The Unwritten Rules of Pickleball

What players do on court matters more than how they play. Plus glow nights and gear worth trying.

Author

Empower Pickleball
March 19, 2026

The drama on this season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was… a lot. But my favorite moment was the MomTok vs. DadTok pickleball tournament.

MomTok did not survive this one, but Mayci Neeley held her own. You might recognize her from the 2024 USA Pickleball Dinks for a Difference Celebrity Match at Nationals.

I’ll take reality TV drama all day. Court drama? Not so much.

But let’s be real—it’s part of the game whether we like it or not. So today, we’re getting into a few things that make the on-court experience better—from how we show up as players to the little things that actually improve your game.

OPINIONS & INSIGHTS

The Unwritten Rules of Pickleball (That Actually Matter)

You can feel it the second you walk onto a court.

Some places are open, welcoming, and competitive in the right way. Others feel cliquey, tense, or hard to break into.

Senior Pro Gina Cilento explains why that difference has nothing to do with skill level and everything to do with people on the court.

It comes down to small moments:

  • Inviting someone new into a game

  • A quick “nice shot”

  • Acknowledging the player who’s still figuring it out

Those interactions shape whether someone comes back or quietly disappears.

And as the sport grows, that matters more than ever. Packed courts don’t mean much if people don’t feel like they belong.

💡 Why It Matters: Because the long-term growth of pickleball depends on the experience players have, not just the level of play.

👉 Read Gina’s take on building a better pickleball community.

PICKLEBALL GUIDE

Glow Pickleball Is Taking Over—Here’s How To Do It

Turn the lights off and everything changes. The music feels louder, the ball looks different mid-rally, and suddenly it’s less of a match and more of an experience.

Clubs are leaning into glow nights for a reason. They bring in new players, keep regulars engaged, and create the kind of energy people actually talk about after they leave.

But here’s the problem: most glow events don’t hit the way they should.

It usually comes down to a few things:

  • Weak lighting that kills the effect

  • The wrong ball that’s hard to track

  • Courts that look cool but aren’t actually playable

Done right, it’s simple. Strong UV lighting, high-visibility balls, and clear court lines turn this from a gimmick into something people want to come back to.

💡 Why It Matters: Because the best events aren’t just fun—they’re the ones players remember and return for.

👉 See how to set up glow pickleball the right way.

PICKLEBALL GUIDE

Think You Know Pickleball Terms? Read This

You’ve heard them all before… but could you actually explain them?

We’re taking it back to basics with a quick refresher on the terms that come up in almost every game, plus a few that still catch people off guard. From the kitchen and third shot drops to resets, speed-ups, and the occasional Nasty Nelson, it’s all in there.

It’s one of those things you don’t think about until someone calls it out and you hesitate for a second.

💡 Why It Matters: Because understanding the language of the game helps you communicate better, make faster decisions, and keep up as your competition improves.

👉 Brush up on the pickleball terms you should already know.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Lea Jansen Plays With Fire (And Manages Type 1 Diabetes)

Photo by JOOLA

If you’ve watched the pro tour recently, you’ve probably had a reaction to Lea Jansen. She’s intense, expressive, and fully locked into every point.

That edge is part of what’s made her one of the top singles players in the game, currently ranked inside the top five and known for her aggressive, all-out style.

But there’s more going on behind the scenes. Jansen competes while managing Type 1 diabetes, which means constant monitoring, adjustments, and staying mentally sharp even during matches.

It’s something most players never have to think about, and it adds another layer to everything she does on court.

💡 Why It Matters: Because the best players aren’t just managing the game—they’re managing everything that comes with it.

👉 Learn more about Lea Jansen’s journey on and off the court.

  • ASICS Brings Women Together for Pickleball in India 👯‍♀️ ASICS hosted a women-focused pickleball event in Gurugram for International Women’s Day, bringing players together for an evening centered on movement, community, and wellbeing.

  • Former Beauty Queen Wins Gold in Pickleball 🏅 Former Miss Universe Philippines Ariella Arida took home two gold medals at a tournament in Cebu, showing just how far her game has come after picking up pickleball three years ago.

  • New “Women in Sports” Campaign Launches Nationwide 📣 A national “Women in Sports” campaign just launched across USA Today and online, bringing together athletes, brands, and organizations focused on growing visibility and opportunity for women in sports.

Travel That Actually Understands Pickleball

VibeGetaways specializes in pickleball group vacations at Sandals and Beaches resorts, pairing scheduled court time with thoughtfully organized group experiences. No guesswork. No scrambling for courts. No pressure to participate in everything.

Each trip includes reserved pickleball sessions, group mixers, and plenty of space to unwind—whether that means joining open play, heading to the beach, or sitting out a session entirely.

And because VibeGetaways works directly with the resorts, their agents handle the planning details at no additional cost to you.

👉 See upcoming pickleball group getaways.

The Sock Upgrade We Didn’t Expect

We spotted Squid Socks at RacquetX last weekend, and after seeing them pop up more and more lately, we finally looked into them.

Most people think about their shoes, not what’s happening inside them. If your foot is sliding around, it can lead to blisters, toe jams, and just feeling a step behind on quick movements.

That’s exactly what these are built to fix. Squid Socks use grip zones to help keep your foot stable inside your shoe, so everything feels more controlled and connected.

👉 Check out Squid Socks—25% off sitewide right now.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have something happening at your courts?

The wins, the drama, or the moments that stick with you—we’d love to hear it.

If people are talking about it, it’s probably worth sharing.