How to Build Strength Without Lifting Weights

The summer heat has arrived! Here’s how to beat it (and your opponent)

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to train for the heat—not just in it.

When temperatures rise and humidity kicks in, court conditions can go from sweaty to dangerous real fast. Even if it feels like a breezy 75°F, the court surface, especially asphalt, can radiate heat and push the real feel well into the 90s.

And when your body overheats?

Performance tanks. Fast.

🔥 Common signs you’re overheating on court:

• Muscle cramps, slower reactions, and nausea
• Brain fog, frustration, and bad decision-making

But here’s the good news: if you know how to prep for the heat, it actually becomes a competitive advantage. Most players fade. You won’t.

🧊 Stay Sharp in the Heat with These Pro Tips:

• Hydrate before, during, and after playing—not just when you feel thirsty
• Eat potassium and magnesium rich foods (like bananas) on match days
• Slip on UV-protective cooling sleeves to manage sun exposure and core temp
• Keep a chilled towel handy to wipe down your neck, face, and arms between games
• Wear sunscreen, a breathable hat, and sunglasses to reduce heat stress
• Take full advantage of shaded areas during downtime—cooling off helps reset your system

Download your own Hydration Cheat Sheet to beat the heat this summer!

During tournament play, don’t sleep on your recovery!

Playing intense matches on back-to-back days is tough on the body and mind. But that’s part of the challenge in tournaments! Here are 4 proven methods you should make part of your routine during tournaments:

1) Foam Roll

• Take 5-10 minutes to roll out sore or stiff muscles with a foam roller or tennis ball.

• Reduces perceived soreness and increases blood circulation

2) Contrast Therapy

• Alternate between hot and cold baths for up to 30 mins, and finish on cold

• Promotes relaxation and reduced muscle tension

3) Hydrate

• Drink 1.1 * (Body Weight in lbs / 2). For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink at least 88 oz of water.

• Lubricates stiff joints and replenishes essential fluids lost through sweat

4) Adjust Your Sleep

• Fall asleep 30 mins earlier than usual, and make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep.

• Properly repairs, restores, and regenerates biological systems and tissues.
  

Your Strength Training Doesn’t Need To Involve Weights

Let’s talk about the strength training basics - calisthenics. No equipment, no gym, just your body. And the science behind it? Impressive.

✅ In just 8 weeks, participants saw a 24% drop in fat mass and massive strength gains

✅ Push-ups alone can boost your bench press strength

✅ Calisthenics can even improve blood sugar and heart health

✅ You can do it anywhere—even between matches

Here’s a quick full-body routine. It takes 5-10 mins, and you can do it every day.

• 10 squats

• 10 incline or kneeling push-ups

• 10 step-back lunges (each leg)

• 20-second plank

• 10 squat-thrusts

• Repeat x2

Of course, there’s some really cool science behind the effectiveness of calisthenics. You can read the full article here if you want to learn more or build a more advanced routine!

A New Way to Win More Pickleball

We’re proud to have SLAMIT Hydration as our exclusive hydration partner—and that means a big 20% discount for you.

Just use the discount code AIM7 when you check out at slamit.com

Pickleball places unique physical and mental demands on players, and SLAMIT is addressing a major performance gap with two purpose-built products designed specifically for the sport: SLAMIT HYDRATE and SLAMIT FOCUS.

Performance hydration is quickly becoming the next major differentiator in pickleball. SLAMIT was founded by exercise scientist Mady Wolfe, who partnered with world- renowned formulator Shawn Wells, MPH, LDN, RD, to build the formulas from the ground up. Shawn has developed hundreds of performance and longevity supplements and is known for creating clinically substantiated, research-driven formulations.

SLAMIT didn’t develop these products in isolation. Over the past year, professional players and respected creators helped test and refine the formulas during real match play. Players using SLAMIT include #2 PPA player Anna Bright, Kyle Koszuta (That Pickleball Guy), Tanner Tomassi, John Cincola, Shea Underwood, Danea Zeigle, and Brandon Nespong. Their feedback shaped everything from flavor to on-court performance. Interesting side note: After using SLAMIT consistently, players like Tomassi went on a winning streak earning two APP Golds and a silver over the last few months.

But SLAMIT isn’t just for elite players, 40+ players are using it to turn back the hands of time of their overall energy, focus and power output. SLAMIT HYDRATE is the foundation product. It’s a premium electrolyte hydration powder designed to keep players consistently hydrated through long sessions and tournament days. Unlike most hydration products that rely on processed table salt (like LMNT and Liquid IV), SLAMIT HYDRATE uses Baja Gold Sea Salt—an unprocessed, sun-dried sea salt harvested from the Sea of Cortez. Baja Gold contains over 90 naturally occurring trace minerals that support hydration, nerve signaling, muscular control, and sustained concentration.

SLAMIT HYDRATE also delivers double the electrolyte load of many leading brands, helping players avoid the performance drop- offs that come with dehydration.

SLAMIT FOCUS builds on that hydration foundation and adds a cognitive-performance edge. It’s an electrolyte and energy-drink alternative designed for sharper focus and faster reaction time without caffeine, jitters or crashes. Its key ingredient, Paraxanthine, has been shown in human research to improve sustained attention by 29% and reaction time by 26%. Those are big results when you’re in a close game. SLAMIT FOCUS also includes Alpha-GPC and L-Tyrosine to support mental clarity, neuromuscular efficiency, and resilience under fatigue.

Why did AIM7 choose SLAMIT?

SLAMIT stood out because of their commitment to science-backed ingredients. SLAMIT HYDRATE establishes a strong hydration baseline, while SLAMIT FOCUS adds a research-backed cognitive advantage built for fast-decision sports like pickleball. SLAMIT also offers a “Play Better Pickleball Guarantee.” If you don’t win more games, they will refund your entire purchase price. 

As a special offer for our readers only, SLAMIT is giving AIM7 followers 20% off their first order this week only. Just use the discount code AIM7 when you check out at slamit.com. But don’t delay, SLAMIT has gone viral and stock outs are inevitable.

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