by Kelly Campbell
Happy Thanksgiving from TrackitHub!
As we begin to wind down for the year and celebrate with our friends and families, there’s no better time to reflect on everything we’re grateful for at TrackitHub.
We hope your holiday is filled with good food, good health, quality time with family and friends, and a pickleball match (or two). Thank you for supporting us all year long.
So, let’s celebrate with some dinks and drinks. This year, we’re thankful for….
Pickleball (Duh)
It’s an obvious one, but our love for the game itself fuels us and brings so much joy and purpose into our lives. Most notably, we’re grateful for pickleball’s accessibility, health benefits, and ability to foster joy and connection for everyone. We are thankful that something we love so much is also so good for us. Inclusivity and accessibility are also at the top of our gratitude list––pickleball is for everyone and has always brought people together. Pickleball keeps us both physically and mentally healthy. We know that it combats depression, improves mental health, and lowers our risk for disease. Having such positive effects stem from our favorite hobby is truly special.
The Pickleball Community
We’re thankful for all of you, and every pickler in our community. The pickleball community is an unrivaled sports group. We don’t know of a sports circle that’s closer or more dedicated than ours––especially considering how recently it was that pickleball came to the mainstream. Our community is exponentially growing as pickleball does, and we’re so excited about all of the new advancements and fun that current and future pickleball players will bring to the mix.
Perhaps what makes us stand out most is our creativity––here are some of our favorite displays of pickleball imagination from the pickleball community:
- Pickleball Corner (Etsy shop)
- The Dink Shop (Etsy)
- Dink Dink Smash (Etsy)
- The Pickleball Card Game
- Pickleball Party Ideas: How to Throw An Event for Picklers
Professional Pickleball Level-Ups
As the sport grows, so does the legitimacy of professional pickleball. As we know, improvements to professional pickleball are not only great for athletes but for overall viewership. Getting an invested following is key to propelling professional pickleball forward to be on par with the other main sports in the country. Whether via new software or new partnerships, here are some of the most notable recent professional pickleball developments/discussions:
- MLP + PPA merge
- Pickleball business
- Drake and Michael B. Jordan Invest in Pickleball Team, Joining Celebs Like LeBron James and Tom Brady
Recreational Pickleball Growth
Because pickleball is so accessible and affordable, it has quickly become a favored hobby among many. Even though professional pickleball is growing in intensity, with fiercer and fiercer competition and more legitimate technological advancements, recreational casual pickleball is also growing at an incredible rate. You don’t need to be a professional athlete to get involved in pickleball, and many even market pickleball as more than a sport and more than exercise, but for pure fun. That’s why we’ve seen such a drastic increase in pickleball entertainment facilities, television programs, celebrity competitions, and more ways that pair pickleball with pure fun. Trade (or add to) your early morning matches––keep these in mind for your next night off:
- Chicken N Pickle
- NYC Central Park welcomes massive pickleball venue
- Swimply pool rental adds pickleball offering
- Upcoming pickleball reality tv show
- Pickleball courts take over malls
- Indoor pickleball facilities
Pickleball in the Press
With pickleball, any pickleball press is good press. Compared to the biggest sports in the country, pickleball still has a way to go before it’s considered one of the top core sports. Because it’s still relatively new, we’re excited by any pickleball mention in the mainstream press. Talking about pickleball is the best way to ensure everyone knows not only what the sport is, but how easy it is to get involved. Any time pickleball makes headlines, it’s engaging with even more untapped potential of new dinking recruits, and 2023 has been a big year for pickleball headlines. Here are some of our favorite pickleball news stories this year that help put pickleball on the map:
- PPA and MLP Merger (and breakup) (and merger again)
- Pickleballers and parents clashed at a NYC park. Now the sport’s banned.
- Paddle Problems: PPA Tour Disqualification Prompts Discussion for Paddle Test Transparency
- CELSIUS Hosts Backyard Pickleball Tournament
- The Association of Pickleball Players Names Partake Brewing as Official Non-Alcoholic Beer Partner
- ‘Golden Bachelor’ recap: Gerry plays pickleball, gets to the bottom of drama in the mansion
Pickleball for Good
We’re grateful that the pickleball can and has been utilized to raise money for good causes. Knowing that our dinking obsessions can fuel change and is one of the most rewarding experiences. Check out some of these 2023 pickleball charity events that are putting dollar signs with dinks for charity:
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