Mark Your Pickleball Calendars

One of the biggest weeks in pickleball is almost here, and you won't want to miss out on any of the action.

📍 The biggest week in pickleball

👀 There's a new tennis star in town

💪 Hit the ground running this weekend

🔥 Play of the day

The Ultimate Week Of Pickleball

One of the biggest weeks in pickleball starts August 5th, so here's what you need to know to keep up with all the action.

|PPA Selkirk Kansas City Open

After more than a month-long hiatus, the PPA is back with one of the most anticipated events of the season. Nearly 1000 players are gearing up to compete, including rising star Quang Duong and recently ranked #1 men's doubles player in the world, Dylan Frazier. All eyes will be on Frazier as he looks to defend his title from its previous holder, Ben Johns.

Selkirk is the title sponsor of the Kansas City Open, which means you can expect gear giveaways and real-time updates as the action unfolds. Play starts August 7th, and you can catch all the live action on the Selkirk TV app. Download it here.

|National Pickleball Day

Join us in celebrating National Pickleball Day on August 8th! For 24 hours only, we're giving you 4 free Pro S1 Pickleballs when you purchase any paddle on our site. In addition to a free gift, we'll match every paddle purchase with a paddle donation to PHIT America, a charity championing physical activity for future generations. Mark your calendars and don't miss out on the pickleball celebration of the year!

|PickleCon 2024

In addition to hosting a PPA tournament, Kansas City is the site of the inaugural PickleCon pickleball convention, a 3-day event featuring over 65 indoor pickleball courts, top vendors in the industry, and endless ways to participate. This is the first pickleball convention of its kind, and a must-see event if you're in the area August 8-11. You can find tickets here.

Former Tennis Star John Isner Finds New Pickleball Home

Less than a year after his official tennis retirement, John Isner is back on the court—this time as an official member of Team Selkirk.

Isner, who was ranked No. 8 in singles and No. 14 in doubles by the Association of Tennis Professionals, is celebrated as one of the most powerful servers in tennis history. He now brings his passion for racket sports into the rapidly growing world of pickleball.

Although Isner doesn't plan to compete regularly on the professional pickleball circuit, he's excited to engage with fans and fellow players through various pickleball exhibitions and special events, including the upcoming Pickle 'n Pucks event co-hosted by the PPA and NHL.

New Training + Pickleball Tips

Put Bad Line Calls To Bed

⏰ Watch time: 4m 02s

Weapons To Shut Bangers Down

⏰ Watch time: 3m 25s

Move More Efficiently Like This

⏰ Watch time: 3m 47s

Escape The Transition Zone

More affectionately called "no man's land," the transition zone is one of the most difficult places to navigate. Players who get stuck between the baseline and the kitchen line have a harder time taking balls out of the air and often continue to get pushed back into a disadvantageous position.

The trick to navigating the transition zone is to give yourself time. Slow the pace of play down by shortening your backswing and focusing on low dinks. Though you may have the runway to take a larger backswing because you're further back in the court, your target shot should be a reset dink inside the kitchen and close to the net. Additionally, you want to keep your paddle low to avoid playing any out balls.

Continue reading for more details and drills for escaping the transition zone in pickleball.