Like many who pick up a paddle, our founder Kelli didn't just learn to play. She leaned in.

As a new empty nester, pickleball became her rhythm. It was where she found her community, her exercise, and her competitive spark. She played until the game became her own, getting better with every serve, every dink, and every sweat-soaked afternoon.

But as her skill grew, so did a relentless frustration. It wasn't her talent holding her back. It was the slip of her grip.

Chapter One

The frustration

Regardless of the weather or the court, the moisture on her brow and in her palms created a constant paddle slip that was more than annoying. It was affecting her game.

She tried everything. She wiped her hands on her skirt between points. She even resorted to wiping her palms on the ground, searching for any bit of grit to find her grip. She knew she could play better, but she was fighting her own hands instead of the match.

Chapter Two

The dead-end aisle

Driven by necessity, Kelli walked off the court and into a pro shop, determined to find a fix. She walked out with a bag full of powders, grips and loose rosin, but the products were as frustrating as the problem.

They required her to repeatedly stop her game, head to the sidelines and shake products onto her hands. Or settle for a sticky, taped-up paddle. After scouring the internet for a wearable option, she realized it simply didn't exist.

Chapter Three

The lightbulb

The lightbulb moment came from that dual frustration: slipping hands and a sweating forehead. Kelli thought, "Why hasn't anyone combined the power of professional rosin with the comfort of a high-performance sweatband?"

She decided to stop searching and start sewing. Her first prototype was simple. A terry cloth sweatband with a specialized pocket to hold rosin on demand. Wear it on your non-dominant wrist. Tap, tap, tap your dominant hand on your Swips sweatband. Your hand is instantly dry and ready to play.

Chapter Four

More than a sweatband

We took the old-school secret of the pros and tucked it into a sleek, functional accessory that lives right on your wrist. This is more than a sweatband. It's built for the player who loves the game and is determined not to let their win slip through their fingers.

Because the best games are the ones played with friends, every Swips ships as a 2-pack with two rosin inserts. Whether you're keeping a spare for the back half of a long day on the court, or handing a fresh one to your partner, we believe in keeping the whole court in the game.

Chapter Five

Our promise

Solve the sweat problem. Stay on the court. Keep the rally going.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or a pro-circuit regular, Swips is here to make sure your talent, not your sweat, determines the game.