Latest news with #AssociationofPickleballProfessionals
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PXG Launches XP1 and XP2 Pickleball Paddles Expanding Its High-Performance Equipment Lineup into Fast-Growing Sport
High-performance sports brand PXG brings its engineering excellence to the pickleball court Scottsdale, AZ, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PXG, a global leader in high-performance golf equipment and apparel, today announced its official entry into the pickleball arena with the launch of its first-ever pickleball paddles: the PXG® XP1TM and PXG® XP2TM. This expansion marks PXG's bold step into a new category – one that is booming in popularity and already winning over millions of golfers across the U.S. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), nearly 50 million adult Americans—almost 1 in 5—played pickleball last year. Notably, nearly one-third of golfers also play pickleball, making the sport a natural fit for PXG's highly engaged and crossover audience. 'We've always focused on innovation and premium performance,' said PXG Chief Product Officer Brad Schweigert. 'As pickleball rapidly becomes the alternative go-to sport, we saw the opportunity to bring PXG's engineering expertise to the court.' The PXG XP1 and XP2 pickleball paddles are meticulously engineered to deliver high-performance play through the integration of advanced materials and design technologies. At the center of each paddle is a polypropylene honeycomb core, featuring 8mm cells designed to optimize energy transfer while dampening vibration. This core configuration provides a stable, consistent response across the paddle face, promoting both power and precision on contact. The hitting surface is constructed from 3K woven carbon fiber, selected for its high tensile strength and lightweight composition. This material enhances paddle rigidity while maintaining maneuverability, resulting in superior energy return and shot acceleration. To augment control and shot manipulation, a precision-textured finish is applied to the carbon fiber face. This engineered texture enhances grip on the ball, allowing for elevated levels of spin and directional control during high-speed rallies. Encasing the performance technologies is an edgeless aerodynamic profile that minimizes drag and reduces interference on perimeter strikes. This design not only improves swing speed and handling but also maximizes the effective hitting area for consistent performance across a range of playing conditions. Two Head Shapes, One Standard of Excellence PXG XP1 Paddle: Standard paddle shape with a larger sweet spot, ideal for players of all skill levels seeking control, forgiveness, and consistency. PXG XP2 Paddle: Elongated design shifts the sweet spot toward the top of the paddle for enhanced reach, power, and ball speed—perfect for experienced and pro-level players. The PXG XP1 and XP2 Pickleball Paddles are available online at and at select PXG retail locations. ABOUT PARSONS XTREME GOLF Founded by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed golf nut Bob Parsons, PXG embodies his belief that every new product – from golf clubs to sport fashion apparel – should be markedly better. Every innovation should noticeably improve your performance. And every moment of impact should elevate your enjoyment. Today, PXG offers a complete lineup of right- and left-handed golf clubs, including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters, engineered to be custom fit and built to every golfer's unique specification. The company also designs and delivers high-performance golf and lifestyle apparel and accessories. PXG's professional staff includes Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Eric Cole, Jake Knapp, Patrick Fishburn, Zach Johnson, David Lipsky, Henrik Norlander, Chad Ramey, Mason Andersen, Cristobal Del Solar, Patrick Cover, Brandon Crick, Seth Reeves, Augusto Nunez, Paul Barjon, Sebastian Cappelen, Kevin Dougherty, Ryan McCormick, Shad Tuten, Joey Garber, Nathan Petronzio, Celine Boutier, Linnea Strom, Mina Harigae, Auston Kim, Gina Kim, Megan Khang, Minji Kang, Kaitlin Milligan, and Christina Kim. Contact Info Leela Brennanpress@ 480-387-5591
Independent Singapore
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
From tennis to pro pickleball: Tennis legend Andre Agassi eliminated in the second match of a US Open Pickleball event
FLORIDA: Former tennis world No. 1 Andre Agassi's debut in professional pickleball came to an early exit at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. He teamed up with top pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed pro division of the event. He won his first match but was eliminated in the second round. Agassi and Waters opened their game with a hard-fought 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 victory over Stevie Petropouleas and Tristan Dussault. However, they were defeated by Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain in their second match with a final scoreline of 11-7, 4-11, 7-11. Despite the early exit, Agassi's appearance in his new sport drew attention and excitement, as fans were eager to see how his tennis skills would translate to the fast-growing sport of pickleball. On partnering up with Waters Ahead of the tournament, Agassi had high praises for his partner, Anna Leigh Waters, and called her an exceptional talent. The 18-year-old is currently the No. 1-ranked pickleball