7 Pickleball Recovery Methods Ranked From Worst to Best
Not every pickleball recovery tool earns its price tag. This tier list ranks seven methods from alcohol to sleep so you know where to spend your time and money.
Read at The Dink ↗Our stories and guides, plus the latest from around pickleball, in one place.

Selkirk's Boomstik ST goes on sale November 10 for $350, and The Dink is running a free contest for three of the paddles. Here is what was announced and how entries work.
November 5, 2026 · Vara Performance · Source: The DinkNot every pickleball recovery tool earns its price tag. This tier list ranks seven methods from alcohol to sleep so you know where to spend your time and money.
Read at The Dink ↗Pickleball endurance is less about long-distance running and more about recovering between short bursts while keeping your legs, footwork, and decision-making sharp. A smart plan combines brisk walking intervals, lower-body strength, and short court-movement drills so your third game still looks like your first. You probably don’t need to become a runner. You need to
Read at Pickleball Union ↗In pickleball’s transition zone, don’t reset automatically. If the ball is low or you’re off balance, stay soft. If it sits up and you’re stable, a compact drive can create pressure and a weaker next ball. The key is attacking selectively—not turning every transition ball into a firefight. James Ignatowich has a useful correction for
Read at Pickleball Union ↗Ben Johns has started using left-handed forehands in singles, giving him extra reach and another attacking option. For rec players, switching hands can help on wide balls or in singles—but only if the transfer is automatic. Build a solid backhand first, then treat the second forehand as a specialty weapon. Ben Johns did something at
Read at Pickleball Union ↗The Hyper+ elongated 14mm and 16mm models lost their certification after retail samples failed subsequent compliance testing. CPX has acknowledged the issue and announced plans for a revised paddle.
Read at The Dink ↗Right-handed Ben Johns hit a series of lefty forehands against Brandon French at PPA Worlds. In a post-match interview he tied the habit to his tennis days, when he liked having two forehands.
Vara Performance · Source: The DinkTaking the third shot early means making contact right after the bounce, before your opponents settle at the kitchen line. Here is how to do it with a low drop or a 50 percent drive.
Read at The Dink ↗The drop step is the first move that saves you when opponents target your feet during dink rallies. Here is how to split step, drop step, and adjust to any dink.
Read at The Dink ↗One pickleball tip can save you years of frustration, and these three cover court geometry, the transition zone, and the kitchen line. Learn what to cover, how to move, and when to step back or lean in.
Read at The Dink ↗The swinging volley is how you turn a good third shot into a won point instead of watching the pop up float by. Here is the three-step process for recognizing the moment, sneaking in, and finishing with a short, controlled swing.
Read at The Dink ↗The best way to win a pickleball hands battle is to get the ball back over the net, not down at your opponent's feet. These six habits and drills show you how to out-last hard hitters without swinging harder.
Read at The Dink ↗Pickleball tempo is the flow of the ball to your paddle, and rushing it causes more misses than bad technique. Learn how to find your rhythm, protect your contact point, and build awareness at every level.
Read at The Dink ↗Want to stop missing in pickleball? PPA pro Ashley Griffith breaks down simple adjustments for the drive, drop, dink, volley, serve, and return. Pick one and fix it in your next session.
Read at The Dink ↗Screaming in pickleball isn’t automatically bad etiquette or a distraction. The key is timing and direction: celebrate toward yourself or your partner, not at opponents. If noise disrupts an opponent during play, it can cross into distraction. For rec players, the best rule is simple: bring energy without making the game about you. Professional pickleball
Read at Pickleball Union ↗What USA Pickleball, the pro tours and the labs actually test on a pickleball paddle, from the PBCoR power limit to the new 2,100 RPM spin test.
Read at Pickleball Union ↗A better forehand speed-up starts before contact. A small grip adjustment, contact out in front, forward momentum, and a compact brushing motion can add spin and pace without forcing the shot. The key is to attack with control, then recover your grip immediately for the counter. We love watching Gabe Tardio speed up a forehand.
Read at Pickleball Union ↗Selkirk's Rob Barnes says the wide body paddle is statistically great but sells eight to one in favor of elongated shapes. Here is what that means for hybrids, the Boomstik, the Omni, and your next paddle.
Read at The Dink ↗Only have two hours a week to improve your pickleball game? Here's exactly how a PPA pro would spend every minute, from kitchen drills and resets to competitive match play
Read at The Dink ↗The 2026 Opendoor Pickleball World Championships run November 2–8 in Farmers Branch, Texas, with 3,000 ranking points for each champion. Here are the key matchups, the TV plan and what it means for rec players.
Vara Performance · Source: The DinkTeam USA beat Latin America 3-0 in the final of the first MLP Nations Cup, held in Farmers Branch, Texas. Eight regional teams took part, and many international players got their MLP debut.
Vara Performance · Source: The DinkCourt Health 5 reasons, 4 minute read Tired feet by game three? Change the insole before the shoe. Why more pickleball players are swapping the foam their court shoes came with, and the insole our reviewers keep in every pair. 4.75/5Pickleball Union review score 18 mo.in our reviewer’s shoes 3arch profiles Get 20% off →
Read at Pickleball Union ↗Cold weather changes both your body and your gear. Below about 50°F (10°C), pickleballs become more brittle, muscles take longer to warm, and hand control can suffer. Warm up longer, keep moving between games, store paddles and balls indoors, protect your hands, and adjust your touch as temperatures drop. You know that first cold-weather game
Read at Pickleball Union ↗Watch a pickleball paddle get built, step by step: cold press vs thermoformed side by side, plus every era from 1965 plywood to 2025 full foam.
Read at Pickleball Union ↗