We All Know This Type of Pickleball Player

Footwork tips, pickleball personalities, and a festival that finally added the sport it was missing.

Author

Empower Pickleball
July 02, 2026

For the past 15 years, Pittsburgh has hosted one of the country's most unique festivals: Picklesburgh. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. Pickle-flavored food, pickle beer, pickle cocktails, pickle-eating contests... basically anything that can be turned into a pickle somehow ends up there.

But every year I've had the same thought: Where's the pickleball?

With more than 250,000 people attending the festival and an estimated 15,000 pickleball players in the Pittsburgh area, it always felt like the most obvious pairing imaginable.

Well, they finally figured it out.

This year's festival will feature newly painted pickleball courts just steps from the festivities, complete with a vibrant commissioned mural. And if that wasn't enough, Aslin Beer Co. is hosting a Pickle Ball afterparty with—you guessed it—even more pickleball.

If you're looking for a last-minute road trip, Pittsburgh might be the place to be July 16–19.

But first, we've got a few other things worth talking about.

TIPS & TRICKS

Stop Lunging at the Ball

Most players think better shots come from better paddle mechanics. Senior Pro Gina Cilento says they often start with something much simpler: your feet.

Lunging is one of the most common footwork mistakes in pickleball. It throws off your balance, changes your contact point, and makes it much harder to recover for the next shot. Instead of reaching, strong players move their feet first so they can stay balanced and in control.

One of Gina’s favorite reminders comes from pro Jill Braverman: “Let your feet beat the ball.”

💡 Why It Matters: Better footwork leads to better balance, more consistent shots, and faster recoveries.

👉 See why better footwork leads to better shots.

OPINION

Which Pickleball Player Are You?

Every open play has the same cast of characters.

You know them:

  • The player who turns every close call into a courtroom case

  • The one who somehow gives coaching advice after every missed shot

  • The “I’m not very good” player… who then beats everyone 11-2

And, if we’re being honest, you’ve probably been at least a few of them yourself.

💡 Why It Matters: Every pickleball community has its own personalities. They’re part of what makes open play memorable—and the reason you’ll probably leave with a story to tell.

Be honest... which personality are you?

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GEAR

Your Feet Take a Beating on the Court

This week, Gina talked about why better footwork leads to better shots. But all that stopping, planting, pivoting, and lunging also puts a lot of stress on your feet.

If you’ve ever finished a day on the courts with sore arches, aching heels, or tired feet, you’re not alone. While good court shoes matter, many players overlook the support inside them—and that can make a bigger difference than they realize.

💡 Why It Matters: Better movement starts from the ground up. Supporting your feet can help reduce fatigue, improve comfort, and keep you feeling stronger through every match.

👉 Learn what’s causing foot pain—and how to help prevent it.

COMMUNITY

Stephanie Lane Has Been Growing Pickleball Since 1988

Stephanie Lane was teaching pickleball decades before dedicated courts, pro tours, and packed tournaments became the norm.

Nearly 40 years later, she’s still sharing the game with anyone willing to pick up a paddle—from young children learning with balloons to adults finding confidence, friendships, and even moments of relief from illnesses like Parkinson’s disease.

💡 Why It Matters: Every thriving pickleball community has people quietly introducing new players to the sport. Stephanie has been doing exactly that for nearly 40 years, helping thousands of people experience the joy of the game.

Recovery Isn’t Just Physical

After a long day on the pickleball court, most of us think about recovery in terms of hydration, stretching, and rest. But taking care of your mind matters, too.

Founded by former anesthesiologist Dr. Liz Lehman, Aluminate Life creates doctor-developed, crystal-infused aromatherapy designed to support moments of Focus, Calm, Sleep, Energy, Release, and more. It’s a simple way to slow down and reset after a busy day—on or off the court.

Each product is hand-poured in the USA, vegan, cruelty-free, and made without phthalates or parabens.

👉 Shop the Signature Collection and save 25% with code PICKLE25.

  • Pickleball Is Becoming Part of America's Story 🇺🇸 ESPN included the US Open Pickleball Championships as one of the stops on its America250 road trip, calling pickleball one of the country's most welcoming and multigenerational sports.

  • Floating Pickleball? 🌊 A community in North Miami just unveiled what it says is the first floating pickleball court at a residential property. The custom court sits on the community's seven-acre Crystal Lagoon.

  • From College Club to National Champion 🎓 JMU graduate Ryan Morneau leaves college as the nation's No. 1-ranked collegiate pickleball player, the first collegiate singles national champion, and someone who helped grow JMU's club into a nationally recognized program.

Inside Pro Pickleball Through Two Different Lenses

What does a Major League Pickleball weekend look like from the perspective of a pro player… and a content creator?

This week on 99% Pickleball, Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado break down a packed Major League Pickleball weekend, covering Mari’s recent trade, the fan experience at MLP, standout moments from the weekend, and a few of their biggest pickleball pet peeves.

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

Okay… I Get the Hype Now

I’ll admit it—I used to roll my eyes a little whenever someone recommended a CBD cream. It felt like one of those products people swore by, but I wasn’t convinced.

Then I tried Aina Organics. Their topical relief cream combines hemp-derived CBD (zero THC) with ingredients like arnica, noni leaf, kukui nut oil, and Hawaiian chili pepper to help soothe sore muscles after long days on the court.

I’m always looking for ways to ease the post-match soreness after I get off the court, and this has become one of those products I find myself reaching for.

👉 Use code EMPOWER10 to save 10% on your first order.

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.