The shot you’re NOT taking (but should be)

Sacramento’s biggest winners. Foot care for faster recovery and consistent play.

Author

Empower Pickleball
May 05, 2026

Happy Cinco de Mayo—no better excuse to turn a random Tuesday into a full-on fiesta. Grab your pickleball crew, run it back after the games, and celebrate properly with margs and tacos.

Need something to talk about between points? We’ve got you—everything happening in the pickleball world, plus a few sharp tips to level up your game and keep your crew on their feet.

Inside:

  • Improve your reach and the wins will follow

  • Find the perfect net to fit your game and budget

  • How your toes can make you a better player

We’re thinking of the Amarillo Pickleball Community after a tragic plane crash—updates and ways to support can be found on Amarillo Pickleball’s Facebook page.

🏆 APP Sacramento Recognized by USA Today

Photo Credit: The APP

The APP Sacramento Open Benefiting Shriners Children’s just delivered one of its biggest years yet—headlined by a Sofia Sewing triple crown and a stack of tight, high-level finals across every division.

It also got some major recognition, being nominated by USA TODAY for Best Pickleball Tournament for Fans in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

On court, Sewing basically owned the weekend, taking:

  • Women’s singles gold after a clutch 12–10 comeback in game three over Seone Mendez

  • Women’s doubles gold with Megan Fudge

  • Mixed doubles gold with Casey Diamond to complete the triple crown

Other big winners included Ammar Wazir, who took men’s singles gold with a strong comeback win in the final.

In doubles, Richard Livornese Jr. and Jack Munro grabbed men’s doubles gold.

Beyond the pro results, the event mixed in huge crowds, amateur brackets, and fan experiences that helped make Sacramento feel like a full-on pickleball festival.

👉 Cast your vote for Best Pickleball Tournament here and see the full results from Sacramento here.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

💗 The ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide
🧑‍⚖️ JOOLA seeking monetary damages with 8 federal lawsuits
3️⃣ Three tips to prevent pop-ups and keep your dinks down
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Be a part of the Empower Pickleball Fam and save 30% with code EMPOWER30

📐 Extend Your Reach Into the Kitchen

Photo Credit: The APP

Reaching forward into the non-volley zone is what stops your opponent from advancing.

It helps you:

  • Cut off their drops before they land, so they can’t move up from the baseline

  • Take the ball higher, making the net less of a threat

  • Shrink their recovery time and keep them pinned back

Want to improve your reach? Try these drills:

  • Lean & Catch: controlled forward volleys

  • Intercept Drill: attack balls before they bounce

  • Hover Hand: keep your paddle out front

Prevent the ball from landing in the kitchen and keep your opponent on the ropes.

👉 Read the full article to learn the drills that make this automatic.

🏡 Play More Without Leaving Your Home

If you’ve ever tried to coordinate court time, you already know how it goes—waitlists, crowded parks, and hoping a court opens up.

Having your own setup changes that.

VersaCourt’s Pickleball Performance Tiles are built for consistent play—comfortable underfoot, durable over time, and designed to handle real games without the upkeep of traditional surfaces.

And it’s not limited to pickleball. You can configure the space for basketball, shuffleboard, and more, so it doesn’t just sit there when you’re not playing.

👉 Use code EMPOWER for 10% off Pickleball Performance Tiles.

👟 Why Pickleball Players Are Dealing With Foot Pain and What Actually Helps

Hours on hard courts + constant stopping and cutting = cumulative stress your body has to absorb.

That’s why more players are turning to insoles to:

  • Reduce impact and protect joints

  • Improve alignment and movement efficiency

  • Stay on court longer without breaking down

The difference isn’t one game—it’s how your body holds up over weeks of play.

👉 Read the full article to see what actually helps (and which insole option fits your game).

📋 The Best Pickleball Nets For Home, Club, and Tournament Play

A bad net stands out immediately—sagging tape, shaky frames, and awkward bounces change how the game feels.

The right net isn’t just about “regulation size”—it’s about how it actually performs during play:

  • Holds tension (no sagging or wobble mid-rally)

  • Matches your setup: portable vs. permanent

  • Feels like a real court, not a temporary fix

The biggest mistake? Buying cheap and expecting it to play like a tournament system—it won’t.

A good net disappears once play starts. A bad one shows up on every point.

👉 Find the best net for your setup and budget here.

🦶 Consistent Play Starts With a Solid Base

Toe splay—how your toes naturally spread—plays a bigger role in pickleball than most players realize. Proper splay is responsible for:

  • Better balance at the kitchen line and on wide reaches

  • Quicker first step from a stronger push-off

  • Less foot pain from reduced pressure and friction

If your toes are cramped, your movement, stability, and recovery all take a hit.

The fix isn’t complicated:

  • More toe room in your shoes

  • Simple foot-strength exercises

  • Small adjustments that improve how your body connects to the court

Sometimes better movement starts from the ground up.

👉 See how toe splay can unlock your movement on the court here.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

💰 From $1,500 to $700M+: Pickleball Inc.’s Run

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

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