

The result is a shoe built around stability, airflow, and energy return during play.

💡 Why It Matters: Because footwear designed for pickleball movement is becoming a bigger focus as the sport evolves.

👉 Read about the new Stria G1 Pro court shoe and find an exclusive discount.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

She Tried Pickleball Once and Never Looked Back

Teresa Tarn’s pickleball journey started with a simple introduction from Simone Jardim during a tennis pro-am. Five days later, Tarn entered her first pickleball tournament—without even knowing how scoring worked.

She’s been climbing the ranks ever since, eventually reaching the Senior Pro level and winning back-to-back gold medals at the APP English Open.

Today, Tarn splits her time between competing and teaching, sharing the love of the game that pulled her in from the very beginning.

💡 Why It Matters: Because pickleball’s growth is powered by players who compete, coach, and bring new people into the game.

  • Oakland’s First Black-Owned Pickleball Facility Expands Access 👥 Pickle Athletics in Oakland is believed to be the first Black-owned pickleball facility in the U.S., aiming to introduce the sport to more players in the local community. Advocates say initiatives like this are helping increase representation in a sport where African Americans currently make up about 7% of players.

  • MLP Launches Amateur “Regional Showdowns” at Pro Events 🏆 Major League Pickleball is partnering with Minor League Pickleball to introduce Regional Showdowns, amateur team competitions held alongside select 2026 MLP events.

  • ALW Set for First International Event in Vietnam 🌏 World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters will compete in the PPA Tour Asia’s Hanoi Cup next month, marking her first international tournament appearance.

These State Paddles Might Be the Most Fun Designs on the Court

There’s something about seeing your home state on your gear that just feels right. ARTI’s State Collection leans all the way into that idea with paddle designs inspired by Texas, California, Florida, and New York.

Each one uses hand-drawn graphics that nod to the personality of the state—desert motifs for Texas, surf culture for California, tropical greens for Florida, and city icons for New York.

The good news is these aren’t just pretty paddles. They’re built with a 16mm carbon fiber core for control and vibration dampening, plus a high-friction surface design for spin.

Even better: the State Collection is currently marked down from $159.99 to $99.99.

Pickleball Apparel That Gives Back

We haven’t talked about apparel in a while, but Moorlow caught our attention for a good reason.

The women-founded brand makes pickleball dresses, skorts, and tops that are bright, playful, and honestly ridiculously cute. Their signature Rally Print is even inspired by both the bounce of a pickleball and a brain wave.

But the biggest story is the mission behind it. Moorlow donates $2 from every purchase to Alzheimer’s-focused nonprofits, supporting research and advocacy around brain health.

It’s definitely a bit of a splurge compared to your average court outfit, but when something looks great and supports a cause, that’s a combo we can get behind.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!