Good morning, pickleballers!
Wednesday pickleball news incoming! I’ll warn you now, it’s a bit quiet out there today.
Before we get cracking with today’s pickleball news, the January issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live and free to read. Explore global stories from Türkiye, Poland, Italy, Japan, India, Pakistan, and more, alongside wider coverage of governance, refereeing, and how the sport is developing worldwide.
If you enjoy it, please share it with your pickleball friends and communities. You can also follow @worldpickleballmagazine on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and many other major podcast platforms.
In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with Leon Stanga, President and pioneering force behind Pickleball Venezuela.
Leon shares the remarkable story of how pickleball took root in Venezuela, from early grassroots efforts to building a national structure for the sport. The conversation explores the challenges of growing pickleball in emerging markets, the role of leadership and education, and what it takes to introduce a new sport in regions where resources, awareness, and infrastructure can be limited.
And then Gordon Watson joined me for the weekly news podcast – an update on what the team has been working on behind the scenes, including the continued growth and global reach of World Pickleball Magazine. From there, the conversation moves into one of the busiest periods in recent memory for paddle sponsorships, breaking down major player signings such as Anna Leigh Waters joining Franklin, Federico Staksrud Tardio’s move to Falcolos, and wider shifts involving Friday and Engage.
Here’s the very latest pickleball news from across the world.
Selkirk Sport Secures Major $30 Million Investment to Fuel Global Expansion
New York, USA – In a landmark move for the pickleball industry, equipment giant Selkirk Sport has announced a significant $30 million growth equity investment from Bluestone Equity Partners.
This strategic deal values the family-owned manufacturer at approximately $200 million, signalling a new era of financial maturity for the sport. Founded in 2014 by the Barnes family, Selkirk has long been a pioneer in the industry, introducing innovations such as the 16mm paddle core and the first limited lifetime warranty. The partnership with Bluestone marks the first time the company has accepted outside capital, a decision driven by a period of explosive growth where revenue soared by approximately 1,900% between 2019 and 2025.
Bluestone Founder Bobby Sharma praised Selkirk as a category leader in a rapidly scaling sport, noting that the investment will support both organic expansion and potential mergers and acquisitions in a fragmented market. The infusion of capital is set to accelerate Selkirk’s reach into international markets, specifically targeting development in Asia, including India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
“Selkirk has built a powerful and focused pickleball platform that is ideally positioned as the sport continues to gain momentum in the U.S. and beyond,” stated Mike Barnes, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. Future plans include the release of next-generation paddles, a new line of quiet pickleballs to address noise concerns, and reimagined footwear. The company also intends to bolster its media presence through Selkirk Pickleball TV and continue its collaboration with high-profile partners like Costco and Tesla.
Pakistan Standardises Competitive Pickleball with Official DUPR Adoption
Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistan Pickleball Federation (PPF) has officially adopted the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) system, a major step toward integrating Pakistani athletes into the global pickleball community.
This strategic alliance designates DUPR as the country’s sole official rating platform, moving the nation away from informal local assessment models toward a data-driven, internationally recognised standard. Under the new directive, players across Pakistan can register through the official PPF DUPR Club, allowing them to build verified profiles where match results contribute to a global database.
The announcement comes on the heels of international success, highlighted by Komal Safdar’s historic Gold Medal win in the Women’s Singles Open at the Pickleball World Cup 2025 in Florida. The PPF aims to leverage this momentum to professionalise the sport domestically. “The introduction of DUPR is expected to streamline selections, seedings, and competitive pathways while ensuring Pakistani athletes are measured on the same scale as their international peers,” the federation stated.
This standardization is viewed as a foundational move for long-term development in the region, where participation is expanding rapidly across major cities. By utilizing objective data, coaches and tournament directors will be better equipped to identify talent and plan development programs, fostering a clearer path from grassroots play to elite competition. The PPF believes this transparency will also increase confidence among sponsors and stakeholders as the sport solidifies its footing in Pakistan.
Pro Roscoe Bellamy Reveals the Six Shots Defining the Modern Game
Dallas, USA – As professional pickleball becomes faster and more aggressive, top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy has outlined the six essential shots required to survive and thrive on the modern court.
Bellamy, who has been capitalising on significant momentum on the tour, emphasises that the days of relying on simple, floating slices are over. Leading his list of essentials is the two-handed backhand, which he argues is crucial for creating deception and neutralizing attacks at the kitchen line.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition to the modern arsenal is “The Drip,” a hybrid shot that sits between a soft drop and a hard drive. “It’s almost like a 50% drive where your goal is to land the ball low at your opponent’s feet,” Bellamy explained, noting that it allows players to seize control of a point without being reckless. He also highlighted the importance of the defensive dead dink—a shallow, neutral shot used to reset the point when a player is pulled out of position.
Bellamy predicts that the coming year will be defined by “off-the-bounce combos,” where players use speedups not to win the point instantly, but to set up a put-away on the subsequent shot. Rounding out the toolbox are the counter-volley, essential for handling increased power from opponents, and the push volley, which effectively shrinks the kitchen and maintains offensive pressure. According to Bellamy, mastering these specific techniques is no longer optional for those wishing to compete at a high level.
World Pickleball League Targets Digital Growth in Streaming Deal with Sony LIV
Mumbai, India – The World Pickleball League (WPBL) has partnered with streaming giant Sony LIV for its upcoming second season, promising to bring high-octane pickleball action to millions of digital devices across the region.
The exclusive partnership aims to expand the league’s footprint among digital-first sports audiences, capitalising on the growing urban popularity of the sport in India. Season 2 is set to be a massive expansion over the inaugural year, featuring 120 matches played over 13 days—up from 90 matches previously—and showcasing 56 players from 18 different nations.
The league has garnered significant attention due to its high-profile team ownership, which includes cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Rishabh Pant, as well as film stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Riteish Deshmukh. “Pickleball is creating a new wave of sports engagement with its high-octane action and celebrity endorsement,” said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer at Sony Pictures Networks India.
Gaurav Natekar, Founder and CEO of the WPBL, emphasised that the move to Sony LIV is strategic for reaching younger, mobile-savvy viewers. “Sony LIV enables us to reach new audiences where they are today, on mobile and connected devices,” Natekar stated, highlighting the league’s vision for a scalable, fan-first product with global appeal. Fans will have access to live matches, on-demand content, and behind-the-scenes footage throughout the tournament.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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