player in the world, and Agassi expressed excitement about teaming up with someone like her. He admitted: ' She's right up there with the greatest ever in what she does and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting.' In a social media post, Agassi shared: 'What an incredible day at the @usopenpickleball! Thank you to the incomparable @ You are an absolute force on the court and a joy to partner with—she is such a special talent. Thank you to @usopenpickleball team: Bob, Ben, and Nick, the fans who packed the stands, and my family for coming out to support you made this experience unforgettable. Also, thanks to @travisrettenmaier for helping me on and off the court. I love this sport and am committed to learn and improve.' Netizens commented on the post and said: 'Let's go! Competed well out there…all of us in the sport are lucky to have you', 'LEGEND!!!!!! So happy to see you on this stage as well!! 👏👏', 'So much fun to watch! Thanks for being such a great ambassador of the sport! 🔥', and 'Just seeing this guy on the court again is awesome. My all time favorite tennis player' What is pickleball? Pickleball has quickly become the fastest-growing sport in the US. It's a mix of tennis, table tennis, and badminton; played on a smaller court; and is easy for people of all ages to learn. It can also be played indoors or outdoors, by one person or in teams of two. Between 2022 and 2023, about 48.3 million American adults tried pickleball at least once, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). Agassi is no stranger to pickleball, and he's often seen playing the sport with his wife, Steffi Graf, who is also a tennis legend with an outstanding 22 Grand Slam singles titles. The couple, who are icons in tennis, have been playing pickleball in recent years, enjoying it as a fun and competitive way to stay fit. Graf said about her husband: 'He's so good… And he's played a little more, he's physically so much stronger and quicker (than me). His sense for this game, how quickly he picked it up, was absolutely phenomenal to watch…. Not that I didn't see it in the other sports that he's so good at, but he picked it up and he loved the analysis of it, from the beginning on watching videos and other clips…. When he goes out and plays with some of the professionals, he will have very specific questions that he needs answered to get better.' Agassi has become a big fan of pickleball and now helps promote the sport. He declared: 'It's going to grow like you can't even imagine.'
CNN
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Tennis legend Andre Agassi ousted in second US Open Pickleball match
Former tennis world No. 1 Andre Agassi's pro pickleball debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships has come to an end, after he and partner Anna Leigh Waters fell in their second match to Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain. Agassi – an eight-time grand slam singles champion on the tennis court – and Waters clinched a victory in their first match over Stevie Petropouleas and Tristan Dussault with a 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 win in the mixed pro division on Wednesday in Naples, Florida. But the winning start, which marked the 55-year-old Agassi's pro debut in the sport, was short-lived with the dynamic duo losing out in their next match to Yang and Huynh-McClain in three sets: 11-7, 4-11, 7-11. Agassi had nothing but praise for Waters – the 18 year old No. 1-ranked player in the world – ahead of the tournament, saying: 'She's right up there with the greatest ever in what she does and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting,' per Reuters. Once relatively niche, pickleball – a mashup of tennis, table tennis and badminton that can be played indoors or outdoors, by single players or in pairs – now claims to be the United States' fastest-growing sport. An estimated 48.3 million adults played it at least once between 2022 and 2023, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), which is nearly 19% of the total US population. Agassi has been known to play the sport alongside his wife, 22-time grand slam singles title winner Steffi Graf. 'He's so good,' she told CNN Sports earlier this year. 'And he's played a little more, he's physically so much stronger and quicker (than me). His sense for this game, how quickly he picked it up, was absolutely phenomenal to watch. 'Not that I didn't see it in the other sports that he's so good at, but he picked it up and he loved the analysis of it, from the beginning on watching videos and other clips. When he goes out and plays with some of the professionals, he will have very specific questions that he needs answered to get better.' Since discovering his love for pickleball, Agassi has become a vocal advocate of the sport. Promoting the game in India recently, he defended tennis as 'the most difficult racket sport in the world' but lauded pickleball as a more accessible alternative. 'It's going to grow like you can't even imagine,' Agassi said, adding that he could 'absolutely' see pickleball at the Olympics. However, regardless of his aptitude for the sport, Agassi is unlikely to be pursuing full-time pro status anytime soon. 'If I had the luxury of bandwidth to focus all my energy on just playing and body recovery and all that stuff, that would be a joy. But I don't. I'm in a different season now,' he said, per Reuters. CNN's George Ramsay contributed reporting.
