The Counterattack That Fixes the Chicken Wing

Golf giant rolls out pickleball playbook. The recovery help you've been waiting for.

Author

Empower Pickleball
March 31, 2026

March has come and gone. Kiss Q1 goodbye. But the good news? Spring is here, and pickleball courts everywhere are starting to buzz again. Whether you’re chasing a higher DUPR, tightening up your doubles strategy, or just getting more reps in with your crew, this is the time to lock in.

Inside:

  • Keep the chicken wings on the plate and off the court

  • Callaway owns the golf game, now they’re coming for pickleball

  • The best pickleball machines to upgrade your drills

🏆 Pro Pickleball Doubleheader

Photo credit: The APP

It was a packed weekend in pro pickleball, with both the APP Tour and PPA Tour delivering high-level battles and statement performances. From multi-gold weekends to continued dominance at the top, the pro game didn’t disappoint.

AARP Open (APP Tour)

The APP pros brought serious firepower, with multiple players stacking medals across events:

  • Megan Fudge dominated the weekend, earning one pro gold medal and continuing her reign as one of the APP’s most consistent forces

  • Max Green won men’s pro singles gold for the first time in his career

  • Katerina Stewart brought home her first gold of the season with a win in women’s singles

  • Casey Diamond also raked in two gold medals, one in men’s doubles with Aidan Schenk and the other in mixed

Diamond’s mixed partner was Vivian Glozman, who made her return to the APP. Glozman’s UPA contract was terminated in 2025 for participation in non-sanctioned events overseas. Look for her to be a force on the APP this year.

PPA Greater Zion Cup

The PPA delivered fireworks—and dominance at the very top:

  • Anna Leigh Waters secured yet another Triple Crown, continuing one of the most dominant runs in the sport, with 670 days undefeated in singles

  • Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio stayed unbeaten in 2026, grinding out a five-game men’s doubles final win

  • Chris Haworth captured men’s singles gold and claimed the #1 ranking

👉 Find more results from the weekend here.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

👀 It’s all about perspective
😵‍💫 You should be adding spin to every shot
🎾 Pickleball Slam 4: Tennis Legends vs Pickleball’s Best
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Be a part of the Empower Pickleball Fam and save 30% with code EMPOWER30

🍗 Stop Getting Chicken-Winged

Getting jammed at the kitchen line isn’t bad luck—it’s a target. Opponents aim for your body because it forces weak, awkward contact. Clean this up, and you instantly level up your defense.

What’s Happening

When you get chicken-winged, the ball jams your body and traps your arm, leading to pop-ups, mishits, or no real shot at all. It’s one of the most common ways players lose hands battles.

Why It Keeps Happening

It usually comes down to a few things:

  • A poor ready position (paddle not centered)

  • Slow hands in fast exchanges

  • Limited footwork to create space

Fix those, and you’ll see improvement.

How to Fix It Fast

Use a mix of the backhand counter and the pancake shot—both are elite solutions against body attacks. The backhand keeps your paddle compact and controlled, while the pancake excels in fast, jammed exchanges by letting you hold your ground and redirect with minimal motion.

Keep your paddle out in front, make small foot adjustments, and rely on short, efficient swings. Anticipate the speed-up—and instead of getting jammed, you’ll start winning those hands battles.

👉 Read the full blog to see how a counterattack strategy can help you instantly level up.

👟 If Your Feet Are Shot After Playing, Start Here

If your feet are cooked after playing, your shoes are probably the problem.

The G1 Pro from Stria Sport is built for how pickleball actually moves. A wide, stable base for quick direction changes, added ankle support to keep you locked in, and a foam midsole that absorbs impact without slowing you down. It feels secure, comfortable, and fast from game one through game five.

 👉 Available in Pure or Rosado. Get 10% off your first pair with code EMPOWER.

⛳️ Golf Brands Finally Giving in To Pickleball

Pickleball isn’t just growing—it’s attracting serious players from other industries, and golf brands are leading the charge. The overlap is obvious: same mindset, same social appeal, same willingness to invest in gear that actually performs.

Why It’s Happening Now

  • Sustained growth + frequent play = more equipment awareness

  • Golf brands already understand this customer—and how to sell to them

What Callaway Signals

Callaway didn’t test the waters—they went straight to premium, building a paddle focused on forgiveness, stability, and consistency over raw power. That’s a very “golf” approach—and it matters in fast hands battles where mishits decide points.

Why It Matters

More top-tier brands entering means higher standards, better gear, and more competition at the top of the market. Pickleball isn’t a niche anymore—it’s becoming part of a bigger sports performance ecosystem.

👉 Read the full blog to see how the golf giant plans to transition into the world of pickle.

🌿 Recovery That Actually Keeps You Playing

Playing more is easy—recovering well is the hard part. If you’re constantly dealing with sore shoulders, tight elbows, or lingering fatigue, it’s probably not a skill issue—it’s a recovery gap—and products from Aina Organics are built specifically to help close it.

Holistic wellness you can use where you need it most

  • Targeted relief for common pickleball pain points (elbows, knees, shoulders)

  • Helps you stay loose between games and bounce back faster

  • Built for players who want to play more often, with less breakdown

Pickleball isn’t just light cardio. It’s repetitive stress on the same joints, and without proper recovery, that adds up fast. The players improving the quickest aren’t just drilling more—they’re recovering smarter.

If you want to play more, feel better, and stay consistent, recovery can’t be an afterthought—it’s part of your game plan.

👉 Read the full blog to see how small recovery upgrades can unlock better performance.

🤖 Best Pickleball Ball Machines for Solo Practice (2026)

If you’re serious about improving, nothing beats repetition—and ball machines deliver it on demand. From third shot drops to hands battles, solo reps can accelerate your progress faster than just playing games.

Why It’s Worth It

  • Consistent reps without needing a partner

  • Train specific shots like drops, volleys, and resets

  • Build muscle memory and reaction speed faster

What to Look For

Not all machines are equal—focus on what fits your game:

  • Portability (easy to transport or not?)

  • Battery life (quick sessions vs long training blocks)

  • Spin + oscillation for realistic shot variety

From budget-friendly options to fully programmable machines, there’s something for every level. Whether you want simple feeds or app-controlled, game-like drills, the right machine can turn solo practice into a serious edge.

👉 Check out the full blog to see our top picks for 2026.

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