Get in the game

RADL Wire Recap - This week’s RADL Wire brings a mix of health, style, and innovation across the racquet sports world. Humana is taking pickleball on the road, reinforcing its mission to promote well-being and community through active living. BOAST unveils its 2025–2026 women’s collection, blending heritage with modern performance for today’s female athletes. North of the border, Canada celebrates a milestone with Burlington opening the nation’s first combined indoor and outdoor pickleball and padel facility. And in our health spotlight, we share the inspiring story of Tom Rush, who found lasting relief from chronic back pain through the GolfForever program—proof that the right training can change more than just your game.

• Humana Invites Everyone to Get in the Game With Pickleball Pop-Up Events

• BOAST unveils its 2025-2026 women’s collection

• Padel tournaments, investments and growth in Canada

• A protocol to battle back pain

INDUSTRY NEWS

Humana Invites Everyone to Get in the Game With Pickleball Pop-Up Events

Humana Inc. is taking pickleball on the road to celebrate their ongoing commitment to creating experiences that enable health, enhance activity, and foster connectivity. As part of the ‘Invite’ campaign launched earlier this year, Humana is inviting older adults to ‘get in the game’ with pickleball pop-ups that will transform three mall locations into vibrant hubs of movement, play and connection, offering community members fun and accessible opportunities to stay active. Kicking off directly after the wrap of Humana’s third National Mall of Pickleball in Washington, D.C., Humana will hit the road and transform malls at three Simon locations this October.   LEARN MORE

BOAST Unveils Redesigned Women’s Collection

BOAST is proud to unveil its 2025-2026 women’s collection, an on and off court apparel collection that draws on the brand’s classic heritage while reimagining for today’s female athlete. The apparel launched on September 25 and leading tennis retailers across the country. The collection introduces a new perspective on women’s tennis and lifestyle apparel, blending performance-driven, meticulous design with BOAST signature irreverent style and essence. Each garment was purposefully designed with the athlete’s comfort and movement in mind. Elevated fabrics, thoughtful construction, versatile silhouettes, and refined details transition seamlessly from the court to everyday life, reflecting the convergence of sport and fashion that has defined BOAST since 1973.

Experience Kona from Home with the WRC25 Virtual Experience

Discover the World Racquets Conference—whenever and wherever you are! The WRC25 Virtual Experience brings the racquet community together like never before. Join influential speakers, gain valuable industry insights, and pick up practical playing tips—all designed to inspire, inform, and elevate your game and professional journey. LEARN MORE

Inspirato Introduces Exclusive Wimbledon 2026 Experience

Inspirato Incorporated, a luxury vacation club and property technology company, announced the Inspirato Wimbledon 2026 experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world in true Inspirato style. From July 9-13, 2026, Inspirato members will experience Wimbledon’s Championship Weekend in unmatched style with premium Debenture tickets on Centre Court for the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Finals. Enjoy prime, reserved seating with exceptional views as the sport’s biggest stars compete for one of tennis’s most coveted titles. Off the court, debenture access includes entry to private dining areas and bars, offering refined cuisine and relaxed spaces to unwind between the matches.

PADEL

New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom to Host Pro Padel League’s City’s Cup Finals

The Pro Padel League (PPL) announced that its 2025 season championship, the City’s Cup Finals, will be held at the world-renowned Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City from Thursday, October 16, through Sunday, October 19. Tickets are on sale now on Ticketmaster for the four-day championship tournament. General admission ticket prices start at $30. VIP ticket prices start at $190 and include prime seating, private lounge access, and a complimentary premium bar.

Epic Padel secures $10M to turn the U.S. into the next padel powerhouse

Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world with 30m players in 130 countries on over 63,000 courts. But in the U.S., it’s still gaining traction. Epic Padel is here to change that. Inspired by padel’s meteoric rise across Europe (where Spain has 17k courts, Italy has over 9k Sweden 4k, the UK now has 1k+ courts) – compared to fewer than 700 in the U.S. – the Virginia-based operator is on a mission to close that gap. Today, the company announced $10 million in funding to accelerate U.S. expansion and support the next wave of padel innovation worldwide.

Burlington club makes its mark as Canada’s first indoor and outdoor pickleball and padel facility

Blue Zone Courts celebrates its one-year anniversary on October 11, 2025, as Canada’s first club to offer indoor and outdoor pickleball and padel. To commemorate the milestone, the club is hosting Blue Zone Cup Anniversary Tournaments with festivities from October 31 to November 2, bringing its Blue Zone community together to compete and celebrate a year of play, growth, and connection.

FITNESS

One Avid Tennis Player’s Triumph Over Back Pain

Tom Rush has been playing golf and tennis his entire life. He credits his mother for getting him and his siblings actively involved in both sports. Now 39, Rush says golf and tennis have likely contributed to his back pain for the past six years.

Once that started, the Minnesota resident immediately called his older brother, whom he’d once teased for complaining about back issues. “The first time I threw out my back, I called him and apologized because this pain is the worst,” he says. “Over the past six years, I’d probably seen three or four physical therapists who each time would give me a few stretches that would work for a period of time. I’d do them every day, though eventually their effectiveness would wear off. I didn’t know medically what was happening, but it’s like each stretch would put a band-aid on that issue, and then a new issue would arise.”

He purchased the GolfForever training system and has stuck to the program every day since. Desperate at that point, he was unable to play tennis or even throw a baseball with his kids. “I would pretend to be a catcher with them and would feel it the next day,” he says. “I was basically in constant fear of doing anything, really. I’m obsessed with being active yet felt totally sidelined. It’s a desire to be a good dad and play with my kids. I got very desperate and had to try something.”

From missing tennis and dealing with ever-present pain, Rush is now enjoying the results of his commitment to his GolfForever daily routines. “There are times where I’ll look at a drive and be like, wow, I wasn’t even trying to lay into that one and it went pretty far. Since I started with GolfForever, I haven’t skipped a day using it. I even bring the bands with me when I travel.”  MORE ON TOM’S JOURNEY