पिकलबॉल
समाचार

In the USA you can see both: performance-oriented clubs with fixed rating structures – but also huge social clubs with events, BBQs, DJ nights and open play. Pickleball in Germany is at an exciting turning point right now.

How should a modern pickleball club be structured today so that people stay long-term and the sport keeps growing? Focus on sport & competition, focus on community & fun – or the perfect mix of both?

Our conviction: the strongest clubs combine both. Our clubs page shows how to get started.

The answer: C – the dink. The soft shot into the kitchen (non-volley zone) is the most frequently played shot at pro level. Not the spectacular smash, not the fast drive – control and patience decide rallies at a high level.

For context: the smash is a hard, downward shot above net height, the drive a fast, flat shot from the baseline, the lob a high, deep shot to the back of the court. The dink, however, forces your opponent into mistakes – and that is exactly what modern pickleball is about.

Traditional scoring: only the serving team can score, games are usually played to 11 points – currently the standard in pickleball. Supporters value more strategy, more tension in close matches and the reward for patience and consistency.

Rally scoring: a point is awarded after every rally, regardless of which team served – already used in some leagues and tournament formats. Supporters say: easier to understand, faster games, more attractive for spectators and better for TV.

There is no wrong answer – both have their merits. Which scoring applies at official DPB tournaments is defined in the GPF rulebook.

The paddle inspector mishits three balls in a row and then examines his paddle as if a material defect had just been certified. The ball checker hits a simple return into the net, picks up the ball, turns it, squeezes it – as if the ball were the prime suspect.

The line cheat calls "out!" even though the ball lands on his foot in the middle of the court. The aggro bomber tries to launch the ball into orbit during casual open play. The poacher steals your perfect volley and then explains how important teamwork is. And the score amnesiac asks for the third time: "What's the score? Who's serving? Did we already switch sides?"

Which one do you recognize immediately?

Experience five days of professional pickleball training in the world-famous wine and truffle region of Piedmont – combined with Italian lifestyle and Mediterranean flair. 15 hours of training in small groups (coach/player ratio 1:8), all levels from beginner to advanced.

Tennis Club Alba is one of the most beautiful facilities in northern Italy – modern outdoor courts with pool, restaurant and views over the vineyards. Immediately afterwards (Sep 25–27, 2026), the Piemont Open and the Alpen Cup take place at the same venue: the perfect combination of camp and tournament.

Places are limited.

Are tournaments perhaps too competition-focused? Would mixball or fun formats be more attractive? Does it make sense to offer dedicated women's events – or are there completely different reasons we are overlooking?

What matters to us: this is not about right or wrong, but about making the sport more attractive for everyone. Honest feedback from female players is especially valuable: what would motivate you to play (more) tournaments?

Send us your ideas and experiences – together we will find solutions.

The uncomfortable truth: most players want to be better – but not to get better. Typical patterns: only playing instead of training, blasting instead of thinking, the drop is a matter of luck, dinking under pressure does not work, and you play the ball instead of the opponent. The biggest one: the comfort zone.

The jump from 3.5 to 4.0 has nothing to do with talent anymore. It is about control instead of power, patience instead of the quick point, strategy instead of chance. At a higher level pickleball does not get faster – it gets smarter.

The fastest way out of the plateau: structured training with a certified coach.