About Big Pickle Balls

Welcome to Big Pickle Balls — a site built by a real pickleball player for real pickleball players.

My name is Gregory de la Cruz, and I’m based in Arlington, Virginia. I’ve been playing pickleball for years — long enough to remember when courts weren’t packed and you didn’t have to schedule open play like a dentist appointment.

My Pickleball Experience

I’ve played recreationally, competitively, indoors, outdoors, in tournaments, and in plenty of heated neighborhood matches where pride was definitely on the line. I’ve tested paddles, gloves, grips, shoes, and just about every piece of gear I could get my hands on.

Along the way I realized something: there’s a lot of noise in the pickleball world. Everyone claims to have the “best paddle.” Every brand promises “more spin.” And beginners often feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what actually matters.

That’s where Big Pickle Balls comes in.

Why I Created This Site

I created Big Pickle Balls because I wanted a place that cuts through the hype. Not a corporate mega-sports site. Not generic AI-written fluff. Not paid reviews pretending to be unbiased. Just honest, experience-based pickleball content from someone who actually plays.

I’ve made the beginner mistakes. I’ve bought the wrong gear. I’ve lost matches I should have won. And I’ve learned from all of it. This site is where I share those lessons.

My Mission

The mission is simple: help everyday players get better, play smarter, and enjoy the game more. That means clear explanations of rules and strategy, honest gear insights, helpful beginner guides, real-world training tips, and no overcomplicated jargon.

Pickleball is exploding in popularity, but many new players feel intimidated. My goal is to make improvement accessible — whether you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or grinding to move up skill levels. If you leave this site more confident than when you arrived, it’s doing its job.

More Than Just a Store

Yes, we offer gear and resources — including curated products and beginner-friendly courses — but Big Pickle Balls is built as a community-first platform. I believe trust matters. Transparency matters. Experience matters.

That’s why you’ll see real opinions here. If something isn’t worth your money, I’ll say it. If something genuinely improves your game, I’ll explain why. And as the site grows, so will the content — more in-depth strategy guides, gear breakdowns, player stories, and local court spotlights around Virginia and beyond.

The Broader Network

Beyond BigPickleBalls, I’m the founder of DinkerDates.com — America’s dedicated pickleball social network — and the operator of USAPickleballs.com, the country’s largest pickleball court directory covering all 50 states.

Let’s Connect

If you have questions, gear suggestions, training topics you’d like covered, or just want to talk pickleball strategy, I’d love to hear from you. This site exists because of players like you.

See you at the kitchen line.