The rules everyone’s arguing about (explained)

USA Pickleball’s new rulebook, a smarter way to play, and a few things players are rethinking on court.

Author

Empower Pickleball
December 16, 2025

USA Pickleball has been busy. Between the release of the official 2026 Rulebook and last week’s DUPR adoption, the governing body is making changes that affect how the game is played, officiated, debated at courts everywhere.

And while the rulebook is grabbing most of the attention right now, we’ve also got something fun coming your way. On Thursday, we’re launching a new giveaway with Ramsports—details soon, but it’s one you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Inside:

  • Why the 80% shot rule works

  • The role pickleball plays in daily life

  • Why tile courts deserve a second look

📘 Pickleball Rule Changes for 2026: What Actually Changed (and What Didn’t)

Last week, we covered the big headline: USA Pickleball officially adopting DUPR. But if you’ve been anywhere near the pickleball internet, you know that wasn’t the only thing people were arguing about. Now that the 2026 Rulebook is out, let’s clear up what really changed—and what was never on the table to begin with.

How Rule Changes Really Happen

Each spring, USA Pickleball opens the door for rule proposals. Members submit ideas, the public weighs in, and the Rules Committee spends months sorting through what’s realistic versus what just sounds loud online.

The key thing most players miss: dozens of proposals rarely translate into dozens of changes. Most ideas never survive the process.

The Serve Debate (Yes, Again)

If one part of pickleball attracts nonstop speculation, it’s the serve. This year was no different.

There were proposals aimed at clarifying mechanics and release height, mostly to reduce disputes during non-officiated play. But despite the annual panic, the volley serve survived once again. Big, sweeping changes that would affect nearly every recreational player still struggle to pass.

What Actually Affects Your Games

The changes that matter most aren’t flashy. They’re about consistency and flow.

Clarifications around technical fouls, timeouts, and enforcement continue to push toward fewer gray areas and fewer on-court arguments. For recreational players, that means less debating rules and more time actually playing.

Bottom line: you’re not relearning pickleball on January 1. You’re just getting clearer language and fewer judgment calls.

And yes—someone somewhere will still be serving illegally.

👉 Get the full breakdown of the 2026 rule changes.

What causes the most disputes in your games?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

🧠 That moment when rec play turns into a performance
🧮 Who’s actually behind the DUPR algorithm?
📲 Tired of paddle ads and podiums?

🎯 The 80% Shot Rule (and Why It Works So Fast)

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: Most points aren’t lost because your opponent hit an insane winner. They’re lost because someone went for too much, too soon. The “80% shot” flips that instinct and forces smarter decision-making without changing your technique.

Instead of chasing highlight shots, this approach asks one simple question: Can I make this shot eight out of ten times? If not, it’s probably costing you more points than it’s winning.

Lean on the 80% shot when:

  • You’re off-balance or stuck in transition

  • The ball is below net height

  • You’re resetting from mid-court

  • The point is neutral and no advantage exists

Turn up the pressure when:

  • You’ve forced a short ball

  • Your opponent is scrambling or retreating

  • You’re attacking from above the net

  • You recognize a repeatable pattern to exploit

It’s not about playing scared. It’s about earning aggression instead of forcing it.

👉 Bring the 80% rule to your next match.

🎁 Holiday Pickleball, Upgraded

The Ramsports Holiday Pickleball Gift Bag is a premium, all-in-one bundle featuring the Typhoon high-performance paddle, two sleeves of durables Ramsports pickleballs, and a sleek vegan leather pickleball bag.

A $212 retail value for just $125, this limited-edition holiday set delivers elevated performance and polished style—on and off the court. Perfect for gifting or upgrading your own game.

🎙️ What Role Does Pickleball Actually Play in Your Life?

For some players, pickleball is an escape. For others, it’s structure, stress relief, community, or the thread that ties family, work, and health together. Neil Friedenberg unpacks how the sport quietly weaves itself into daily life in ways most people don’t stop to name.

From coaching beginners to building paddles, raising kids on the court, and creating space for honest conversations about the sport, this piece looks at pickleball not as a highlight reel, but as a constant presence shaping how people show up every day.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

When Pickleball Nets Looked Very Different

Contributed by Jennifer Lucore, Pickleball Hall of Famer and historian — author of History of Pickleball — More Than 50 Years of Fun! • Visit allpickleball.com 

🏟️ Why Tile Courts Deserve a Second Look

Tile courts get written off fast. Slippery. Loud. Weird bounce. Most of that criticism comes from outdated surfaces or players who’ve never actually logged real time on a modern tile system.

The reality is very different. Today’s tile courts are engineered for traction, consistency, and joint-friendly play and they’re quietly solving one of pickleball’s biggest problems: not enough places to play.

👉 Read the full breakdown on why tile courts are changing the game.

Partner With Us?

Every week, our newsletter lands in inboxes of players who live and breathe pickleball. They come to us for the latest news, gear, drills, and stories that celebrate the people behind the sport.

Does your brand believe in growing the game and supporting the people who play it? Let’s make something happen.