At first, pickleball seems simple. You learn how to keep score, follow the basic rules like the non-volley zone and the two-bounce rule and feel like you understand the game.

But hidden within these rules is something much smarter: The design of pickleball doesn't just make it easier to learn — it makes it strategically brilliant.

A few small limitations, such as the kitchen and the bounce rules, completely change how points unfold. They reverse the logic of tennis and reward smart play over power. We take a closer look at how the rules shape everything from serves to dinks below.

Also in this issue:

• That’s how you close out a game in style 🤯

• Entourage creator Doug Ellin on his pickleball obsession 🎙️

• Trades and upsets change the MLP landscape 😱

• Coming to pickleball from basketball? Try these shoes 👟

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

We’re giving away TEN AVOURA PADDLES and a luxury trip to San Diego

We are excited to partner with our friends at Avoura to give away 10 BRAND NEW AVOURA PADDLES + the GRAND PRIZE wins a luxury trip to San Diego. More details below:

• Grand prize winner and their guest receive an all-expense paid trip to San Diego’s 5-star Alila Marea Beach Resort 🏖️

• a private lesson with Steve & Jennifer Dawson (Co founders of Avoura)

• 2 premium Avoura pickleball paddles

In addition, the next NINE winners will all receive an Avoura paddle of their choice! 🤯

THIS IS A NEWSLETTER ONLY GIVEAWAY…so CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

The optimal way to win game point

We love a good hands battle here at The Kitchen. It’s even better when they come on game point.

In a match this weekend at MLP St. Louis, Gabe Tardio and Kate Fahey put their fast hands on full display during this epic game point against Jaume Martinez Vich and Vivienne David.

If ever there was a perfect way to close out a game, this is it.

🔗 Check out Tardio’s insane reaction time

PICKLEBALLERS PODCAST

Entourage creator Doug Ellin might be the biggest pickleball lover in America

In case you missed it last week, Doug Ellin, the creator Entourage, joined the Pickleballers crew for one of our most entertaining episodes to date. Ellin shares behind-the-scenes stories from Entourage and talks about his involvement in pickleball in Southern California, where he has played a huge role in introducing tons of celebrities, athletes and pros to the sport.

He also talks about the time he played Anna Leigh Waters before she was the best women’s pickleball player in the world.

 🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify

THE PROS

Trades and upsets change the MLP landscape

A lot has happened in Major League Pickleball in the past few days. A quick refresher:

• The Dallas Flash lost for the first (and second) time at MLP St. Louis this weekend.

• Ben Johns was traded to the Los Angeles Mad Drops.

• The New Jersey 5s made a change to their men's starting lineup.

• The Columbus Sliders got over the hump vs. a top team (Dallas).

• The St. Louis Shock went undefeated in their home event to move into the No. 1 spot in the points-per-match standings.

Oh yeah, and Brooklyn continued to hum along, even without one of their best players.

Got all that?

This was by far the hardest week to do our MLP Power Rankings, based on the fact that we haven't seen two of the main contenders (LA and New Jersey) in action with their new lineups. But we gave it our best shot anyway.

At the Challenger Level, the Nashville Chefs — The Kitchen’s MLP team — made a move at the last minute to get Genie Erokhina in place of Michelle Esquivel, who was placed on Injured Reserve.

You can find a roundup of all the trades that were made in the past week here.

The league's next event -- MLP Dallas -- starts Thursday and should provide some much-needed clarity, as LA, Dallas, St. Louis, New Jersey and Texas are all in the field.

🔗 MLP Week 8 Power Rankings

FEATURED STORY

How the genius rules of pickleball shape the strategy

We all know pickleball is growing incredibly fast, and a big reason is that it is easy to start playing. You do not need formal racket training. You can walk into an open play session, mix into games and have fun. But what really makes pickleball stand out is its structure. A couple of key rules make it a game of positioning, patience and control.

Two rules in particular change everything:

• The non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen

• The two-bounce rule

To see how different pickleball is, just look at tennis. In tennis doubles, the serving team starts with an advantage. One player is already at the net, and the server moves in after serving. That means both players are in position to volley any return. There is no restriction on where they can hit the ball. The net becomes their territory, and they can attack from anywhere. This is why holding serve is expected in tennis doubles.

Now compare that to pickleball.

The two-bounce rule requires the serve to bounce, and then the return to bounce again before the serving team can play it. That forces the serving team to stay back, while the returning team can move forward to the kitchen line. By the time the third shot is played, the defense is already at the net, while the offense is still deep. That shift is intentional. It gives the returning team the advantage.

The non-volley zone then adds another layer. In tennis, a player at the net can smash anything. In pickleball, a player cannot volley a ball while standing in the kitchen. This prevents players from hovering over the net and taking away all time and space. The non-volley zone slows the game down, rewards control and gives the serving team a fair chance to move forward.

🔗 More on how the rules of pickleball make the game strategically brilliant

HE DID WHAT!?

Things just keep getting weirder and weirder. 😵‍💫

If you’ve somehow missed this Coldplay concert meme going around, here’s a pickleball spin on the whole affair (pun intended). What’s crazier: Getting caught cheating on the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert, or skipping pickleball for a Coldplay concert?

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

DAPS Desi Mid shoes offer premium ankle protection

If you’re coming to pickleball from a sport other than tennis — such as basketball, baseball/softball or football — you might be used to a shoe that comes much higher on the ankle than most pickleball or tennis shoes.

If that’s a style you’re used to and low-top shoes feel uncomfortable, or if you’ve had an ankle injury and want more support in that area, the DAPS Desi Mid pickleball shoes could be the perfect shoe for you.

As the name suggests, they’re a mid-top shoe that offers comfortable padding around the ankle and added support for even the hardest changes of direction.

You can find our in-depth review of the DAPS shoes here, and read our breakdown of what the shoe experts at the Heeluxe Performance Lab had to say about them here.

DAPS also come in men's and women's sizes.

🔗 Shop the DAPS Desi Mid shoes and check out our list of the best pickleball shoes on the market

QUICK HITS

• Taking over: We love watching a woman dominate a court full of men

• Wow: Who says pickleball isn’t athletic

• Tag: Hayden Patriquin isn’t afraid to bodybag you

• All smiles: Riley Newman knows how to play to the crowd

• Throwback: Speaking of great game points

• Padel rage: Her opponent didn’t appreciate the shot selection