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From American Idol top 50 to Pro Pickleball Player

Plus: Shake Shack introduces a new club.

a little pitchy dawg

Hello, everyone! This is Picklewho, the #1 pickleball news blog on the internet. It’s Thursday, a day with only two choices: you either start your weekend early and work on Friday with the world’s worst hangover or you are over 25. I’m not saying my age.

Now, here’s the news:

  • USA Pickleball wants to get children involved

  • Shake Shack introduces a new club.

  • From American Idol’s top 50 to professional pickleball player

Pickleball for the children!

USA Pickleball's new collab with the PHIT America charity wants to introduce the sport to a new demographic: children. As part of the collab, PHIT will include “Play Pickleball” to its sports program, which will be launched in elementary schools all over the country.

So if you ever thought losing to a 20 year-old was humiliating, try losing against a 7-year-old kid. It happened to me twice this week and it sucks!

Does Shake Shack have a pickleball club?

Shake Shack, aka “expensive McDonald’s”, kickstarted a new pickleball initiative along with racket sports provider Toss & Spin. Though it’s literally called Shake Shack Pickleball Club, it’s not technically a club, but more of a program.

The event will take place in Miami and it will feature pickleball lessons for beginners and intermediate players, as well as a tournament at the Miami Shores Tennis Center.

It is not free, yet 25% of all ticket sales will go to the Mourning Family Foundation's Overtown Youth Center. Playing pickleball, eating fast food and helping the world feels like a terrific way to reconcile with my dark past (I was a DJ, don’t ask details). Maybe it works for you too.

Remember Zack Taylor? 

Zack Taylor is one of the top 50 candidates of season 14 of the nation’s favorite and most expensive karaoke: American Idol.

Not a fan? Well, you might still recognize Taylor from pickleball. The singer-player currently holds a world ranking of No. 40 in men’s singles and No. 42 in mixed doubles. He has played the very best and even won bronze medals in two PPA tour events

Could he make it to gold in the near-future? Perhaps. If he sings mid-game to confuse players he definitely will.

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