The Best Pickleball Shoes for 2026

Sneak peek at pickleball's new feature film. The organizations the control the game globally.

Author

Empower Pickleball
March 17, 2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate. In case you were wondering, it takes exactly two drops of green food coloring to turn a pint of Michelob ULTRA into the perfect shade of pickleball green.

There’s no better weekday for a drinks and dinks session with your pickleball crew. Just remember to dink responsibly. The Wednesday morning alarm clock doesn’t care that your great-grandma was half Irish.

In case you missed the poll last week, we want to know:

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Inside:

  • How strategy and shot selection change from singles to doubles

  • Pickleball shoes are entering a new division in 2026

  • Every global pickleball organization that needs to be on your radar

🎥 Inside The Power of Pickleball: The Story You Haven’t Heard Yet

We got an early look at The Power of Pickleball, and it’s not about rankings, pro tours, or highlight reels—it’s about the people who built the game before any of that existed.

The film weaves together early stories, grassroots growth, and the personalities who helped push pickleball into something much bigger than anyone expected.

What stands out most is how personal it feels, from emotional player moments to the quiet impact of ambassadors, organizers, and fans who shaped the culture.

It doesn’t ignore the sport’s rapid growth either, but it keeps coming back to the same idea—pickleball works because of connection, not just competition.

You’ll recognize names, hear stories you probably haven’t, and walk away thinking differently about the game.

👉 Read the full breakdown to see what really stood out.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

💨 The wind goes undefeated at the PPA Texas Open
2️⃣ Pickleball is giving athletes a second chance
🔧 A paddle built for the way you play
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Be a part of the Empower Pickleball Fam and save 30% with code EMPOWER30

 😳 Pickleball Singles vs Doubles: Spot the Difference

Photo Credit: The APP

Singles and doubles might share the same rulebook, but they reward completely different decisions.

  • In singles, the game is about space. Strategic returns, sharp angles, and balls that make your opponent cover more court usually matter more than patient kitchen exchanges.

  • In doubles, it shifts to control. Soft dinks, smart resets, and choosing the right moment to speed up are often more valuable than trying to force winners early.

That is why a shot that feels aggressive and effective in singles can turn into a counterattack opportunity in doubles.

The best players don’t just know the rules. They know how to change their patterns when the format changes.

👉 Read the full blog to see how strategy, positioning, and shot selection should shift between singles and doubles.

 🤺 CRBN’s New Barrage Paddle Is Built for Speed-Ups and Putaways

CRBN is leaning all the way into aggressive play with the new TruFoam™ Barrage, a paddle designed for players who want the ball off their paddle fast and points over quickly.

It’s built around a floating foam core that gives you immediate pop without that unpredictable, trampoline feel. Counters come off clean, speed-ups feel effortless, and the thinner 14mm build makes it noticeably quick in hand during fast exchanges.

The surprise is how controlled it still feels. The added perimeter weighting keeps things stable, so blocks, resets, and softer shots don’t feel jumpy or rushed.

👉 Use code EMPOWER10 for 10% off CRBN’s newest paddle.

👟 Best Pickleball Court Shoes for 2026

Photo credit: Stria

Your shoes might be the most underrated gear decision in your whole game.

Pickleball is brutal on footwear. Lateral cuts, sudden stops, toe drag, quick weight shifts—all of it adds up fast, especially if you play outdoors.

In our latest roundup, we break down the 2026 court shoes getting the most attention and which players they actually make sense for.

A few quick takeaways:

  • Comfort-first: Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0

  • Aggressive movers: Selkirk CourtStrike Pro 2.0 and Franklin ACV Pro

  • Ankle support: Stria Sport G1 Pro

  • Durability pick: SQAIRZ XRZ

  • Value option: UDRIPPIN UD1

The bigger point? The “best” shoe depends on how you move. Some players need plush comfort. Others need a stable base that can handle hard cuts without feeling sloppy.

👉 The full blog breaks down the strengths, tradeoffs, and best fit for each model so you can stop guessing and buy the right shoe for your game.

🌎 Who Runs the World? A Simple Guide to the Global Pickleball Organizations

If acronyms like UPA, MLP, APP, and DUPR make your head spin, you’re not alone—pickleball’s rapid growth has created a full-on global language of its own.

Here’s why it matters:

  • Tours & leagues are multiplying fast, shaping the pro game

  • Global federations are pushing toward Olympic legitimacy

  • Ratings systems are redefining how players track progress

Behind every acronym is a piece of the sport’s future—from unified rankings to international championships and beyond.

This is your cheat sheet to understanding who’s who (and what’s what) as pickleball goes global.

👉 Click through for the full breakdown—you’ll never look at pickleball headlines the same way again.

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