Inside an EPIC pickleball house

Pro player Connor Garnett breaks down the business side of MLP

July 30, 2026

 

Jay Devilliers has been around since the beginning.

Long before packed stadium courts and million-dollar leagues, Devilliers was helping shape professional pickleball into what it is today.

This week Devilliers joins Pickleballers to talk about watching the sport transform from a niche community into a global phenomenon. Catch the full episode below.

In this issue:

  • Did this player invent a new shot? 🤔

  • Playoff spots on the line at MLP Orlando 👀

  • We’re giving away 3 JOOLA paddles 🙌

  • Every pickleball player’s dream home 🏠

  • Breaking down the business of pro pickleball 💸

  • The best nets for every situation 😎

Let’s cook! 👨🏻‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

Honcho

To celebrate the FINAL DAYS of registration for all fall Honcho amateur pickleball leagues, we are partnering with Honcho and JOOLA to give away 3 brand new JOOLA Pro V pickleball paddles. ⚡️

Each winner will get to choose the paddle of their choice! 👊🏼

HOW TO ENTER

1. LIKE this post
2. TAG a few friends (every tag is a new entry!)
3. FOLLOW @honchopickleball @joolapickleball and @thekitchenpickleball
4. SHARE this post to your stories

We will choose 3 random winners on Aug. 3! 🥳

REMINDER: Registration for all Honcho amateur leagues ends THIS SUNDAY, Aug. 2. Find a league near you and sign up today!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This guy might have invented a new shot

There’s overheads, and then there’s fake overheads, which are arguably even more fun to hit.

In this clip, the guy in the white seems to have mastered the art of making his opponents think he’s about to blast the ball, only to hit a filthy drop volley into the kitchen. We’ve never seen it done quite like this before.

🔗 Check out this week’s highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

PICKLEBALLERS

Jay Devilliers: Figuring out Ben Johns, bringing pickleball to France & the body bag debate

Jay Devilliers, aka "the Flying Frenchman," is one of pro pickleball's most accomplished veterans — a former Wichita State tennis standout who transitioned into the pro ranks in 2019 and has stayed near the top of the sport for over half a decade.

In this season-closing episode of Pickleballers, Devilliers sits down with co-hosts Roscoe and Jared for a wide-ranging conversation tracing his path from a hyper-competitive French sporting family through Spanish tennis academies, Wichita State doubles, and into the earliest days of pro pickleball.

They cover his partnership with Pat Smith, his rivalry with Ben Johns and Collin Johns, and how he's stayed relevant through injuries and the sport's rapid evolution.

🔗 Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts

PICKLEBALLERS GIVEAWAY: Each week we have a giveaway to celebrate the latest episode of Pickleballers. This week we are giving away 3 SIX ZERO CORAL paddles. Enter here!

THE PROS

Major League Pickleball Orlando 2026: Last chance for teams to earn points before postseason

We’ve reached the final week of the Major League Pickleball regular season, and there are several teams still battling for the final playoff spots.

MLP Orlando starts Thursday from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

Group A: Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Las Vegas Night Owls, Miami Pickleball Club, Orlando Squeeze, Phoenix Flames, St. Louis Shock.

Group B: California Black Bears, Carolina Hogs, Chicago Slice, LA Mad Drops, New Jersey Fives, Palm Beach Royals.

Federico Staksrud will be making his debut for the 5s after being traded from the Orlando Squeeze at the trade deadline.

MLP PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

Battle at the top: The St. Louis Shock and New Jersey 5s are tied for the top spot in the league standings with 93 points each. Whichever team has the better week will be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

On the bubble: This is where things get interesting and somewhat complicated. Atlanta (No. 9, 36 points) and SoCal (No. 10, 34 points) are done with their regular seasons and watching from the couch this weekend, while the following teams are in the field and still have a chance to earn more points:

California (No. 11, 30 points)
Chicago (No. 12, 27 points)
Las Vegas (No. 13, 26 points)
Orlando (No. 14, 25 points)
Miami (No. 15, 20 points)

The Top 12 teams make the playoffs.

Only ONE DAY left before it’s gone forever!

The limited-edition JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles have been so popular that JOOLA is running out of them. We’ve been told they are only selling them through the end of July, and then they will be gone forever!

FEATURED STORY

Blue Ridge Pickle Barn offers slice of pickleball paradise in North Georgia

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia sits every pickleball player’s dream: A luxury house with a private, pro-level indoor pickleball court.

The Blue Ridge Pickle Barn by Kaizen Pickleball is a rental property located near Morganton, Georgia, that opened earlier this year and is already gaining a reputation as one of the best pickleball-specific vacation homes in the U.S.

It’s the brainchild of Chip Bulloch, a real estate developer who got into pickleball a couple years ago and quickly noticed that pickleball and vacations go hand-in-hand. So he built a pickleball retreat that can host groups of 6-8 people at a time.

Bulloch said he believes the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn represents the beginning of a new category of destination travel — one centered around pickleball rather than simply accommodations. The concept combines luxury hospitality, active lifestyles, game improvement and meaningful social connection in a setting that allows guests to shape the trip around their own group.

“People don’t remember hotel rooms,” Bulloch said. “They remember the laughter on the court, the conversations around the bar overlooking the court, and the time they spent with people they care about. We want to help create those memories.”

BOOK YOUR STAY: Browse open dates at the Blue Ridge Pickle Barn here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 10% off your reservation!

ANALYSIS

Connor Garnett breaks down the business side of pro pickleball

There was a ton of money that changed hands just before the Major League Pickleball trade deadline this year.

The New Jersey 5s spent a rumored $400,000 to acquire Federico Staksrud and Milan Rane from the Orlando Squeeze, while the Los Angeles Mad Drops spent $125,000 to get Connor Garnett from the Utah Black Diamonds.

Cash considerations were a piece of the puzzle in several other deals as well. So, what is all this money going toward, and what is the long-term investment strategy for the teams who are spending that cash?

Garnett, a former investment banker who follows the business side of pickleball more than most, recently helped us break it all down.

He discusses sponsorships, franchise valuations, merchandise sales and why some teams are focused on building a legacy now, while others are content with being middle-of-the-pack teams as the league matures.

GEAR

The best nets for every setting/price point

Whether you’re setting up for a friendly neighborhood game or outfitting a permanent court, you have many net options to choose from.

The right choice comes down to three key factors: Portability, durability and price.

Here are a few options for different price points and use cases.

DOMINATOR PORTABLE NET: This net is built for players who need a high-quality net with the convenience of mobility. It takes 5 minutes to assemble and fits into a small carry bag. Shop here

DOMINATOR PRO MAX NET: This is the net that is used for the four PPA Tour slams each year as well as all Major League Pickleball events. It’s rust-proof and heavy duty, with built-in locking wheels for portability – ideal for competitive players who want a premium experience. Shop here

Use code “KITCHEN” for 10% off all Dominator products!

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