On July 29 Knight Eady, a sports marketing and event management group based in Birmingham, hosted their first ever Hops n’ Drops pickleball tournament in an effort to “connect the Birmingham pickleball community” according to the company’s press release.

“Hops ‘n Drops was born out of necessity,” the release said. “While there are hundreds of tournaments for the experienced player, there are no outlets for a newer player to test their skills in a safe environment.

“We aim to take the thriving young professional culture that beats throughout the restaurants, bars, sporting venues and parks around Birmingham and channel it into the up-and-coming sport the world is falling in love with.”

The tournament was divided into two categories, the Hops and the Drops, to separate the beginners from the pros.

“The Hops division is for the players looking to drink more than dink, while the Drops division is for the more experienced players looking for a little more competition,” the release said.