#082 Sept. 17, 2026 | Read on the web

Pickleball518 takes on table tennis

Last night, Pickleball518 players and friends gathered at All+ Table Tennis in Menands for a free night of ping pong — and we had a blast.

We also introduced the table tennis crowd to a little piece of pickleball culture: the after-match paddle tap. It’s such a familiar part of pickleball’s sportsmanship and community that we barely think about it. The table tennis players thought it was a little strange, but hopefully it will catch on.

And here’s my takeaway from the night: Table tennis might be great training for pickleball fire fights. That little white ball comes at you incredibly fast. If you can keep up with it, those rapid-fire exchanges at the kitchen may start to feel a little slower.

Tournaments

Thanksgiving at Emma reaches 120 signups

More than 120 players have signed up for the Thanksgiving at Emma Willard tournament, and many divisions have developed strong fields. Registration is still open.

My experiment with offering free sign up through the waitlist system worked pretty well, but the platform won't let players move themselves off the waiting list into the live event. If you are having any trouble registering, please email me at cathleen@pickleball518.com

Medal winners will get custom medals this year!

The tournament will be held Nov. 21–23 at Emma Willard School in Troy and will benefit Mt. Ida Food Pantry and Joseph’s House.

See the divisions and sign up at https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/2026-thanksgiving-at-emma-willard.

True Fall Pickle-Brawl coming

True Pickleball Club in Latham will hold its True Fall Pickle-Brawl Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27.

Men’s and women’s doubles will be played Saturday, followed by mixed doubles Sunday. There are multiple skill-based divisions, and the entry fee is $35 per player. Scores will be reported to DUPR and VAIR, except in the top division.

True Pickleball Club is at 195 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.

Questions? Call (518) 776-1170 or email manager@playtruepc.com.

FryeGuys tournament benefits LIVESTRONG

FryeGuys Pickleball Club in Clifton Park will host its End of Summer Smashdown Oct. 2-4, with proceeds benefiting the LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA.

Singles will be played Friday. Gender doubles on Saturday and Mixed Doubles on Sunday, with all-ages and senior divisions available. The entry fee is $35.

Guilderland YMCA plans mixed doubles tournament

The Guilderland YMCA will host a round-robin mixed doubles tournament beginning at noon Saturday, Oct. 17.

Players can enter novice, intermediate or advanced divisions. The cost is $60 per team, and proceeds support the Guilderland YMCA.

Manchester VT tournament is building a sub list

Organizers of the Oct. 3 mixed doubles tournament at the Manchester Recreation Center in Vermont are building a sub list in case they need last-minute players.

The tournament has a social, community-oriented format: Players will be matched with a teammate on the day of the event and will remain with that partner throughout the tournament. There are still skill divisions, with players below 3.5 competing in the morning and players 3.5 and above playing in the afternoon.

Interested in being a sub? Contact Liza Kraft at liza.kraft@gmail.com or (914) 602-3394.

Save the date for PINKleball

The third annual PINKleball Tournament will return Tuesday, May 18, 2027, at Impact Athletic Center in Clifton Park.

Presented by Impact Athletic Center and Performance Industrial, the tournament will benefit Men Wear Pink of the Capital Region and the American Cancer Society.

Registration details are still to come, but mark your calendar now.

Clinics

Women’s intermediate camp with Kayla Benner

Coach Kayla Benner will lead an Obsessed Pickleballers women’s intermediate camp at SPORTIME in Schenectady on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Check availability and registration details at https://obsessedpickleballersclinics.com/camps/camp-in-albany-ny-october-7-coach-kayla-benner.

Leagues

Picklers fall leagues begin soon

Picklers Pickleball Club has a full slate of fall leagues scheduled to begin Sept. 20–24. Because registration opened earlier this month, most spots are filled, but the Ladies 55+ Thursday morning (10am) league will be expanded if more players join the waitlist.

News

SPORTIME releases fall pickleball schedule

SPORTIME Capital Region in Schenectady has released its fall pickleball schedule, including $5 open-play sessions on most days.

Open play is offered:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon — $5
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8–11 a.m. — $5
Tuesdays, 6–9 p.m. — $5
Fridays, 6–9 p.m. — $15, including Dinner and Dinks on select Fridays
Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. — $5

The club is also offering private and semi-private lessons, court rentals and a $49-per-month pickleball membership that includes free open play and up to two free hours of court time daily.

A Pickleball 101 program for children ages 7–9 will meet Saturdays from 9–10 a.m., beginning Oct. 10. The eight-week program costs $175.

SPORTIME Capital Region is at 2699 Curry Road in Schenectady. Learn more at https://www.sportimeny.com/capitalregion.

All Sports Facility begins winter hours

All Sports Facility, located at 344 Broadway in Fort Edward, began its winter schedule Sept. 15.

Walk-in play is available daily from noon–8 p.m. Court reservations are required from 8 a.m.–noon and 8–10 p.m. Reservations must be made at least four hours in advance.

Reserve a court at https://www.allsportsfacility.com/reserve-space

$50 covers six weeks of play at FryeGuys

FryeGuys Pickleball Club is offering an Indian Summer membership deal through Oct. 31.

Pay $50 upfront and receive free open play and private court reservations from Sept. 16 through Oct. 31. FryeGuys asks participants to follow the club’s instructions before reserving courts so the discounted pricing is applied correctly.

Links

One last thing...

Today is my mom's birthday and she has been on my mind. Well, she is always on my mind and always a presence in my heart. I wrote this story in 2022 to share how pickleball helped me through her declining health and her death. It resonated with a lot of people who have had similar experience. I hope pickleball is helping you in some way.

https://www.pickleball518.com/the-joy-of-pickleball-helped-me-cope-with-grief/

I hope to see you on the court,

Cathleen