Contents
VOLUME 9 / ISSUE 4 JULY / AUGUST 2024
Roger
BelAir alongside San Quentin State Prison Public Information Officer Lt . Guim ’ Mara Berry , surrounded by incarcerated individuals and another prison staff member . They had all just learned about the fine points of pickleball from Roger . Photo by Kim Komenich . Copyright by and courtesy of Pickleball in Prison , LLC 2024 . All Rights Reserved .
28 features
28 Pickleball Breaks Out in Prisons
Roger BelAir teaches pickleball in some of the most wellknown gated communities — maximum security prisons , that is . San Quentin , Folsom State Prison and California State Prison in Sacramento to name a few . Hollywood filmmaker Daniel Ostroff has been working on a powerful documentary , “ Pickleball in Prison™ ,” which chronicles Roger ’ s journey and how the game is reducing violence , improving communications , and boosting morale among the incarcerated . By Steve Kettmann
34
Hot Shots
Only two players in pickleball ’ s 60-year history have developed a shot so unique , so difficult and so bold that the sport has established shots named for them . By Matthew Schwartz
38 Super DUPR Girl
Meet Aline Morales , 13 , from Zihuatanejo , Mexico . Be afraid , pickleball world . Be very afraid . By Rick Cipes
DEPARTMENTS
8 Publisher ’ s Playbook 16 Dinks : What ’ s News in Pickleball 18 Rules Guru Answers Your Questions by
Bob Unetich 20 In the Club : Center Court Pickleball by
Drew Wathey 22 PRO-file : Behind the Scenes with Jorja Johnson by
Alice Tym
26 Destination Pickleball : Luray , Virginia – Pickleball Paradise and Cavernous Adventures by Laura Gainor
72 Planet Pickleball : News from the Global
Pickleball Community 78 Paddle Reviews by Jack Bandel 80 Ask the Pickleball Doctor : So Long , Knee Pain ! by
Dr . Noe Sariban 84 In the Kitchen with Brandi : Before and After — Drive
Your Game with Food by Brandi Givens , RD 88 Sweet Spot : The Hottest Finds in Pickleball by
Kate Mohns
FROM USA PICKLEBALL
10 Message from USA Pickleball CEO Mike Nealy 52 Drop Shots 54 The Scoop 56 Feature : Get Into the Game : New Champion
Membership Benefits 58 Community Highlights 60 Recently Approved Equipment 62 Referee Corner : What it Takes to Become a USA
Pickleball Referee 64 Calendar : Upcoming Sanctioned Events
INSTRUCTION
24 Striking with a Smooth and Fluid Swing by Kyle McMakin
46 10 Ways to Become a More Effective Pickleball Player by Alice Tym
68 Get Ready for Your First Pickleball Tournament ! by Christine Barksdale
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