Why Cold Courts Are Costing You Points

Smart shot decisions, better warm-ups, and one reminder of why pickleball community still matters.

Author

Empower Pickleball
January 22, 2026

If you’re expecting my usual intro, this one’s a little different. If your algorithm feels stuck on repeat, same here. Same wins. Same headlines. Same conversations.

So we went in a different direction today. A few things you can use on the court, a few things to think about before you get there, and maybe a little nudge to actually show up and play.

TIPS & TRICKS

Why the Lob Might Be the Smartest Shot You’re Using Wrong

The lob gets a bad reputation in pickleball, and honestly, it’s earned it. Too often it shows up out of panic, habit, or frustration—not intention.

According to pro player and coach Gina Cilento, when a lob is used correctly, it can quietly change the momentum of a point. When it’s used poorly, it does more than cost you points. It can put your partner in a dangerous position.


💡 Why It Matters: The difference between a smart reset and a reckless lob isn’t the shot itself. It’s the intention behind it—and most players don’t think about that until something goes wrong.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Why Cold Courts Are Costing You Points

You know the feeling. You step onto the court, start hitting, and everything feels just a little off. Slow hands. Late feet. Shots you normally make suddenly don’t land.

When muscles and joints are cold, a few things start working against you:

  • Your reaction time slows

  • Your footwork gets sloppy

  • Your balance feels unreliable

  • Your body hesitates when it should react

Nothing’s technically wrong. You’re just playing worse than you should be.


💡 Why It Matters: Because five minutes of prep can change how your body moves for the entire game—especially in cold weather.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

How Pickleball Is Keeping Pets With Their Families

Pickleball for Paws started as a simple idea in South Florida: turn time on the court into something that actually helps people when life gets hard.

What began with one fundraiser has grown into a community effort led by Grace Lopez, connecting pickleball players with families facing impossible choices around pet care. Tournaments, merch, and events all point back to the same goal: keeping pets where they belong.


💡 Why It Matters: Because this is what pickleball does best. It brings people together, raises real money, and turns a game into support when it’s needed most.

  • Crushed Paddle Concerns Hit Local Courts ⚠️ Some players are raising alarms about delaminated paddles sending the ball off the face far faster than expected. Women and seniors say it’s starting to feel less like competitive play and more like a safety issue.

  • A Pickleball Program Creating Confidence for Neurodivergent Players 💙 A Georgia-based group is using pickleball to build skills, routine, and confidence for players with autism. With growing support and eyes on a Special Olympics pathway, the impact is already bigger than the court.

  • Big Money Backs Pickleball’s Growth 🚀 Selkirk Sport just landed a $30 million investment from Bluestone Equity Partners, as it looks to grow beyond the U.S. and scale what comes next for the sport.

The Court That Turns Your Backyard Into a Hotspot

Forget hot tubs and fire pits—a VersaCourt is the upgrade that actually gets used. The cushioned tiles stay cooler, protect your joints, and hold up game after game without the cracks and upkeep of concrete.

And it’s not just for pickleball. From basketball to shuffleboard, VersaCourt turns your space into a true neighborhood hangout—the kind of place where friends show up with paddles and kids stick around longer.

Exclusive for Empower Pickleball readers: Use code EMPOWER for 10% off Pickleball Performance Tiles.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

So, you have a discount code... but are you sponsored?

This week on Keeping it Real, Gina and Neil dive into the messy world of sports sponsorship. They break down the real difference between being an affiliate (getting perks) and a sponsored athlete (getting paid), and what brands are actually looking for.

They also tackle the "Ego of Attire." Does wearing the latest gear give you a mental edge, or is the "Adam Sandler aesthetic" the ultimate power move? Plus, a look at how ego affects sportsmanship when the game gets tight.

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

Are Pickleball Simulators the Next Big Thing?

This isn’t something that you can actually buy, but I’m already mentally bookmarking it. People love to compare pickleball to golf when it comes to culture, which made me wonder if simulators are next. Arcade-style games, ball tracking, and just enough competition to make it fun without needing a full court or a full commitment.

It’s built for clubs, hotels, gyms, and shared spaces—which means it’s only a matter of time before these start popping up. When they do, I’ll absolutely be dragging friends along to try it first.

See the simulator everyone’s talking about.