Our new Pickleballers podcast is only 3 episodes old, but already our set has been graced by the GOAT herself. 🐐

Anna Leigh Waters and her mother and coach Leigh Waters joined the show at our Austin HQ recently while she was in town for MLP Austin. They discussed their pickleball journey, what they learned during Anna Leigh's climb to No. 1 and more.

You won’t want to miss this episode. More details below. (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)

Also in this issue:

• How watching the pros can make you a better player 🧠

• He went all-out for this ATP 😮

• Father’s Day pickleball gift guide 🎁

• This woman lost 100 pounds playing pickleball 👏

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

GET DAPS PICKLEBALL SHOES FOR A YEAR + ANY JOOLA PADDLE!

We've helped create the BEST PICKLEBALL SHOE EVER and are so excited to give away DAPS shoes for a year AND any Joola paddle to one winner and a pair of DAPS shoes to 10 winners.

Winners can choose their preferred color and style! 👊

THIS IS A NEWSLETTER ONLY GIVEAWAY … so SUBSCRIBE to our FREE newsletter HERE & RECEIVE up to 100 additional entries! 👊

If you’ve already subscribed, just enter your email again and follow the bonus steps to register.

BONUS MULTIPLIER: INVITE 5 friends to our Facebook community (The Kitchen - A Pickleball Community) and ALL of your entries are DOUBLED! ✅

🔗 Click here to buy a pair of DAPS shoes - use code ALLRISE for 25% off

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This full-stretch ATP is a thing of beauty

You might already know this about us, but we are suckers for great pickleball shots. Well, this diving ATP is about as good as it gets.

We’d also recommend having the sound on for this one, as the reaction from the players on court and those watching off to the side reminds us of what makes rec play so awesome.

🔗 The shots leading up to this one aren’t bad, either

PICKLEBALLERS PODCAST

‘The PPA says it sucks to be #1’ — Anna Leigh Waters shares unfiltered stories of life at the top

Anna Leigh Waters and her mother and coach Leigh Waters recently sat down with Pickleballers co-hosts Roscoe Bellamy (pro player) and Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) to discuss ALW’s climb to No. 1, how Anna Leigh became a star and what it takes to continue being the most dominant player in the game.

She also gives her thoughts on the current state of paddles, the importance of taking time off from pickleball and shares behind-the-scenes stories of her life as a pro athlete.

🔗 Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple

POLL

THE PROS

How watching pro pickleball can make you a better player

Yes, you read that headline correctly. Simply WATCHING pickleball will make you a better pickleball player.

And lucky for you, there are thousands of hours of pro pickleball matches available on YouTube for free. So let’s break down what to look for and how to learn from the best:

COURT POSITIONING AND AWARENESS

Watching the pros is a masterclass in court positioning. Pay attention to how they move as partners. If one is pulled out wide, the other moves with them. It’s almost like an invisible rubber band is wrapped around them. Watch how they stack, return, where they’re standing on offense and defense. Soon you will see patterns and apply them to your own game.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOT SELECTION

Rec play brings all levels together, from beginners to advanced players. It can be easy to get caught up in hard-hitting battles and going for risky shots. You’ll notice how often pros DON’T go for the put away, drive, or any other risky shot if they are out of position. Instead, they reset the ball and give themselves the chance at a higher percentage put away shot later in the rally.

WANT TO WATCH THE PROS NOW?

Major League Pickleball is back in action this week with a full slate of matches in Daytona Beach, Florida. The fifth stop of the MLP season features 9 Premier Level teams, each playing at least 5 matches over the next four days. Click here for the match schedule and TV information.

🔗 More ways you can learn from watching the pros

AMATEUR OF THE WEEK

This woman lost 100 pounds playing pickleball 👏

FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Find the perfect gift for your pickleball-playing dad

Father’s Day is just around the corner (it’s June 15 this year), and if you’re looking for something to get your pickleball-playing dad, we’ve got you covered with a few ideas.

If he needs a new paddle, a couple of our top choices are the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro IV 16mm (buy it here) or the ONIX Hype X Pro (buy it here) if you’re looking for something at a lower price point. If he already has more than enough paddles but needs something to carry them, the JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Duffle (buy it here) is one of the best and most popular bags on the market.

Or you can check out one of our popular hats that any dad would look great in:

This is The Kitchen's classic black dad hat, made with breathable fabric and a soft structured profile. All of our hats are crafted and custom embroidered by Imperial, the Official Headwear of The Kitchen.

This green structured snapback reps our very own Major League Pickleball team — the Nashville Chefs! It features a white rope with 3D raised embroidery and yellow Chefs logo on the front.

🔗 More Father’s Day pickleball gift ideas

QUICK HITS

• Genius: How to deal with lobs

• High stakes: Make 100 dinks in a row or get hit

• Cringe: These serve routines are out of control

• Throwback: Perfect placement from Jessie Irvine