What a Top Ref Wants Every Player to Know đź‘€

Resets, reps, and real lessons from the court—three reads every player should see.

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Empower Pickleball
September 04, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

The APP Chicago Open wrapped up this weekend, and a few of our team were on-site. Word is, it was a great event — with a surprise cameo from NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens (pretty cool if you’re into football). What’s even cooler to us? Lee Whitwell just joined the very exclusive Women’s APP Champions Tour (50+) Triple Crown Club by sweeping all three events. Only Julie Johnson and Beth Bellamy are in that club.

I also sat down with someone at the Chicago Open—not as a player, but with a story worth telling. You’ll find that feature below.

New here? Quick heads-up: Empower Pickleball publishes two newsletters each week—Tuesday’s All-Player Edition (for everyone) and today’s Women’s Edition (female-forward, practical, and unapologetically us).

On to the good stuff…

TIPS & TRICKS

Tired of Getting Smashed? Here’s the Fix

Facing a “banger” can feel like nonstop defense—every shot is a rock coming at your chest. The key isn’t to out-hit them, it’s to change the tempo.

Try this instead:

  • Absorb the pace and reset into the kitchen

  • Mix in dinks and soft drops to force patience

  • Keep your paddle up at 11 o’clock for protection


đź’ˇ Why It Matters: Slowing the game down frustrates aggressive players and puts you back in control.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Fastest Upgrade You Can Make Isn’t in Your Bag

The newest paddle won’t erase old habits. Repetition will. Drills might feel tedious compared to open play, but they’re where the real upgrades happen. With enough reps, your brain starts spotting patterns sooner and your body can deliver cleaner shots without hesitation. That’s when a third-shot drop stops feeling fragile and starts feeling automatic.

The trick is variety inside the repetition—changing targets, speeds, or challenges so your brain is practicing decisions, not just motions. It’s not glamorous, but when the score is tight and your hands stay steady, you’ll know why the boring work mattered.


đź’ˇ Why It Matters: Repetition hardwires your game so you can stay calm when the score isn’t.

COMMUNITY

Inside the Mind of a Pickleball Referee: Lessons from the Best

If you’ve played a tournament on the East Coast, chances are Diane Unetich has called your match. She’s worked thousands of them — from small, local tournaments to center court at the US Open — with the calm precision that makes a tough call stick.

What makes Diane stand out isn’t just her experience, though. It’s the way she approaches the role: disciplined, fair, and quietly funny. For her, refereeing isn’t about being the story of the match. It’s about keeping the game moving, teaching new officials, and reminding players that refs are part of the community too.


đź’ˇ Why It Matters: Respecting referees means better matches and a stronger community.

  • Pickleball is Safe for Overweight Players đź©ş A Saint Louis University study found higher BMI doesn’t increase injury risk in pickleball, making it a safe option for weight control and activity.

  • MLP Finals Break Records đź“ş This year’s Major League Pickleball finals drew 433K viewers on CBS, making it the second-most watched pro pickleball match ever.

  • Women Rewriting Sports Media đź‘©â€ŤđźŽ¤ From podcasts to NFL partnerships, more women are shaping how sports are covered—blending game talk with lifestyle, fashion, and design to create inclusive spaces for fans.

Engage Just Changed the Paddle Game

Control or power? Now you don’t have to pick. Engage just dropped their first Gen4 paddles — the Pursuit Alpha and the Alpha Pro — and they’re built to flip your game up a notch.

The Alpha gives you steady hands and killer speed. The Pro brings the boom with explosive drives and longer ball contact. Both pack Engage’s new tech (carbon frame, foam cushioning, unibody design) so they feel solid, smooth, and ready for whatever your opponents throw.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

Everyone remembers their first favorite sport—the one that had you practicing for hours in the driveway or backyard. In this episode, Gina and Neil reflect on the athletes and games that shaped them, and how those memories led to their love of pickleball.

It’s a reminder that beyond the serves, sideline stories, and competitive fire, pickleball is about joy—the kind that makes you feel like a kid again.

đź“ş Watch it on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Rub It On, Game Back On

I’ve been using Dobson’s Choice CBD balm for a few years now, and it’s become my go-to for aches and pains. I reach for it after long days on the court (and sometimes hand it to my SO when his foot starts acting up). Relief feels almost instant, and I love that it doesn’t leave any weird residue.

Their new twist-up stick is a game-changer — no mess, no oily hands, just a quick clean application right where you need it.

Perk for Empower readers: Use code EMPOWER at checkout for a first-purchase Buy One, Get One on both the jar and the stick. Just remember to hit the orange Apply button.