If you experience elbow, shoulder, or wrist pain while playing, there may be a quick fix...

Use a lighter paddle!

Over a long period of time, a heavier paddle puts significantly more stress on your shoulder, elbow, and wrist, leading to more pain and overuse injuries.

In addition, a heavier paddle makes it more difficult to quickly move into the correct hitting position. This gives you less time to react.

So why wouldn’t everyone use a lighter paddle?

Well, probably because it feels cool to use a mid to heavyweight paddle like the pros. Heavier paddles work for the pros because their impressive strength and stellar technique allow them to maneuver the paddle quickly without experiencing pain or fatigue.

For most of us, a lightweight paddle (6.8-7.5oz) can reduce soreness, pain, fatigue, and overuse injury while giving you more time to react to shots at the net.

Of course, a lighter paddle is no silver bullet. If you consistently experience shoulder or elbow pain, the best course of action is to start by giving your elbow some rest to prevent a chronic issue, then improve your technique and increase strength and mobility in the affected area.

Download the AIM7 app to access Pickleball strength training and mobility programs, guided by leading sports scientists and performance experts.

GAMMA Pickleball is dedicated to providing equipment and accessories designed for players of all skill levels. Their commitment to quality and performance helps pickleball enthusiasts play their best, whether on the local courts or in competitive play.

Save 15% on Gamma products by using the code: AIM7 at checkout!

Did You Know? Hitting your return shot with more speed shows no statistical advantage in winning the point.

Data shows that the ideal return shot prioritizes depth and direction.

• A return down the line increases win percentage by an average of 3% versus a cross court or mid court return.

• A return shot landing within 5 feet of the baseline increases win percentage by an average of 5.8%

So when your opponent offers up a meatball serve, don’t get overexcited and try to rip it back at them. Focus on a hitting it deep and down the line if possible.

When your summer schedule is packed with family vacations, it sadly means less Pickleball. It also probably means less exercise in general, putting you at risk when you get back in the gym.

After vacation, you need to be cautious with your exercise load.

Exercise load is how much exercise you’ve done in the last week, compared to the last month.

After taking some time off, it’s important to only ramp up your exercise load by 15%, or else you risk injury and burnout.

Here are my three tips to live by when getting back on the horse.

Get your feel back on the first day: Feeling rusty on the court is normal, but don’t try to get it all back on the first day. You’ll risk developing some bad habits and you’ll open yourself up to injury.

Ramp up exercise slowly: Don’t increase your exercise load by more than 15% to avoid overuse injury. For example, if you average playing 140 minutes per week, don’t increase your court time by more than 20 minutes.

Don’t cram for the test: If you have a tournament coming up, avoid increasing your Pickleball play by more than 15%. You’ll risk burning yourself out—physically and mentally—before the tournament even starts.

If you’re interested in tracking your exercise load, download the AIM7 app! You’ll know exactly where you stand and get personalized training programs based on your exercise data.