No ads. No sponsors. No affiliates. Opens Jan 4, 2027.
We're reigniting men-only spaces
I searched Facebook for men's pickleball groups and nothing turned up. Then I searched for women's groups and found two, each with over 40,000 members. Strange, eh?
A poker night with just the boys is different from one where women are present. The conversation changes completely. Men can let loose, be more honest and be less politically correct.
Pickleball has been a blessing for men. The conversations I've heard at the courts are often serious and involve men encouraging one another. That's a big reason they keep playing.
None of this is new. The Young Men's Christian Association started in 1844 to give young men a place to grow in body, mind and faith together. Basketball and volleyball were both invented at YMCAs as vehicles for something greater than winning.
This forum takes that online. We all have different gifts, life experiences and wisdom to share, and the forum is a force multiplier for all of it.
The cult of "free"
Free forums are expensive in time and opportunity cost. They're saturated with sales, clickbait, and repeat questions that run through a single feed. Here's how this forum is different.
| Free forums | Our forum |
|---|---|
| Co-ed spaces that are synonymous with women's spaces | Men only |
| "Free" but run on ads, sales and clickbait | Gated: no ads, no sponsors, no selling |
| Criticize Big Pickle and your posts may be removed or your account suspended | Criticize who you like, within the Charter. |
| Most discussion orbits pro-game gossip and drama | Focus is on amateur rec play, competition, player development and networking |
| Messy feeds of recycled posts and repeat questions | Organized rooms and searchable topics |
| Often crude, lewd and blasphemous speech | No blasphemy, pornography or unclean speech allowed |
| Flame wars and know-it-alls | Good-faith disagreement and Charter-aligned men |
What you get
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Discussions
Go deeper than you can on a regular forum: the game, your body, your mind, your faith, your personal struggles, your wins.
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Networking
Meet men of like mind in your area through the member directory. There's also space to talk about life outside pickleball: relationships, careers, health and diet.
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Monthly live Q&A
Once a month I answer the questions members upvote most in the Q&A section, live.
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Searchable topics
Find the answer in seconds. Powerful search across every post and wiki entry.
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Wiki
Guides, links and videos that members add and improve over time.
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Onboarding
A short walkthrough of how the community works, how to contribute, and how trust levels work.
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Pseudonyms
Post under your own name or a pseudonym. Nothing is visible outside the forum. If you post video of your play for feedback, though, members will see who you are, so weigh that up.
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Private messages
Message other members directly. You are encouraged to make personal connections.
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Phone app
No app store needed. Add the forum to your home screen and it works like an app, with notifications, on iPhone and Android.
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Memes
A room for pickleball memes, and edgy is welcome. The Charter still applies: no unclean speech, no blasphemy and nothing lewd.
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Business space
Promote your local or online products and services. It's the only place in the forum where promotion is allowed, and you only see it if you go there.
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Live audio rooms (coming after launch)
Talk it out live with other members: a host, a stage of speakers, and a raised hand when you want the mic.
What gets discussed
Some of what we expect men to talk about.
The game
- Technical, tactical and mental game
- Doubles partners and on-court roles
- Mixed doubles social dynamics
- Rec play as practice, and drilling
The body
- Biomechanics and moving well
- Posture, strength and conditioning
- Injury prevention and coming back from injury
- Paddles, shoes and gear
Competition
- Stakes-based play and grassroots tournaments
- Ratings and why they divide
- Cheaters and difficult opponents
- Nerves and calm under pressure
Faith and character
- Faith on the court
- Sportsmanship and honesty
- Anger, ego and losing well
- Purpose: sport as a means, not an end
Family
- Coaching your own kids
- Homeschool PE and youth development
- Playing with your wife and kids
- Courtship, dating and marriage
Community
- Building a local playing group from nothing
- Camaraderie and men sharpening men
- Local tournaments and scenes
- Community projects
Who's behind this
I'm Kieran Ricci. I played Division I college tennis, coached tennis for over 20 years, and I'm a certified strength coach. I've coached pickleball in St. George, Utah, and I've won men's 5.0 tournaments. I'm a husband and a homeschooling dad.
