You’ve probably seen it—the viral video of a man getting kicked in the head after a pickleball match.

What you might not have seen are the myriad ways people are reacting to this shocking moment, with some going completely against the spirit of pickleball.

We dive into that below.

Also in this issue:

• He’s a living pickleball machine

• Where to dink in every situation

• 5.0, pregnant, and slaying

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Hayden is the Final Boss

Our pal Wes Burrows says it best: "Hayden Patriquin moves like the pong CPU on expert mode."

Couldn't agree more, Wes.

But Hayden's got hands, too. Just try to keep them in focus watching this electrifying point, which has everything the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match didn’t.

POLL

For reasons that will become clear in our Feature Story below, we're curious:

What's the most dramatic moment between people that you've witnessed on the court?

Answer here.

INSTRUCTION

The Pillars of Dink Strategy

Pro Catherine Parenteau gave us an invaluable lesson in dink strategy recently. Here's what you need to know to instantly change your approach to the kitchen line:

1. Predictability is your enemy. You have to switch it up and stop going with the flow of cross-court dink battles. That's dink 101. Keep 'em guessing.

2. Target the middle in early game. Focus your first few dinks toward the middle, then gauge how the other team reacts. Are they awkward? Is communication a weak point? If so, keep pushing the middle to force errors, then throw one at the weaker player.

3. Conversely: split them up if your team has a fierce speed up. If you can force one opponent left and the other to the right, you open up opportunities for middle putaways.

To visualize these and one more key strategy, check out Catherine's video here.

FEATURED STORY

The Kick Heard ‘Round the World

As Peter Shonk and his partner celebrated a hard-fought victory at an invitational tourney last weekend, what should have been a moment of mutual respect turned into a shocking display of aggression.

The point ends. Peter's team wins. Peter lets out a victorious shout.

Then, while tapping paddles with the opposing team, Peter apparently struck one of the loser's paddle a little too hard and it fell out of his hand.

We got in touch with Peter to hear about what happened next from his perspective.

...While Peter is bent over retrieving the paddle, he's violently kicked in the head by the paddle's owner. See the video here.

As the video gets passed around, so too do the buck wild opinions about the incident:

• Some say they're disappointed Peter didn't press charges (he was in a foreign country & says he doesn't want to waste time on this guy).

• Others, shockingly, say Peter "had it coming," as if his post-win yell was enough to warrant assault (it obviously wasn't).

Putting those frustrating viewpoints aside: we're glad that Peter is ultimately OK and hope the aggressor gets the help he needs to grow as a person.

We've never seen anything like this happen on the court before. But we can't help but wonder if you have. If so, answer the poll above, or just reply to this email.

Don’t Miss: Kitchen Head Chef Jared Paul broke all of this down on the Southern Pickleball Podcast here (they helped us produce our TKO Atlanta tournament).

HYDRATION

Better Than Water

Sometimes, water alone isn’t enough to sustain you through those intense 3-hour pickleball marathons. We’ve become big fans of Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier electrolyte sticks. They boast 3x the electrolytes found in other popular sports drinks, along with 8 essential vitamins and clinically tested nutrients in every stick.

If you’re looking for better hydration when you play, pick some up at your local grocery store or order online here at 30% off.

Loryn Hansbrough, a clean beauty influencer, competed at PPA Worlds this year...while 32 weeks pregnant.

➝ Loryn played in the 5.0 mixed doubles (or, uh, "Mixed Triples"?) event and says that while pregnancy slowed her down physically on the court, it actually improved her game.

"It’s helped me to slow down because you have to stop to hit the ball. Before when I was super active, I could move really quick, and sometimes I’d run through my shots. Now when I get there, I have to be slower and make sure that I’m hitting a good, solid shot."

ORIGIN STORY

The Story of Pickleball’s Family Brand

Franklin deserves a lot of credit in pickleball...but also just as a company with over 10,000 SKUs in sporting goods.

Since entering pickleball in 2017, this family-run company has focused on delivering affordable, pro-quality paddles and building meaningful partnerships with players like the Johnson family and Megan Fudge.

Rooted in community and innovation, Franklin’s approach goes beyond profit.

“We’re not out for the quick buck,” President Adam Franklin told us for our Franklin origin story.

With pickleball set to become their second-biggest sport, Franklin is proving that family values and long-term vision can shape the game’s future.

QUICK HITS

• Smart Shopping: Why swing weight matters when buying paddles

• Woah: Ever heard of beach tennis? Looks pretty fun 

• Competition: Unforgettable moments from PPA Worlds

• Impressive: Pickleball in India is blowing up 

• Lesson Learned: Don’t bodybag Genie Bouchard 🫢 

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