Stephen Pyka

Stephen Pyka

Columnist & Feature Writer

Stephen Pyka is a PPR-certified coach, Director of Pickleball at Glastonbury Tennis Club, three-time brand ambassador, and former PGA golf pro. He brings decades of experience in racquet sports, club leadership, player development, and instruction, including previous roles as a golf instructor in Connecticut and a competitive racquetball athlete in Hawaii. Passionate about growing the sport, he leads clinics, workshops, and DUPR events that help players of all ages and skill levels improve their game, build confidence, and reach their full potential.

Pickleball Pip and the Great Zoo Rescue

Pickleball Pip brings friendship, belonging and pickleball to young readers

Oct 28, 2026

Doubles players stacking

When stacking helps a doubles team, when it hurts and how to decide if it’s right for you

Sep 16, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a low forehand

Why one of the game’s simplest rules is more important than most players realize

Aug 5, 2026

Children playing the Pigs in Space pickleball drill

A playful drill that turns fundamentals into a game young children can’t wait to play

Jul 15, 2026

Traffic lights beside a pickleball court

A simple three-light system for reading your pickleball rally and choosing the right shot

Jul 8, 2026

A player resting poolside with a wrapped ankle, watching pickleball on a phone

Getting better at pickleball sometimes means stepping away and playing less for a while

Jun 24, 2026

An injured foot elevated on a chair with ice

Staying connected to pickleball and improving your game during injury recovery

Jun 17, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a low forehand

Wait for your ball and why patience isn’t passive in pickleball, from dinks to the attack

Jun 10, 2026

A pickleball player preparing to serve

Before placement, spin or power matter, the serve has one job: get the ball in play

Jun 3, 2026

Stephen Pyka holding a pickleball paddle at the net

The real debate behind edged versus edgeless paddles and how to choose yours

May 27, 2026

A pickleball player leaning against a fence holding a paddle

Why you should always believe you are the best player on the court, every time you play

May 20, 2026

A pickleball player reaching for a ball

What better players should do when opponents avoid them and target their partner

May 13, 2026

A smiling pickleball player at the kitchen line

How grip pressure and paddle angle change everything at the kitchen line

May 6, 2026

A pickleball player lunging for a low ball

Why being the weakest player on the court can be your biggest edge

Apr 22, 2026

A pickleball player reaching for an overhead

The smallest decisions, repeated shot by shot, win the biggest matches

Apr 15, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a third shot from the baseline

Drop, drive or hybrid: how to read the moment and choose the right third shot

Apr 8, 2026

A pickleball player wearing protective eyewear

Why protective eyewear belongs on every court, from a coach who learned it firsthand

Apr 1, 2026

An adaptive athlete playing pickleball in a wheelchair

Adaptive play, adaptive teaching and matching instruction to the athlete

Mar 25, 2026

Players with paddles at a DUPR event at Glastonbury Tennis Club

How a DUPR rating helps players find suitable opponents for rec or competitive play

Mar 18, 2026

A smiling pickleball player at the kitchen line

Recognizing the right ball at the kitchen instead of forcing the attack

Mar 11, 2026

A pickleball player blocking a ball at the net

Choosing the right response when a hard drive comes at you at the kitchen line

Mar 4, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a backhand return

Why depth matters more than pace on the most underrated shot in pickleball

Feb 25, 2026

A smiling pickleball player hitting a forehand

Adjusting positioning and shot selection to rebalance the court when you are targeted

Feb 18, 2026

A pickleball player diving for a ball

What to hit (and what not to) at 8–8, game point and in tight rallies

Feb 11, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a volley at the net

Why targeting the middle is still the highest-percentage play and when to break the rule

Feb 4, 2026

A pickleball player hitting a two-handed backhand

Reading patterns, anticipating replies and positioning for the next shot

Jan 28, 2026