How we research, write, review, and publish content at PickleGuide
Every article on PickleGuide goes through the same process before it reaches you. This page explains that process in full. We publish these guidelines publicly because we think readers deserve to know how the content they are reading was produced, what standards it was held to, and where our writers stand in relation to the products and topics they cover.
If you ever have a question about a specific article that these guidelines do not answer, you can reach us through our contact page and we will respond directly.
Writing Standards and Voice
Who Writes for PickleGuide
Every article on this site is written by one of our named contributors. We do not publish anonymous content. Each writer covers the areas of the game they have direct playing experience in. Strategy writers play regularly at competitive recreational level. Gear writers test equipment through actual open play sessions over extended periods. Nobody writes about something they have not personally experienced on a court.
We do not use AI to write articles. Our writers use research tools and occasionally reference other sources when building an argument but every article is written by the named author in their own voice from their own experience. If we ever change this policy we will say so clearly on this page.
Our Standard for Useful Advice
The test we apply to every piece of content before publishing is simple. Would this advice help a real recreational player in their next match? Not in theory. Not in a controlled drill environment. In an actual open play session against real opponents at a real community court.
We do not publish advice that sounds good but does not hold up under actual play conditions. We do not publish technique descriptions that work in slow motion but fall apart at real game speed. We do not publish gear recommendations based on specs alone without the writer having played with the product. If we cannot stand behind it from personal court experience, it does not go up.
Corrections Policy
If an article contains a factual error we correct it promptly and add a correction note at the bottom of the article indicating what was changed and when. We do not quietly edit errors without disclosure. If you spot something that looks wrong in one of our articles please use the contact page to let us know. We take corrections seriously and respond to every one.
Fact Checking and Accuracy
How We Handle Factual Claims
PickleGuide articles make two kinds of claims. Experiential claims based on what our writers have observed and experienced playing the game, and factual claims about rules, equipment specifications, rating systems, or other verifiable information. We treat these differently.
Experiential claims are clearly framed as personal observation or opinion. Phrases like in my experience, what I have observed, or at the sessions I have played are intentional. They signal that the claim comes from personal court experience rather than a universal rule. You may find your experience differs and that is completely valid.
Factual claims about rules, official ratings, equipment certification, and governing body policies are verified against primary sources before publication. Our primary source for pickleball rules and official information is USA Pickleball at usapickleball.org. Where we cite external research we link to the original source directly so you can check it yourself.
What We Do Not Claim to Be
Our writers are not certified pickleball coaches unless explicitly stated in their bio. They are experienced recreational players who pay close attention to the game and write about what they have learned. The advice on this site is not a substitute for instruction from a qualified coach, particularly for players dealing with technique issues that require hands-on feedback.
PickleGuide content is based on recreational playing experience and observation. For certified instruction, we recommend seeking a qualified coach through USA Pickleball’s coach finder tool.
Gear Review Policy
How We Test Equipment
Gear articles on PickleGuide are based on extended real-world testing, not unboxing impressions or spec sheet comparisons. Our gear writer tests equipment through multiple open play sessions over a minimum of four to six weeks before forming conclusions. This means playing with a paddle against real opponents at real pace in real match conditions, not hitting against a wall for twenty minutes and writing a review.
We track specific things during testing. Consistency of feel across different shot types. Durability of grip and face over time. How the equipment performs under pressure compared to normal rally conditions. How the novelty effect wears off and what remains after adaptation. Our goal is to tell you what the equipment actually does for your game over time, not what it feels like in the first session.
Gifted and Purchased Equipment
Some products we review are purchased by our writers at retail price. Some are provided by manufacturers at no cost for review purposes. We disclose which situation applies in every gear article. A product provided for free does not receive more favorable treatment. Our writers are instructed to apply the same testing standard regardless of how the product was obtained and to report honestly on what they find.
If a manufacturer provides equipment and we find it underwhelming we say so. If we find it genuinely good we say that too. The source of the product does not change the conclusion.
What We Do Not Review
We do not review products we cannot test properly. If a product requires a playing context we cannot access, if it is designed for a level of play above what our writers operate at, or if we cannot get enough time with it to form a genuine opinion, we do not publish a review. A partial or speculative review is not useful to you and we would rather say nothing than say something we cannot back up.
Affiliate and Sponsorship Disclosure
Affiliate Links
Some articles on PickleGuide contain affiliate links, meaning if you click a link and purchase a product we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are always disclosed clearly at the top of any article that contains them with a note that reads: This article contains affiliate links.
Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial conclusions. A product we earn a commission on is held to exactly the same standard as a product we do not. If we would not recommend something to a friend at open play we will not recommend it on this site regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists. Our reputation for honest advice is worth more to us than any commission.
Sponsored Content
PickleGuide does not publish sponsored articles, meaning we do not accept payment from brands or companies in exchange for editorial coverage. A brand cannot pay us to write about their product, include their product in a comparison, or present their product favorably in any article. This policy is absolute and has no exceptions.
If this ever changes we will update this page and disclose the change prominently. As of the date this page was last updated, no sponsored content has ever been published on this site.
Brand Relationships
Our gear writer has tested products from various paddle and equipment brands over the years. Some of these testing opportunities have come through direct contact with brand representatives. Any product tested through a direct brand relationship is disclosed as such in the relevant article. Brand relationships do not influence ratings, recommendations, or conclusions. A brand that provides a product for testing has no editorial input over what we write about it.
Guest Post Submissions
Do We Accept Guest Posts
We accept a limited number of guest contributions from players who have something specific and useful to say from their own court experience. We are not looking for general pickleball advice that is already covered everywhere else. We are looking for a specific perspective, a specific level of play, a specific situation that our existing writers have not written about and that would genuinely help our readers.
What We Are Looking For
A good guest submission for PickleGuide comes from a player with a distinctive experience or perspective. A player who competes at open play across different regions and has noticed consistent patterns. A player who has returned to pickleball after injury and has specific observations about the recovery process. A player who plays at a level or in a context our current writers do not cover. The more specific and personal the angle the more likely we are to be interested.
We are not interested in submissions that are primarily promotional, that recommend specific products without extended testing, or that restate advice already widely available. If your article could have been written by anyone who read a few pickleball websites, it is probably not right for us.
Submission Standards
Guest submissions should be between 1500 and 3500 words. They should be written in a natural personal voice from direct playing experience. They should have a clear argument or insight at the center rather than being a general overview of a topic. They should not contain affiliate links or promotional language for any specific brand or product.
All guest submissions go through the same editorial review as our staff articles. We may edit for clarity, structure, and accuracy before publication. We will not publish anything that does not meet our standard regardless of who submitted it. If we make significant edits we will share the revised version with the writer before publishing.
How to Submit
Send a brief pitch of two to three sentences describing your angle and why your experience makes you the right person to write it. If the pitch fits what we are looking for we will invite a full draft. We do not accept unsolicited full articles. Pitches can be sent through our contact page.
We respond to every pitch. If we pass we will tell you why briefly so you understand what we are and are not looking for. We do not leave writers without a response.
Last updated: [March 10, 2026]