The Ritual That Calms Every Serve

Tips, gear, and stories to keep you playing your best.

Author

Empower Pickleball
August 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

After a summer of living out of a suitcase, I’m finally back on my home courts this weekend — and my group chat is already buzzing. We’ve got our usual post-work lineup ready: a couple of games, a little harmless trash talk, and then “girl dinner” (Diet Coke, Caesar salad, and fries… the holy trinity).

Honestly, I love pickleball — but I think I love the people I play with more. These are the friends who’ve seen my best wins and my ugliest misses, who’ll cheer me on and roast me in the same breath. We’ve leveled up together, played in tournaments, and built a court confidence I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Lots of good stuff this week — keep reading!

TIPS & TRICKS

Your Serve Called… It Wants a Ritual

Head of Education, Neil Friedenberg showing his pre-serve routine.

That moment before the serve can make or break you. One second you’re ready, the next you’re overthinking the wind, your opponent’s stance, and whether you should’ve skipped lunch. A pre-serve ritual is how you quiet all that noice.

Softball, golf, tennis—almost ALL professional athletes have one! Whether it’s a golfer’s practice swing, a pitcher’s wind-up, or a tennis player’s bounce, a consistent pre-serve routine can help you:

  • Reset your mind between points

  • Keep your mechanics consistent

  • Build rhythm when the score gets tight

  • Reduce nerves so you can focus on the shot

Want to build your own pre-serve routine? Neil gives the low-down on what exactly works for him — and how you can make it your own.


💡 Why It Matters: A consistent pre-serve ritual turns “nervous energy” into your most reliable weapon under pressure.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Small Wins, Big Energy

The first time you land a dink exactly where you want it, it’s not just a good shot—it’s a confidence boost that can carry you the rest of the day. In pickleball, those bite-sized wins happen all the time, and each one fuels the next. Psychologists call it the confidence-competence loop—we call it proof you’re onto something.

You hit a clean third shot drop, return a spin serve you used to dodge, or win a point with pure patience. None of these are headline plays, but they quietly rewire how you see yourself—on and off the court. That “I can figure this out” energy doesn’t just help your game; it can help you speak up in meetings, start that project you’ve been avoiding, or finally fix the leaky faucet.


💡 Why It Matters: Confidence builds like skill—one small win at a time, and it all counts.

GEAR

The $149 Upgrade Your Feet Might Thank You For

If you’ve played enough pickleball to have a “court injury” story, you know how much sore heels, barking knees, or an aching back can mess with your game. We’ve tried all the usual fixes — ice packs, compression sleeves, rotating shoes — but nothing that truly changed how we felt on the court. Then VKTRY sent us their carbon fiber performance insoles.

After a short break-in period, here’s what stood out:

  • Quicker starts & stops — The “spring” effect made changes of direction feel smoother.

  • More stability — Lateral cuts felt locked-in with zero sliding inside the shoe.

  • Less fatigue — Knees and lower back weren’t screaming after three-hour sessions

They’re firm (not floppy foam), custom-tuned for your weight and sport, and built for players who log serious court time. Check out the full review — plus a special discount for Empower Pickleball readers with a special discount for Empower Pickleball readers.


💡 Why It Matters: Playing through pain isn’t a strategy — gear that helps you last longer can change your game.

COMMUNITY

Five Days a Week and Still Smiling

For Pam Lahmann, pickleball is more than a workout — it’s a reason to bring people together. Playing five days a week in Milwaukee, she’s become a go-to community organizer, connecting players, running women’s-only clinics, and making sure post-game hangs are part of the deal.

Pam’s not just about the social side, though. She keeps leveling up her own game through lessons, drills, and learning from others — all while staying relentlessly positive, no matter the score. Her advice to younger players: it’s not all about power. Learn the finesse, study the doubles strategies, and play with people who’ll push you in the right ways.


💡 Why It Matters: Players like Pam remind us that pickleball is better when everyone feels welcome — on and off the court.

  • “Most Addictive Sport” — Confirmed 🎯 From tennis courts to pickleball gold medals, Sally Grace says she’s fully hooked. The English Open in drew 2,300+ players from 41 countries, including Ukraine’s first team, made up of veterans and civilians injured in the war.

  • Inclusivity on the Court 🌍 RAW Pickleball’s recent tournaments in Croatia brought together athletes with special needs for pure, joyful play. Founder Gregory Storm’s mission is to build a community where participation matters more than competition.

  • Meet the Woman Behind National Pickleball Day 🎉 Dee Morris has spent 10 years teaching, playing, and building pickleball communities. She even made August 8 an official day to celebrate.

The Bag That Does It All

We didn’t think a pickleball bag could wow us… until the oktō backpack showed up. Designed by a mechanical engineer who actually plays, it’s loaded with smart details: 16 magnetics side pockets, two level-hanging fence hooks, a built-in cooler, and even a fold-out desk. Yes, really.

Use code EMPOWER for 20% off → Grab yours here!

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

Neil’s dad isn’t just Mark Friedenberg — he’s THE Mark “Yoda” Friedenberg: National Champion, USA Pickleball co-architect, Hall of Famer… and the guy who taught Neil almost everything he knows.

They cover the early days of the sport, the wild ride of owning Pro-Lite Sports, and why Mark decided to help create USA Pickleball. He talks about playing tournaments with family, the fundamentals every player should master, and his proudest moments — from gold medals to being one of the first Hall of Fame inductees. For all the accolades, Mark says it really comes down to joy: playing, smiling, and maybe pulling a trick shot or two.

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

Streaks (Small Wins, Tracked)

If you’ve ever promised yourself you’d stretch after every game… and then didn’t, Streaks might be your new best friend. This Apple Design Award–winning app ($5.99) lets you track up to 24 daily or weekly habits — think: landing three consistent serves, drinking enough water, or actually remembering to foam roll. Every time you complete a task, your streak grows (and you’ll want to keep it going).

It’s the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality. Bonus points for syncing to Apple Health so many goals update automatically. The Apple Watch app makes it easy to tick off tasks on the go, and there’s enough customization to keep it feeling personal. Available on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac — so there’s really no excuse to forget.