DALLAS, TX – Pickleball is truly a sport for everyone, and that’s one of the reasons why players love it. 

Pickleballers hail from all over the nation, with different backgrounds, and unify in their appreciation for this remarkable sport. 

Every player hits the court with a unique story. This is Sutton Howard’s.

“I was a big athlete growing up as a kid. I played all different types of sports. And when I got to the college level, I tore my meniscus and that was as far as my sports career went,” shared Howard. “My whole life was basically bound by sports, and that’s all I was ever interested in. Once that was over, I really didn’t have anything to fall back on.”

From there, unfortunately, Howard’s life took a hard turn.

Alcohol and drugs took over.

“I started getting more involved in the social scene. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I was drinking, partying, and long story short, I became dependent on opiates and all different types of substances from there,” explained Howard. “I was basically just on the most god-awful downward spiral for about 15 years, which resulted in countless time in county jail and prison. And I was homeless in the Tenderloin in San Francisco for four years.”

“Things just got ugly,” continued Howard. “I really needed a change.”

In March 2023, he took the first step towards healing and setting his life on a new path by starting treatment and moving back home. And when he did, he found pickleball.

“My mom had been telling me about pickleball, and the day I moved home she had it set up for us to go play. From that day on, I haven’t stopped playing,” said Howard.

Nine months into his pickleball journey, Howard already plays at a 5.0 level - and he’s also a certified pro athlete trainer. He even won a PPA Moneyball event, too.

Today, he claims that pickleball truly saved his life.

“Athletics was basically the love of my life and losing that was so hard, but with pickleball, I’ve found that again. And it gives me a lot of purpose and a lot of passion, joy, and fun,” confided Howard. “It’s a pretty crazy ride. I’ve been playing pickleball for such a short amount of time, but it’s solely the reason for the change in my life.”

Howard didn’t come from tennis like the majority of pickleball players. While picking up a paddle came rather easily, it’s taken a lot of hard work to achieve his 5.0 status.

“What got me hooked was Ben Johns’ backhand. I’ve repeatedly drilled that until my head’s going to explode. And all the kitchen play, the dinking and rallying, it’s therapeutic for me,” he said.

Admittedly, Howard looks up to Ben and Collin Johns and their remarkable success.

“I think the Johns brothers' ability to break the game down to a science and be able to really outlast everybody is just so amazing to watch,” he praised. “That’s something I’ve really taken after.”

Howard sticks to a regimented training schedule where drilling is a top priority.

Off the court, he also hits the gym on a regular basis to supplement his gameplay.

“I do a lot of leg, core, and footwork training, a lot of specific movements like functional movements and different mobility and flexibility training so that I can last on the court,” explained Howard. “This is a full-time job, honestly.”

Thanks to his flexible work schedule, though, Howard can truly dedicate himself to honing his pickleball craft.

“I have the time to do it, and I’ve decided that this is what I’m going to do,” he insisted. “I’m going to push it to the max because I know this is my chance.”

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Howard found time in his schedule to become a certified pickleball coach, too.

“I’ve always loved helping people, and I love inspiring others to get better. It’s this feeling of seeing people completely transform,” he mentioned.

This year, Howard’s goal is to enter into qualifiers for pro matchups. Not only is he aiming high, he’s taking considerable action to actually get him there.

“My routine is solid and I’m super disciplined. I have so much confidence in myself and my athletic ability. I really believe in myself with the things I’ve been through and what I can overcome. Pickleball is easier than what I’ve been through, so this feels manageable,” he shared.

“I use my drive as inspiration because I feel like I’ve been short-changed a little bit. I didn’t ask to have addictions or go to jail. This is the opportunity for me to really overpower the things I’ve been through and shed a lot more light on my life,” he concluded.

In Howard's case, pickleball continues to be a game-changer in every way possible.