GEAR
Measure your grip before you buy another paddle
Grip size is the cheapest fix in pickleball and the one most players skip. Here is the one-minute test and what to do with the result.
Grace Okafor5 min read
GEAR
Gear
Paddles, balls, shoes, and bags, explained without the hype.
Honest gear guidance for players who buy once and play for years: paddle shapes and weights, ball durability, court shoes and foot support, bags and grips, and how to tell marketing from engineering. Reviews are labelled by evidence and never pretend to testing we did not do.
GEAR
The upgrade I would not buy again
A demo day, a heavier paddle, and six weeks of shoulder pain. What I learned about buying a fix before naming the problem, and the three checks I use now.
By Marcus Bell November 3, 2026 7 min read
GEAR
When court shoes are done, and what to check before you buy
Court shoes wear out from the inside, not the bottom, and the calendar is a terrible guide. Three checks I run before I spend money, plus the one pair I keep for indoors.
By Grace Okafor October 30, 2026 6 min read
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The Kitchen Line
One useful idea for your next game, one gear note worth knowing, and a story from a court somewhere. No noise.
A short letter every Thursday.