This week, we’re diving into the strategies, tools, and stories that are shaping the way people learn and play — from TikTok feeds to high school leagues, adaptive champions to training aids that actually work.

Some highlights:

📱Viral strategy tips: Do they help…or just look cool?
🏫 Utah’s high school league is growing fast
🏆 Meet the first adaptive player to win a Triple Crown at Nationals
🔧 The gear that’s helping players aim smaller (and win bigger)

Let’s get into it.

📱 “TikTok Taught Me”

A single clip on TikTok showcasing timing techniques by top pros has already pulled in over 5 million views, highlighting that pickleball strategy is now mostly bite-sized, mobile, and viral.

But are viral tips helping or hurting your game?

✅ The Hits

• Concise, shareable lessons: Quick reels from distill coaching into 15 seconds, perfect for a quick mental reset

• Access for all: These clips crack open the professional mindset for those who can’t attend elite clinics or private lessons.

⚠️ The Misses

• Oversimplification risk: Some viral “hacks” lack context, and applying them without proper mechanics or practice can lead to bad habits or injury.

• Credibility varies: Not every content creator is certified, and some viral tips are based purely on gimmicks, not on the traditional drills coaches teach

🎯 Coaches Weigh In

Certified instructors appreciate (and even earn part of their business from) the exposure, but stress the importance of depth and progression. They argue: learn basics first, then supplement with social media.

If a tip asks you to radically change your grip or footwork in 10 seconds, proceed with caution.

As one coach put it: “TikTok is great for inspiration—but not a substitute for on-court feedback.” Let social media spark curiosity, not define your game’s developmental.

Around the Picklesphere

👀 When a 5.0 player entered the 3.5 bracket at the US Open
😳 Singles isn’t for the faint of heart
😡 Go ahead: be aggressive at the net

➡️ Winning Ways to Return a Serve

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: If you're treating the serve return like a throwaway shot, you're giving up control before the point even starts.

A smart return can buy you time, put pressure on your opponent, and set the tone for the rally, all without taking a big risk.

Here are some returns to have in your toolbox:

Flat + Deep

Very little to no spin, deep placement. Great for slowing down big servers. Keeps your opponents pinned at the baseline.

✅ When to Use It: Against big servers or opponents who rely on third-shot drives.
🎯 Why It Works: It pushes your opponent back, limits their angles, and gives you more time to move up. A flat, low return neutralizes offensive drives and sets you up to control the net.

High Return

Higher arc, slower pace = more time to move up. Just don’t float it too high.

✅ When to Use It: When you need more time to reach the kitchen or your opponent isn’t great at overheads.
🎯 Why It Works: This return slows the pace and buys you time to advance. If your opponent isn’t attacking well, you’ll already be at the net before their third shot comes.

The Middle

This forces split-second decision-making between your opponents, and often, mistakes ensue.

✅ When to Use It: Against opponents who don’t communicate well or when you’re unsure who the stronger player is.
🎯 Why It Works: This targets the seam between players, often causing indecision or weak replies. It also reduces sharp angle opportunities.

One final tip: If you notice one of your opponents struggling to hit effective third shot drops, return any serve to them.

Aim Small, Win Big

You don’t need a full coaching crew to help with accuracy. The Pickleball Driller is a smart, adjustable training aid that hangs just above the net to help you dial in everything from dinks to deep drives. It straps onto permanent posts (or sturdy portables) and works with solo drills, partner play, or your favorite ball machine. Bonus: it’s also great for adding a little extra challenge to your dinking games.

Built to stay put. Designed to help you get better, faster.

📺 Gear Review: Kitchen Blockers

Gina and Neil took these lens-free court specs for a spin, and came back with zero fog, zero complaints, and full protection. Designed by players, for players (after one too many black eyes), Kitchen Blockers are lightweight, adjustable, and actually comfortable. Your face deserves better.

▶️ Watch the full review on YouTube

🏆 Taylor Nichols Is Redefining What a Pickleball Champion Looks Like

After a life-altering pro motocross accident left him paralyzed from the chest down, Taylor Nichols did what champions do: he adapted.

What began as a date night at Chicken N Pickle in 2022 turned into something bigger, a second shot at competition, community, and purpose through pickleball.

In just two years, Nichols became the first adaptive athlete to earn a Triple Crown at the USA Pickleball National Championships, taking gold in wheelchair singles, wheelchair doubles, and hybrid doubles. But it’s not just the medals that define him, it’s the movement he’s building.

As the National Adaptive Pickleball Coordinator at Chicken N Pickle, Nichols designs inclusive programs, equips courts with adaptive gear, and runs clinics across the country.

He also co-founded the Para Pickleball Program in Dallas, a nonprofit expanding court access for players with disabilities.

• His motto: “An athlete is an athlete.”

• His mission: ensuring everyone has a shot to play (and to belong).

🔗 How to follow Taylor

🏫 Utah’s Pickleball Youth Movement Is Booming

Utah is already the fastest-growing pickleball state in the country, and now it’s making moves to secure the sport’s future.

With more indoor clubs than anywhere else, courts in churches and parks, and a famously social, family-friendly vibe, the Beehive State is perfectly built for pickleball. It’s no wonder Utah residents Google "pickleball" more than in any other state.

Now, a new high school league is turning all that momentum into real structure.

The Utah High School Pickleball Association (UHSPA), founded less than a year ago by pro coach Jason Peery, has already sparked the creation of 30+ school-based clubs (you guessed it: that’s more than any other state).

• Over 300 students competed across six weeks this season

• Some teams traveled up to 3 hours for meets and championships

• What’s next for UHSPA: expanded regions, certified referee training, and a push to make pickleball an officially sanctioned high school sport

Even off the court, Utah is building a model for sustainable growth. In Salt Lake City, advocate Brenda Koga launched a grassroots recycling initiative to keep used pickleballs out of landfills.

If you want a look at the sport’s future, start in Utah.

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