The pros need to stay in peak physical condition to compete in several matches per day during tournaments.

Pickleball may be good cardio, but what additional workouts do players engage in? 

Here’s what they shared. 

Anna Leigh Waters

Waters shared that she incorporates more cardio into her workout routine, but tries to avoid running and opts for swimming and biking instead.

 “When I’m on the pickleball court doing drills, that’s a lot of cardio. I used to play midfield in soccer, so I used to run a ton. I feel like cardio is just ingrained in me,” she explained. “I definitely do a lot of weight and mobility stuff, and balance and reaction work because that’s everything in pickleball. There’s some sports where maybe you just need to be able to use your feet, but in pickleball, you have to be able to do everything. I like to mix it up a lot with my workouts and training.”

Allyce Jones

Jones loves weight training and incorporates it into her routine both at home and at tournaments.

“c,” she shared. “I can go there and just zone out.”

Salome Devidze

“I’m really into pilates now. It’s intense and I’m not very good at it, but I try my best,” she explained. “It makes me feel great, and it’s definitely helped my game because my core is stronger and it keeps me stronger on the court.”

Connor Garnett

“I definitely hit the gym, but in pickleball you’re out there so much on the court that it keeps you in pretty good shape,” he said. “For me, it’s more balancing the recovery and making sure I stretch and take care of myself off the court so I don’t get injured.”

Lacy Schneemann

“I lift weights. When I have time off from tournaments, I try to lift like three times a week, but with tournaments my schedule can get kind of wonky,” she mentioned. “I pretty much just go to the gym, pick up heavy things and put them down.” 

Parris Todd

“When I’m home, I try to get as much time in with my trainer. I go to the weight room and work on different parts of the body because I’m on the court so much and getting a lot of cardio in,” she said. “I’m doing so much cardio on the court that I have to strengthen my muscles. It may not look like I lift weights, but I’m trying to get some muscles on my bones.”

Kate Fahey

Fahey found that not only is strength training good for her physically, it’s also good for her mentally. 

“I really like strength training because it got me stronger on the court, but it also helps me mentally knowing that I’m in shape and can outlast people. I also do a little bit of cardio. I try not to run fast, but I’ll jog or walk, and stretch as much as I can,” she shared. 

Christian Alshon

While Alshon does have a trainer to help with strength training, he believes the best way to stay fit is through his diet. 

“The best way to stay in shape is in the kitchen, not in the gym. If you’re going to eat like crap and you work out every day, it’s going to show. If you eat super healthy and you work out twice a week, you’ll look better,” he said. “I work out almost every day, and if I’m not working out, I’m doing mobility, stretching, physical therapy, something every single day, even if it’s rest and recovery.”

Every pro and every body is different. What will work for one player will not work as well for the next. But, strength training is definitely one of the top workouts the pros do to stay fit.