Contents
VOLUME 11 / ISSUE 3 MAY / JUNE 2026
DEPARTMENTS
8 Publisher’ s Playbook 10 Editor’ s Letter 12 Dinks:
14 Rules Ref Glenn Jordan Answers Your Questions
16 Sweet Spot: The Hottest Finds in Pickleball by Kate Mohns
FEATURES
26
Gold Standard in Naples
Record crowds and elite play highlight the 10-year milestone for the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships. By Drew Wathey
22 Destination Pickleball: Rancho Valencia by Laura Gainor
54 In the Club: Pickleball Hits Boston Big by Drew Wathey
58 Equipment Reviews by Jack Bandel
62 In the Kitchen: Master the Mental Game with Food by Brandi Givens, RD, CPT
40
US Open Pickleball Championships Results
64 PRO-file: Behind the Scenes with Ignacio de Elia by Alice Tym
46
Rallying Against Parkinson’ s The fastest-growing sport is giving patients a competitive edge in their fight. By Matthew Schwartz
INSTRUCTION
18 The Fourth Shot: The Returner’ s Advantage— And Why Most Players Waste It by Kyle McMakin
50
A New Era of Pickleball Entertainment
Pickleball Slam 4 highlights the sport’ s rapid rise, as ESPN features tennis greats and pickleball’ s brightest star sharing the court in a high-energy event at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. By Drew Wathey
24 Five Ball Machine Drills to Improve Your Accuracy by Alice Tym
56 Tips to Beat the Yips by Wendy L. Gilpin
60 Beyond YouTube: Playing the Game That Fits by Brian McMahon
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