In my tennis days, I saw sport as an end in itself. It was all status and pressure, and I was a bit of a brat. I broke rackets. Then I learned I could change my body and my mind, and that I could repent and be one with Christ. That changed how I saw the whole thing. I enjoyed the game again, my relationships got better, and I found a purpose in it.
That's why this forum exists.
Family-owned. No outside investors. Paid for by members.
Comments from my YouTube channel.
"The only pickleball channel I know that takes time to talk about how much our body matters."
"I'm a full-time personal trainer with a CSCS. I've been looking for this level of dedication and attention to detail in the pickleball space."
"Thank you for standing up for reality, thereby helping BOTH men and women to enjoy this wonderful game more, by understanding each other's nature."
"This is the only channel I came for real knowledge."
The price
$15 a month. Monthly only, cancel any month.
Join at $15 and keep $15 as long as you stay.
Join the waitlistStraight answers
The forum
Will this help my game?
It depends on whether you engage. Ask questions, or post videos of yourself doing specific exercises, drills or games and get feedback from the community.
Do I need to be a high-level player?
No. All playing levels are welcome.
What if I'm not getting along with another member?
It happens. Men disagree, sometimes strongly, and that's fine as long as it's cordial. If it's going nowhere in a thread, take it to private messages and settle it. And if that's a dead end, you can mute him.
Moral foundation
Do I have to be a Christian?
No. You're welcome as long as you respect the moral foundation outlined in the Charter.
What does theology have to do with pickleball?
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded as a Christian space for men. The emphasis wasn't on winning and clout, like today. As Luther Gulick, who proposed the YMCA triangle, put it, character is of more value than intellect, and intellect of more value than physical excellence. In other words, the goal of sport is to develop the complete man.
Why men only?
Because men sharpen each other best around other men. With the rise of feminism, men have been taught from a young age that masculinity is toxic and that men's spaces are a breeding ground for that toxicity. It's an inversion. It's feminism that's toxic, for both sexes. So we're building our own space in pickleball, because masculinity, strength and leadership are male virtues that need to be encouraged.
Membership
What age range is this for?
Men 18 and over.
Can I be anonymous?
Yes, you can use a pseudonym and a profile picture that isn't you. However, if you want to post videos for community feedback, that anonymity will be compromised. That's for you to weigh up.
Do you sell my data or run ads?
No ads, no sponsors, no affiliate links, and I don't sell your data. Members can promote their own businesses in the business space, but nobody pays us to put anything in front of you.
Is it easy to cancel my membership?
Yes. Cancel online any time. You keep access to the end of the month you paid for.
Which countries is the forum open to?
United States and Canada.
Can I ask off-topic questions for advice?
Yes. You can talk about relationships, careers, faith and more. Networking is a big part of pickleball, so we want to help however we can. And pickleball players are people too, so you can discuss people things.
Read the Charter. If you agree with it, join the waitlist. We open Monday, January 4, 2027.
The Dinkredibles Charter
What this is. A private pickleball forum for men, 18 and over, who use sport to build strength, character, and discipline.
The foundation. This community is anchored in the historic Christian moral framework. Denominational debates do not belong here. You do not have to share the faith to join, but you must respect the foundation and never promote positions hostile to it.
Conduct and speech. Straight talk, goodwill, and no gossip. No personal attacks, defamation, doxxing, or unlawful posts. No blasphemy, unclean speech, pornography, or lewd content. If you wonder whether a post crosses the line, the hesitation is your answer.
Good faith and privacy. One account per man. What is posted here stays here: no screenshots, copying, or public leaks. The same rule binds me: I won't use anything you write outside the forum without asking you first. No soliciting or pitching services except in the business space.
Content. You can edit your posts after publishing, though new members have a short window at first. Edits are visible to members. Wiki entries stay open for members to improve.
Governance. Moderation calls are final. If you disagree with one, take it up privately with a moderator, not in the threads.
This is the waitlist charter and a living document. Agreeing to it is not a membership agreement. The Charter and the Terms of Service apply when you're admitted as a member, and you'll see both before you enter.
One more step: check your inbox.
Click the confirmation link I just sent, and you're on the list. You'll be first to hear when the doors open.