CNN
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Tennis legend Andre Agassi ousted in second US Open Pickleball match
Former tennis world No. 1 Andre Agassi's pro pickleball debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships has come to an end, after he and partner Anna Leigh Waters fell in their second match to Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain. Agassi – an eight-time grand slam singles champion on the tennis court – and Waters clinched a victory in their first match over Stevie Petropouleas and Tristan Dussault with a 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 win in the mixed pro division on Wednesday in Naples, Florida. But the winning start, which marked the 55-year-old Agassi's pro debut in the sport, was short-lived with the dynamic duo losing out in their next match to Yang and Huynh-McClain in three sets: 11-7, 4-11, 7-11. Agassi had nothing but praise for Waters – the 18 year old No. 1-ranked player in the world – ahead of the tournament, saying: 'She's right up there with the greatest ever in what she does and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting,' per Reuters. Once relatively niche, pickleball – a mashup of tennis, table tennis and badminton that can be played indoors or outdoors, by single players or in pairs – now claims to be the United States' fastest-growing sport. An estimated 48.3 million adults played it at least once between 2022 and 2023, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), which is nearly 19% of the total US population. Agassi has been known to play the sport alongside his wife, 22-time grand slam singles title winner Steffi Graf. 'He's so good,' she told CNN Sports earlier this year. 'And he's played a little more, he's physically so much stronger and quicker (than me). His sense for this game, how quickly he picked it up, was absolutely phenomenal to watch. 'Not that I didn't see it in the other sports that he's so good at, but he picked it up and he loved the analysis of it, from the beginning on watching videos and other clips. When he goes out and plays with some of the professionals, he will have very specific questions that he needs answered to get better.' Since discovering his love for pickleball, Agassi has become a vocal advocate of the sport. Promoting the game in India recently, he defended tennis as 'the most difficult racket sport in the world' but lauded pickleball as a more accessible alternative. 'It's going to grow like you can't even imagine,' Agassi said, adding that he could 'absolutely' see pickleball at the Olympics. However, regardless of his aptitude for the sport, Agassi is unlikely to be pursuing full-time pro status anytime soon. 'If I had the luxury of bandwidth to focus all my energy on just playing and body recovery and all that stuff, that would be a joy. But I don't. I'm in a different season now,' he said, per Reuters. CNN's George Ramsay contributed reporting.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Unexpected Health Benefit Of Playing Pickleball
By now, you've probably seen a headline or two (or 200) labeling pickleball the 'fastest-growing sport in the country.' Pickleball courts, clubs and leagues have popped up all over the country, and nearly 50 million people, or 19% of Americans, picked up a paddle last year, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. According to people who play, there are a ton of reasons why pickleball exploded in popularity: it's fun and competitive. It's a great way to make friends, plus it's largely inclusive — people of all ages and skill levels can join in. But perhaps the biggest selling point for playing pickleball is how beneficial it can be for our mental health. A new report from Apple investigated the health benefits of pickleball using data gathered from Apple Watch users who opted into the study and found that playing pickleball is not only an impressive workout that can boost our cardiovascular and metabolic health, it's also associated with lower rates of self-reported depression. Per the study, the self-reported scores of depressive symptoms were 60% lower among frequent pickleball players compared to the general group of study participants. Long story short: racket sports help people work out their body and their mind, making them one of the healthiest physical activities available. 