New Year, New Rules—But Are You Playing Smarter?

VKTRY: Performance Insoles
Hope Health and Wellness: Comprehensive Health Solutions
GAMMA: High Performance Paddles
Natural Action™: Water, the Way Nature Intended
LifeWave: Elevate, Activate, Regenerate

Hey, it’s Bob. Two quick updates:

1) I’ll be at the registration desk for the Pickle for Police event at Patch Reef Park next weekend, raffling off a brand‑new $289 paddle and handing out $50 OFF coupons for elite performance paddles from one of the top companies in the country. Swing by, say hello, and grab some gear perks while you’re there.

2) Check out the sponsor spotlight below to see which tools can actually elevate your game.

In today’s issue:

P.S. Enjoy my newsletter? Want to give me a belated New Year’s gift? Move this email to your primary inbox and click any link inside :)

2026 USA Pickleball rules are live—no big changes for rec players. Just clearer line calls, stricter sportsmanship from warm-up on, and smoother rally scoring so the receiving team can close games. In this article I cover the few tweaks that actually impact rec play. Read it now to keep things fair and frustration-free.

I’m 78 years old and play pickleball 4–5 days a week. I feel good, I stay active, and I love the game—but a recent video made me question whether pickleball alone is really preparing us to keep playing well as we age. The answer isn’t more work—it’s smarter work. Here’s what stood out.

The new coed Pinnacle Pickleball League plays on Monday afternoons. Our mission is to promote fun, integrity, charity and camaraderie on and off the court.  Contact  Robin Warner or Nancy Vitoff.

If you’ve ever tried a “pro” pickleball strategy that sounded smart—but fell apart the moment the rally got real—you’re not alone. In this article, I explain why so much professional advice doesn’t translate to recreational play, and what actually works instead.

Major pickleball organizations say fake paddles are a threat. Players say the real threat is sky‑high prices. Who’s right? Read the controversy inside.

The Grass Grows Where I Am is a powerful collection of stories that reminds us that growth is possible exactly where you stand. Through the voices of 18 inspiring co-authors, the book explores the four pillars of worthiness, resilience, enlightenment, and wisdom. Each chapter offers an honest reflection on healing, growth, strength, and self-discovery by uncovering real solutions born from real-life challenges to empower and inspire you on your journey. Together, these stories invite you the readers to reconnect with your own inner truth and continue to step forward with deeper passion, purpose, compassion and love. 

For a limited time, starting on Monday January 19th, our book will be available on Amazon for only $1.99. 

Pro pickleball star Collin Johns breaks down his go-to forehand open-stance bunt drop in a slick Instagram reel, showing how precise footwork, a stable open stance, and minimal swing make this shot ultra-consistent at the highest levels. It looks simple and effective—until you try it at the 3.0–3.5 rec level and realize the advanced details can actually hurt more than help by causing overthinking and inconsistency.

In my article, "The Open-Stance Bunt Drop: Pro-Level Insight or Overkill for Recreational Players?", I explain why this pro technique often backfires for everyday players. Read the full piece here to stop chasing pro perfection and start winning more points with simpler, higher-percentage play.

And if you're ready to bridge the gap between pro strategies and real-world rec results, grab my ebook Why Pro Pickleball Strategy Fails Recreational Players and How to Turn Pro Concepts Into High-Percentage Play. What pro tip has tripped you up the most?

Our newsletter sponsors offer practical solutions to help you play better, stay healthier, and enjoy the court longer.

VKTRY Performance Insoles provide carbon-fiber energy return, stability, and shock absorption for quicker moves and less fatigue or injury.

GAMMA High Performance Paddles deliver control, power, and spin with durable designs suited for rec players looking to advance their game.

Natural Action™ Structured Water devices improve hydration, boosting stamina, focus, and faster recovery during long sessions.

LifeWave Patches support energy, flexibility, and quicker recovery through non-invasive phototherapy—no drugs needed.

Hope Health and Wellness offers chiropractic, medical, and PT care to treat and prevent common pickleball aches, such as joint or back pain.

Supporting these brands keeps the newsletter free while giving you real edges on and off the court. Thanks for checking them out!

Most players treat the serve as a formality—just something to get the point started. In this article, Steven Schnitzer argues that the serve is actually the first psychological negotiation of the rally, where control, intention, and perception quietly shape everything that follows. From routines and returner reads to conditioning and “mental aces,” this piece will change how you think about the very first shot.

Read “The Psychology of Serving” and see why the serve is never just a serve.

The Boca Open will take place February 26 through March 1, 2026, at Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton. REGISTER HERE.

On Thursday night, Feb 26, is the Ivan Lendl Charity Pickleball Exhibition to support Ivan's charity, the Adaptive Sports Program. To attend and/or donate to this great cause, CLICK HERE.

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1. Optimize Your Body & Gear:

Playing four to five times a week has taught me one thing: your body and your gear either work for you or against you. VKTRY insoles give me the explosive first step I rely on, and my GAMMA paddle keeps my shots sharp and consistent. Off the court, Natural Action keeps me hydrated, Hope Health and Wellness keeps my system balanced, and LifeWave gives me the recovery boost I need to show up strong the next day. If you’re serious about leveling up, start giving your body the same support—your game will feel completely different.

2. Optimize Your Game IQ:

Great gear gets you to the ball; great strategy tells you what to do with it. If you haven't downloaded them yet, I have five ebooks designed to get you unstuck:

Until next time…

—Bob