Pickleball may not have the same level of recognition as traditional racquet sports like tennis or badminton, but it is a rapidly growing sport. And for Kelly Stroble, it’s been a path to pro success.

Stroble didn’t come to pickleball in the typical way. Instead of years playing tennis or racquetball, she came from a softball background. But after being introduced to the sport by a friend, Stroble quickly fell in love with pickleball’s fast-paced, team-oriented gameplay.

Stroble’s commitment to the sport paid off in a big way. After only a few years of playing, she made it to the US Open, an event held annually in Naples, Florida that attracts the best pickleball players from around the world.

Part of what makes pickleball so appealing is the inclusive and supportive nature of its community. Stroble speaks highly of the other pro players, saying “we’re all friends at the end of the day.” And while it’s a relatively new sport, it’s one that’s growing quickly, with more and more players and fans joining the community every year.

Stroble has also been fortunate enough to have great partnerships with sponsors like Engage Pickleball and Civil E Apparel. These partnerships have helped her excel in the sport, providing her with the tools and support she needs to be a top player.

Overall, Stroble’s story is a testament to the power of dedication and hard work. Even without a traditional racquet sport background, she was able to become a pro player in a growing and competitive sport. And it’s clear that she’s not done yet – Stroble has already set her sights on even bigger accomplishments in the future.

Advertisement

Links:

• Engage Pickleball: https://engagepickleball.com/
• Civil E Apparel: https://www.civileapparel.com/

For more news on pickleball, check out Sleeve’s Senior Pickleball Report.https://stmdailynews.com/sleeves-senior-pickleball-report/

NAPLES, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — Pickleball4America™ (“Pickle4™”), a dynamic and rapidly emerging organization committed to creating new and enhanced experiences for professional and amateur pickleball players, made a series of announcements today around their newly created Ballpark Series™ that will be held this July and August on three weekends at Fenway Park (Boston – 7/13 to 7/16), Oracle Park (San Francisco – 7/20 to 7/23) and Coors Field (Denver – 8/3 to 8/6). Combined with their existing asset – the US Open Pickleball Championships, the sports biggest event – the unveiling of the Ballpark Series establishes Pickleball4America as a leader in hosting major and iconic events at a national level.

“We started Pickleball4America with a vision to build the sport’s best ecosystem centered around operating prestigious events and creating a robust digital community that becomes the go-to destination for all who love the game,” said Mike Dee, Chairman of Pickleball4America. “The Ballpark Series builds on the recent success of the 2023 US Open Pickleball Championships which set new records for both participation and attendance.  We are excited to now expand our event portfolio in these cathedrals of baseball providing players and fans with a unique experience to enjoy all that pickleball has to offer. Our goal is to shine a bright light on this great game.”

Players will need to register for the opportunity to purchase court reservations and/or participate in the competition.Tweet

Amateur players can participate in the Ballpark Series two different ways.  The first will be to reserve court time for an 80-minute session for up to ten players.  In addition, for those amateurs who want to compete for an inaugural Ballpark Series medal, there will be doubles championships at skill levels 3.5 and up.  In anticipation of high demand, players will need to register for the opportunity to purchase court reservations and/or participate in the amateur competition.   For more details please visit redsox.com/pickleball for Boston, sfgiants.com/pickleball for San Francisco and rockies.com/pickleball for Denver.  Registration for Boston and San Francisco opens today, Thursday, June 1.  Denver registration will go live in early June. 

All sessions will be open for fans to purchase general admission tickets. 

For more details, please visit the team web sites highlighted above or Pickle4.com.

About Pickleball4America

Advertisement

Pickleball4America, founded in 2022, is focused on developing an ecosystem around America’s fastest growing sport, including events and digital content, commerce and community. In 2023, Pickleball4America closed its initial round of funding, merged with the US Open Pickleball Championships® and launched the Ballpark Series, which is bringing more playing opportunities to amateurs and professionals in iconic venues across the U.S.  

Join the Movement™

SOURCE Pickleball for America, Inc.

Indoor Pickleball Concept to Take Over Vacant Mall Spaces, Backed by Billionaire Financier Steve Kuhn

TEMPE, Ariz. /PRNewswire/ — Picklemall, an innovative modular indoor pickleball concept, will debut its first U.S. location in Tempe, Arizona in July 2023.

Picklemall, an innovative indoor pickleball concept, will open 50 U.S. locations in 24 months, including Tempe in July.Tweet

The Arizona Mills location will be the first of dozens for the rapidly-expanding concept, which anticipates opening 50 nationwide locations in the next 24 months.

Led by CEO West Shaw and backed by pickleball enthusiast, billionaire financier and Major League Pickleball founder Steve Kuhn, Picklemall will pop up in several additional U.S. communities in the coming months, including Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Madison and Bentonville, Arkansas.

Picklemall’s ambitious expansion plan, combined with the tremendous capital backing of Kuhn and a roster of notable investors, aims to dramatically reduce game wait times while quickly increasing the standard for championship-style pickleball courts in the U.S.

Picklemall will be driven by technology to improve efficiency of the player experience. Available on Android and iOS in the coming months, Picklemall will launch an app to make scheduling a pickleball game, recording your performance and enhancing your skills as easy as possible.

Players will use the Picklemall app to reserve their court, set a playtime and unlock the door to the Picklemall experience. Inside the court, gameplay will be recorded by a camera, giving players the ability to watch, analyze and learn from their game footage in real time.

Advertisement

Picklemall will strictly focus on the reuse of existing indoor mall and strip mall properties, bringing new life into vacant spaces. Picklemall will provide convenience, climate control and consistent competition for amateur and professional pickleballers to take their game to the next level, no matter the season.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., experiencing 35% growth from August 2022 to March 2023, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. With demand outpacing current pickleball infrastructure growth, pickleball-obsessed players are consistently displaced and experience long wait times for a limited number of courts.

Once popular at retirement communities and with 55+ demographics, today 72% of avid pickleball players are between the ages of 18 and 44.

“Pickleball is truly the Benjamin Button of sports,” Kuhn said. “Every year, the demographics for the sport get younger and younger. Pickleball has the opportunity to cross the barriers that divide us — age, race, class — to foster togetherness and spread joy to the communities in which Picklemall will reside. That starts with getting creative about location, and the future of pickleball is indoors.”

Picklemall’s facilities will be open to leagues, clinics, open play, tournaments and drop-in games. The Picklemall Pro Shop, available inside each Picklemall location, will feature Picklemall-branded merchandise and professional pickleball equipment from premier facility partner JOOLA USA. The facility will also include options for equipment rental.

To stay up to date on Picklemall’s progress at Arizona Mills and the concept’s rapid U.S. expansion, like the business on Instagram or visit www.thepicklemall.com.

Advertisement

About Picklemall 
We know firsthand the hunger, dedication, and love that pickleball players have for the game. That’s why we’ve created a welcoming, high-quality indoor facility that offers a consistent and unparalleled experience for avid players across the nation. With best-in-class facilities featuring climate control, thoughtfully spaced courts, professional surfaces, and automated content capture at every court, we offer everything that serious competitive players and social rec regulars alike need to improve their skills, stay active, build community and have fun. To learn more, visit www.thepicklemall.com.

SOURCE Picklemall