'The potential reasons for this observation could be attributed to a number of different reasons, including the sport's impact on hormones, neuromuscular coordination, resilience and more,' principal investigator of the study Dr. Calum MacRae, a cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, told HuffPost. According to MacRae, sports, including pickleball, provide numerous physical and mental health benefits. When you participate in an aerobic activity like pickleball, your body releases endorphins, or hormones that relieve pain, reduce stress, and boost well-being. Playing pickleball is also a fun and efficient way of meeting the recommended guidance for physical activity (150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week). Physical activity is known to improve quality of life and promote healthy aging, especially in older adults, evidence consistently shows. And, as the Apple report revealed, pickleball games last roughly 90 minutes on average, helping you knock out half the amount of weekly physical activity needed in just one session. Pickleball also gives people the opportunity to stay connected with friends and family or develop new relationships. When people join leagues, for example, they might form a new sense of community and belonging. Plus, it's inclusive: You can play with people of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. 'Humans thrive when we experience connection, and pickleball allows us to bond with one another through an activity that also physically makes us feel good,' said Emily Hemendinger, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It can also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. 'Playing a sport, such as pickleball, can give people a goal to work towards, whether it's winning a game, meeting people, or improving one's skills,' Hemendinger said. Winning, in particular, can lead to a sense of pride and accomplishment, she added. Another theory from MacRae as to why pickleball can be such a mood booster: playing pickleball outdoors may increase exposure to natural daylight. And the more natural light we're exposed to, the better our sleep quality, activity levels, and overall quality of life are, research suggests. That's not all. The game also requires people to pay attention and think quickly and strategically. If you get distracted, for example, you run the risk of getting hit in the face with the ball or letting down your partner. Physical activities that require strategic thinking promote cognitive functioning, which can help prevent cognitive decline. 'Some studies have even found that sports like pickleball and racket sports can improve memory and processing speed,' Hemendinger said. In short: pickleball not only works out your body, it exercises your mind. Taking care of your brain through thinking and problem-solving activities can help decrease stress and anxiety. 'Any type of mindful movement, especially with others, can improve mood and help your physical and mental health,' Hemendinger said. Landon Uetz, a physical therapist and pickleball instructor on said the pickleball community is very welcoming of new players. Before playing, it can be helpful to watch a video online to get a basic understanding of the rules. And if you're hesitant about stepping onto a court — whether that be due to fear of not knowing the rules, getting hurt or failing — consider getting a lesson, Uetz said. Before you jump into a game, it's worth warming up, either through dynamic stretching or movement exercises (think: jumping jacks, light jogging or lunges). When coming from a sedentary state — whether that's at work, at home or after waking up — it's important to increase circulation throughout your body. A warm-up loosens up your muscles, bones, ligaments and gets ready for activity, which can reduce the risk of pain or injury, Uetz said. If you have any injuries, check in with a health care provider before you give pickleball a go. They may be able to provide some advice as to whether it's safe for you to participate or if there are any modifications you can do during a game to protect from injury. According to Hemendinger, as with all things, moderation is key. 'Doing any physical activity too much may lead to injury or exhaustion,' she said. Listen to your body — if certain muscles start to ache, consider ramping up more gradually. Instead of playing for two hours, for example, try to hit the ball around for 30 minutes, Uetz said. Even short bursts of activity can offer tremendous mental health benefits. 'Whether it's for 15 minutes or 90 minutes, getting out and moving your body mindfully and resetting your nervous system from a stressful day is a reliable stress reliever and coping skill,' Hemendinger said. 6 Stretches To Do First Thing In The Morning, According To Experts 9 Habits That Can Drastically Improve Your Heart Health The Trump Administration's War On Health Care: Latest Updates
