It's Time to Get Un-Ruley

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Un-Ruley Sportsman—your new go-to source for the quirks, controversies, and captivating tales from the world of paddle sports and beyond.

In This Issue:

• Golf Gone Wild: A golfer’s unconventional take on etiquette sparks debate.

• Ruley’s Ruling: Our mascot dives into the pickleball rulebook to clarify a common misconception.

• Padel’s Origins: Discover how a Mexican innovator created the fastest-growing sport you’ve (maybe) never tried.

Let’s get into it!

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Hit the Click to Share button at the bottom of this email.

Send your unique code to a friend who loves sports and is sometimes a bit unruly. 😜

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Drama On the Green:

How Would You Handle This Real-World Story?

⛳️ Golf Gone Wild: When Etiquette Meets Ego

Imagine you’re off the putting green when a fellow golfer insists it’s your turn—BECAUSE you’re closest to the hole. A heated exchange ensues, and suddenly, golf etiquette becomes the center of controversy.

This real-life scenario ignited a firestorm online, with opinions divided on who was in the right. Was it a breach of etiquette or just a misunderstanding of the rules?

So, how would you handle this situation?

📬 Do You Have A Real Sports Story To Share?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your crazy, hilarious, epic, and wild tales of sports rules and decorum gone wrong with us, and we may highlight them for our newsletter audience. Send your stories here: [email protected]

 🏓 ⛳️ 🎾 EVENTS THIS WEEK 🏓⛳️ 🎾

Pickleball

Punta Gorda PPA Challenger (PPA Tour)
May 23-25
PicklePlex Punta Gorda, Florida

Tennis 

French Open
May 25, 2025 – June 8, 2025
Stade Roland Garros, Paris

Golf 

Charles Schwab Classic
May 22-25
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas 

Volleyball

USA Volleyball Open National Championships
May 23-28
Denver Convention Center, Denver, Colorado  

🔎 RULEY EXPLORES THE RULEBOOKS 🔍

🥒 Obscure Rule: The Pickleball “Carry” That’s Technically Legal

In most sports, players think it’s illegal to “double hit”, “carry” or “scoop” the ball with their racket, paddle or bat. But not in pickleball…as usual the pickleball gods decided to be different.

Here’s the twist: as long as it’s one continuous motion and doesn’t involve double contact, it’s allowed under USA Pickleball rules.

We asked Ruley (our AI powered rules app companion) about a double hit, and Ruley says the rule is found under Rule 11A. According to the rule, it is totally legal for a player to hit the ball twice with their paddle before it goes over the net, as long as the double hit occurs during a continuous, single direction stroke.

If the stroke is not continuous or in a single direction, OR the ball is hit by a second player (think volleyball setting a ball) then it’s a fault and the point is over.

🧠 Why it matters: We’ve seen many points stopped in the middle because people don’t know this rule.

📚 MOMENTS IN SPORTS HISTORY 📚

🎾 So… What the Heck Is Padel and Why Is Everyone Obsessed With It?

Let’s set the record straight: Padel isn’t a typo for paddle tennis, and it’s not some watered-down version of tennis or squash. And if you haven’t played it yet, you probably will soon.

Padel was born in 1969, when a Mexican businessman named Enrique Corcuera wanted a tennis court in his backyard… but didn’t have the space. So, like any entrepreneur, he made it work by adding walls, adjusting the rules, and inventing an entirely new game. That scrappy invention turned into one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet.

Today? Spain has more padel courts than tennis courts. Argentina treats it like religion. And the U.S. is finally waking up.

Why It’s Blowing Up (and Why You’ll Probably Love It):

• 👫 Doubles only. Always social. Always chaos.

• 🚧 Enclosed walls = longer rallies, weirder angles, and way more fun.

• 🏓 No strings. The racquet is solid and perforated. Kind of like a mix between a paddle and a frying pan.

• 📈 25 million players and counting.

• 🧠 Strategy > Strength. This isn’t about blasting aces. It’s chess at full speed.

• 🎯 Low barrier, high ceiling. You’ll pick it up in five minutes… and chase mastery for years.

The best part? You don’t have to be a tennis pro to compete. In fact, some of the best padel players aren’t former tennis players. The walls change everything. It’s more reaction time and positioning than brute athleticism.

So yeah, padel isn’t “on the rise.” It’s already here. And it might just be the most addictive sport you haven’t tried.