Coastal Pickleball

In the news…

JOOLA files patent infringement litigation against 11 paddle brands to protect propulsion core technology The action was filed with the International Trade Commission (ITC) on Tuesday.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

A group of 12 high school students launched “Another Bounce” to tackle the growing problem of millions of discarded tennis and pickleballs ending up in landfills each year. They are collecting and recycling the balls into new materials and products, while also aiming to set a Guinness World Record for the most balls recycled. The group is advocating for long-term solutions, including take-back programs by major manufacturers to create a more sustainable, circular system. Their effort is also focused on raising awareness and inspiring broader environmental action. This article tells you how you can help in this effort.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Don’t assume the worst when your opponents call a ball out. Or when they get upset with you because you called it out. It’s all about perspective and for the most part players are honestly making the call.

Brené Brown Calls Out Pickleball Critics: "Mocking Pickleball? That’s a Tired 2021 Joke"

If you haven’t seen renowned researcher and storyteller Brené Brown weigh in on the ongoing Pickleball vs. Tennis debate at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX, it’s definitely worth watching.

As a passionate pickleball player who hits the court five times a week, Brown didn’t shy away from addressing the sport’s critics during a candid conversation with tennis legend Andy Roddick on a live episode of Served with Andy Roddick.

Discussing the backlash against pickleball—primarily from tennis players frustrated by the sport’s rapid rise and its takeover of tennis courts—Brown made her stance crystal clear.

“This is what I think about the criticism of pickleball: It’s unfunny, unkind, and rooted in the fear of seeming uncool,” Brown stated. “If you’re still making fun of pickleball, that’s a tired 2021 joke. Time to find some new material.”

We couldn’t agree more. But Brown wasn’t finished.

To further drive her point home, she shared a compelling story about a fictional 75-year-old woman named Ethel.

“Ethel, who’s 75, plays with a suction cup on her paddle so she doesn’t have to bend down. She wears double knee braces. And guess what? She might still wipe the floor with you,” Brown said. “She’s got a wicked topspin forehand that’ll send your return straight into the net. And the moment you finally manage to hit one back, she’ll bodybag you. Then, suddenly, you’ll see her for who she once was—a young athlete, the No. 1 seed at UCLA in the 1970s, someone who never thought she’d get to compete again. If you can’t respect that, well… # # you!”

Now that is one powerful argument.

Brown’s words perfectly capture why pickleball continues to thrive—and why it’s time for its critics to move on.



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