Pickleball’s First Simulator: Everybody Plays, You Get Paid
Playkout turns 150 square feet into pickleball anyone can play — kids, families, beginners, 4.0s — and six ways for operators to charge for it. Not everything your visitors want from your facility requires a court. Pickleball’s appeal has always been that anybody can play it — that’s why open play works, clinics fill, and […]
How One Startup Helped Transform Pickleball — And Why Facilities Are Benefiting
When Brandon Mackie first stepped onto a pickleball court at a bar in Austin in late 2021, he had no idea he was about to help reshape one of the sport’s most important pieces of infrastructure. A lifelong tennis player, Mackie admits he was humbled by his first pickleball experience. “I lost, I was terrible. […]
The 3 Decisions That Will Define Pickleball Clubs in 2026
By: Ben Borton Co-Founder PodPlay Technologies The first wave of pickleball was a gold rush. If you had courts, you had customers. In 2026, that advantage is gone. The best clubs aren’t the ones that opened first—they’re the ones that run the best experience and build real communities. Demand is no longer the question. Execution […]
From Brochure to Booking Engine: How Pickleball & Padel Clubs Are Winning Online
Insights from Luke Wade, Founder, Facility Ally If you run a pickleball or padel club, your website shouldn’t just look good—it should be driving bookings, leagues, and events every single day. “The biggest mistake people make is treating the website like a digital brochure instead of an automated sales engine,” says Luke Wade. “If a […]
Player U: The Future of Player Development
As pickleball evolves, innovation is happening both on and off the court—through data, AI, and smarter development tools. That’s where Player U, an IAPPF Gold Sponsor founded by Diadem Pickleball Complexes founder Rene Prats, as well as Edwin Rivera is poised to change the game. Player U is an AI-powered platform designed to guide players—especially […]
CourtReserve unleashes power of Google and “Public Booking” to significantly boost new play and profits
CourtReserve is rolling out two tightly connected features designed to do one thing: get a new player or non-member onto your courts as fast as possible – and boosting your bottom line. The newly launched “Public Booking” feature gives racquet and paddle clubs a dedicated link that lets anyone reserve a court or register for […]
The Sweet Spot Podcast: Get Hitched – Finding the Right Player with Hitch Player Finder
February 2026 Every pickleball player has been there. You show up to open play, put your paddle in the stack, and wait — not knowing if the next game will be a great match or a total mismatch. Or you’re traveling, paddle in tow, and spending more time hunting for a game than actually playing […]
New podcast: PodPlay and the future of facility management software
When it comes to club management platforms, more and more facilities are choosing PodPlay to power their operations. What attracts them is a powerful, comprehensive suite of services on the back end, with an elegant, simple, and user-focused interface on the front end. How did they do it, and what makes PodPlay so appealing? In […]
Facility Spotlight: Hot Shots Pickleball Club Sets New Standard with Seamless Tech-Infused Experience
When Hot Shots Pickleball Club opens its doors in Canton, Ohio this August, it won’t just be another indoor facility—it may be the most technologically integrated pickleball venue in the country. Spanning 28,000 square feet and featuring nine indoor courts (including a championship court), Hot Shots PBC is more than just a place to play. […]
PlaySight – AI and the future of pickleball video systems
Giving players the ability to view and download video clips is a popular offering for many pickleball facilities. But one company has soared to the forefront of the industry with its truly revolutionary video platform – PlaySight. Check out the Sweet Spot podcast for a deep dive into the PlaySight platform and its broad array […]