Why Most Players Stay Stuck at 3.5

A quick reset on your game, the women behind the sport, and a few things worth trying this month.

Author

Empower Pickleball
April 02, 2026

April is National Pickleball Month, which basically just means everyone has an official excuse to play even more.

If you’ve been thinking about trying a new place to play, signing up for a tournament, or dragging a friend into their first game, this is the time to do it. There are events popping up all month through USA Pickleball.

It’s a nice reminder of how quickly this whole thing keeps growing.

So we’ve got a mix today—ways to get better, a few things worth paying attention to, and one story that shows how the sport got here in the first place... with a little help from the women behind it. 😉

TIPS & TRICKS

Why Most Players Stay Stuck at 3.5

A lot of players think getting to 4.0 is about playing more or hitting harder. It’s not.

Most 3.5 players are stuck because they repeat the same habits every time they step on the court: rushing points, forcing speed-ups, and playing without a real plan.

The difference at 4.0 shows up in discipline, patience, and knowing when not to attack.

💡 Why It Matters: Small mistakes add up fast. Cleaning those up is what really moves you forward.

PICKLEBALL GUIDE

The Basics Every Pickleball Player Should Know

Most players don’t think they need a refresher on the basics.

But missed serves, bad positioning, and simple rule mistakes still show up all the time—especially when things speed up.

This is a quick reset on the fundamentals, from the two-bounce rule to where you should be on the court.

💡 Why It Matters: Small mistakes are usually what cost you points.

👉 Brush up on the basics you might be overlooking.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Women Who Actually Built Pickleball

Pickleball didn’t grow because people just kept playing.

It grew because someone made it easier to find, easier to organize, and easier to scale.

The work didn’t happen on the court.

From building the first online hub to creating tournament systems and shaping governance, women have been behind many of the pieces that made the sport what it is today.

Most people don’t know those names.

💡 Why It Matters: The game you’re playing only works because someone built the systems behind it.

Most Paddles Look the Same. These Don’t.

Most paddles look the same.

ARTI is doing the opposite—leaning into bold, design-forward paddles that don’t just perform, but really look like something you’d want to carry onto the court.

They’re built with high-end materials for control, spin, and consistency, but what really stands out is the design. Each paddle feels intentional, not generic.

If you care about how you play and how your gear looks, this is one of the few brands doing both well.

👉 Shop ARTI paddles and use code EMPOWER30 for 30% off.

  • Weezer Hosted a Pickleball Tournament in LA 🎸 Weezer kicked off “The Gathering” with a surprise pickleball tournament at the Santa Monica Pickleball Center as part of their album and tour rollout.

  • Pickleball Scrimmage Brings Deaf and Hearing Players Together 🤟 A community in Minnesota hosted an inclusive pickleball scrimmage connecting Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing players—using movement, eye contact, and hand signals instead of relying on sound.

  • Pickleball Tournament Raises Over $250K for Parkinson’s 💙 A California nonprofit is using pickleball to fund Parkinson’s research, raising more than $250,000 through community tournaments inspired by one woman’s journey caring for her husband.

I Finally Get the Gummy Hype

The gummy supplement category is projected to hit $67B by 2031, and honestly… I get it.

I keep seeing Grüns everywhere lately, and after looking into them, it finally clicked.

They’re basically a daily greens + multivitamin in gummy form. Way easier than dealing with powders or a handful of pills.

What I like:

  • Low-sugar and sugar-free options

  • Covers a lot in one (greens, vitamins, gut health)

  • Actually something you’ll stick with

They’re not cheap, but for something you’ll take consistently, it feels worth it.

👉 Check out Grüns superfood gummies.

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.