Veterans, Resets, and the Real Talk We All Needed

This week: a reset guide for handling bangers, Twila Adams' powerful journey, and one player’s fight to belong.

Author

Empower Pickleball
June 26, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

The sunscreen’s worn off, the suitcase is unpacked, and the inbox is scary… but we’re back. We spent this month highlighting voices that don’t always get the spotlight, and we’re closing it with one that hits especially deep.

It’s not always easy to talk about who gets left out—even in a sport built on community. But this week’s feature does just that—with honesty, grit, and a whole lot of heart. If you’ve ever felt like the only one like you on the court, this one’s for you.

👋 And if you’re new around here? Welcome! Every Tuesday, we drop a newsletter packed with stories, the latest news, and tips for pickleballers of all backgrounds.
But today? Today’s for the women who play—and the mixed doubles partners who are smart enough to learn from them. Either way, you’re gonna want in on this one.

TIPS & TRICKS

How to Frustrate Bangers and Take Back Control

Power players want you to panic. Your job? Don’t. This guide walks you through how to outsmart bangers by dialing it back, with soft blocks, resets, and smart positioning that throw them off their game.

Here’s what Neil says to focus on:

  • Soft Block Like a Pro: Loosen your grip, angle the paddle, and absorb the pace—don’t return it.

  • Reset in the Chaos: In the transition zone, keep it low, stay calm, and drop it in the kitchen.

  • Survive Speed-Ups: Keep your paddle up, shorten your swing, and don’t flinch.

  • Win the Mental Game: Mix up tempo, lob when it’s least expected, and stay grounded at the kitchen line.

Because when they start swinging harder and you keep resetting like it’s no big deal? That’s when frustration takes over, and you take the point.


💡 Why It Matters: Learning to reset under pressure won’t just help your defense—it’ll change how you see the whole game.

PERSONAL OPINION

What It Means to Play When You Feel Like the Only One

For players living with invisible illness, chronic pain, or simply not fitting the mold, rec pickleball can be both healing and heartbreaking. This deeply personal piece captures the tension of showing up to courts where judgment, unsolicited advice, and exclusion still exist—and the quiet strength it takes to keep playing anyway. It’s about reclaiming movement, setting boundaries, and honoring the effort it takes just to be visible in spaces that weren’t built with you in mind.

It’s also a challenge to the rest of us. To stop assuming. To lead with empathy. To build courts where every kind of body and every kind of story belongs.


💡 Why It Matters: Inclusion starts with how we treat each other, and every player deserves to feel seen.

COMMUNITY

From Combat to Center Court: Twila Adams' Story of Strength

After a spinal cord injury left her paralyzed, Twila Adams began rebuilding from the ground up. Her path led from Army service to adaptive sports, and eventually to pickleball—a game that offered both freedom and community. She now plays several times a week, runs clinics, and shares her story across the country to inspire others to stay in the game.

From her Army service to her clinics, to her vibrant “It’s Called Pickleball, Y’all” content, Twila shows up with purpose. Her presence on and off the court is a reminder that strength isn’t about medals—it’s about how you show up for others.


💡 Why It Matters: Twila’s work is helping players of all backgrounds feel seen—and welcomed—in this sport and beyond.

  • Big Bucks, Bigger Growth 📈 The pickleball equipment market is projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2032, driven by rising play, smart paddles, and global expansion.

  • Pickleball on the Mall, Round 3 🇺🇸 The National Mall of Pickleball returns this September with 11 courts, clinics, and a search for America’s Ultimate Duo—all in the heart of D.C.

  • Too Many Balls, Not Enough Bins ♻️ With over 500 million pickleballs made each year, Pittsburgh players are stepping up to recycle cracked balls.

No More Rule Debates

Last week, I searched “Can I step into the kitchen if the ball bounces first?” using Ruley mid-match, and got the answer in seconds. This smart, no-nonsense app gives you instant rule clarifications right on your wrist.

Exclusively for our readers: Get 3 months free with code EMPOWER on Google Play/Android or the Apple App Store.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

Let’s talk about it—bad calls, shady line judgments, and that one player who “never saw it out.” Gina and Neil get real about cheaters in rec vs. tournament play, what to do when it keeps happening, and how humor (or silence) can be a strategy. Plus, why overruling your partner is a choice... and how some players keep their cool when the calls aren’t fair.

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

Okay Fine, I Need a Real Speaker

After a full week at the beach with zero speaker and way too many sad phone-in-a-cup moments, I came home and immediately started researching. The Boom 2 kept popping up, and now it’s sitting in my cart, just waiting for me to hit “purchase.”

It’s waterproof, floats, has a 24-hour battery, and apparently pumps out enough sound to cover a huge yard (or drown out a bad line call, maybe). Plus, a few pickleball players swear by it. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but honestly? I think this might be the one.