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Inside look at the wild world of pro pickleball
Proton offering huge sale on their premium paddles
15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro is becoming a star right before our eyes. The teenage phenom balled out at the Atlanta Pickleball Championships last week, earning silver in men’s singles and fourth in men’s doubles, despite starting the week as a double-digit seed in both events.
He became a fan favorite in the process, with Atlanta being dubbed “TAMA TOWN” for the weekend. His performance at one of the biggest events of the year puts him on the map as a serious threat for the second half of 2026. More on his incredible performance below.
Also in this issue:
How can Anna Leigh Waters be this good? 🤯
Inside look at the wild world of pro pickleball 🏟️
PPA Tour, MLP get $225M investment 💰
This epic pickleball house just hit the market 🏠
Proton offering huge sale on latest paddles 💸
How to help families of players who died in plane crash 😢
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Is Anna Leigh Waters the best offensive AND defensive player?
It should be illegal for Anna Leigh Waters to be both the best offensive AND defensive player in the world — but that appears to be the case.
In this point from last week’s Atlanta Pickleball Championships, her defense is on full display as she fights off multiple huge overheads from Hayden Patriquin in the mixed doubles final.
Patriquin and Anna Bright would go on to win this incredible point, but Waters/Ben Johns took the match in 3 games.
AMATEUR LEAGUES
Don’t miss out on the best Amateur Pickleball Party League of your life! Only 4 days left!
Join a local amateur pickleball league. Make friends. Build your community.
We’ve partnered with Honcho Pickleball to bring social amateur pickleball leagues to 70+ cities nationwide (see locations below). Registration ends THIS WEEK! If you’re looking to make friends and build your pickleball community, these leagues are perfect.
Use code KITCHEN for the best price. 👨🏻🍳
THE PROS
Tama Shimabukuro steals the spotlight in Atlanta, but top seeds roll in finals
The favorites may have prevailed in every division on Championship Sunday at the PPA Tour Atlanta Pickleball Championships, but in a few years fans could look back on this week as the tournament Tama Shimabukuro became a star.
The talented 15-year-old from Hawaii made the final in men's singles and the semifinals in men's doubles at one of the biggest tournaments of the year, despite starting the week as a double-digit seed in both divisions.
He became a crowd favorite with impressive wins over No. 2 Federico Staksrud, No. 11 Noe Khlif and No. 3 Hunter Johnson in singles. He ultimately fell to No. 1 Chris Haworth in Sunday's men's singles final, but not before the announcers dubbed Atlanta "Tama Town" because of the fan support he was receiving all weekend.
In doubles, Shimabukuro and Yuta Funemizu upset No. 2 Hayden Patriquin/Christian Alshon in the Round of 16 before falling to No. 13 Roscoe Bellamy/Connor Garnett in the semifinals.
Shimabukuro and Funemizu settled for fourth, but the result puts both of them on map as serious contenders who could be future Top-10 players on the men's side.
PICKLEBALL DREAM HOUSE
This epic house with pickleball court in Lakeland, Florida, could be yours for $2.69M
A spectacular home in Lakeland, Florida, that features a state-of-the-art indoor pickleball court just hit the market — and could be yours if you’re willing to meet the $2.69 million asking price.
Tons of pros have played and stayed at the home in the past, including: Megan Fudge, Ryler DeHeart, Jay Devilliers, Andrei Daescu, Rafa Hewett, Yuta Funemizu, Eric Oncins, Grayson Goldin, Dylan Frazier and more.
“This is a special house, and we really want it to go to somebody who loves pickleball like we do,” said the owner, Eddie Anderson.
DOCUMENTARY
New reality series ‘Partners’ gives behind-the-scenes glimpse at pro pickleball
A new reality series called "Partners" was released on Tuesday and is now available on the PPA Tour’s YouTube Channel, Amazon Prime and Pickleball TV. The documentary gives fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at the inner-workings of pro pickleball and the players who compete on the PPA Tour.
The six-part series follows more than 25 players, coaches and executives at the center of the PPA Tour. Prominent players in the series include Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, Parris Todd, Ben Johns, Gabe Tardio, Hayden Patriquin, Christian Alshon, Hunter Johnson and more.
We were granted early access and have watched all six episodes. Without spoiling too much, we can tell you that the show is interesting, spicy at times and offers something for everybody — whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer.
TRENDING
Pickleball Inc. has become the new parent company of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball following a $225 million investment led by Apollo Sports Capital.
The deal integrates professional and amateur pickleball with leading technology, retail and infrastructure platforms.
Pickleball Inc.’s newly merged business operations combined to generate more than $140 million in revenue in 2025, while setting a host of growth records.
GEAR
Proton offering HUGE sale on premium paddles
After settling its recent dispute with the PPA Tour, Proton Pickleball is now offering a huge sale on all of their premium paddles.
The Project Flamingo and Project Roadrunner paddles are now $150 — more than $100 off regular price.
The Project Peacock — Proton’s latest paddle that was released in the fall of 2025 — is now $180, down from $280.
Proton developed a 100% foam core in the Peacock, giving it a much softer and more responsive feel without sacrificing top-end power.
Proton says third-party testing has also shown that the foam core is more resistant to breakdown over time than traditional honeycomb cores and other similar paddles — and it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
🔗 Check out our full review of the Proton Peacock here or shop all Proton paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” for another 15% off
FUNDRAISER FOR CRASH VICTIMS
How to help families of plane crash victims who were heading to pickleball tournament
The five people who were killed in a Texas plane crash on their way to a pickleball tournament last week were members of Amarillo Pickleball Club -- Seren Wilson, 19; Brooke Skypala, 45; Stacy Hedrick, 51; Justin “Glen” Appling, 37; and Hayden Dillard, 39. They died in the crash Thursday night, the organization announced on Facebook on Friday.
▪️ Wilson, the youngest victim, was a former high school tennis player. Donate to the Meal Train set up for her family here.
▪️ Skypala was a mental health counselor and a mother of three, according to LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. Donate here.
▪️ Hedrick was also a mother of three. Donate here.
▪️ Appling was a sales manager, while Dillard worked in real estate and leaves behind a daughter. Donate here.
QUICK HITS
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