Is this the hardest overhead smash ever?

11SIX24 drops limited-edition peach colorway 🍑

April 23, 2026

 

Earlier this week we ranked what we think are the best sibling duos in pickleball, based on current standings and longevity in the sport.

Alix Truong makes up half of one of the duos on the list, along with brother Jonathan. They’ve played together several times in recent months, even winning gold at a PPA Tour Asia event last fall. But in her recent appearance on Pickleballers, Alix broke down what it’s really like playing with a sibling and why it’s not always easy. More from the interview below.

Also in this issue:

  • Pro tip: Don’t lob a former badminton player 🏸

  • From tennis to pickleball: The adjustments that matter most 🎾

  • 11SIX24 drops limited-edition peach colorway 🍑

  • Top highlights from PPA Sacramento 🎥

  • Anna Bright reveals which pro players have impressed her đź‘€

  • Proton paddles OK’d for use in pro events 👌🏻

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Now that’s an overhead smash

If you’ve ever played pickleball against somebody who comes from a badminton background, you know what’s about to happen in this highlight.

The player on the far side of the court hits multiple overheads during this point, and on the last one he manages to completely crush the ball, turning it into a pancake instead of a sphere. Incredibly, the opponents still got it back, and there was a conversation at the end about whether to replay the point since the ball deformed.

đź”— Check out the replay on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

PICKLEBALLERS CLIPS

Alix Truong: Why playing with a sibling is challenging

Playing pickleball with a sibling can be both rewarding and challenging. There are some who have done it with much success and played together for years, such as JW and Jorja Johnson and Ben and Collin Johns. But for others, the pressure and tension doesn’t make for the best experience.

In a recent appearance on Pickleballers, Alix Truong gave us a peak behind the curtain on what it’s really like to play competitively with a sibling. She and brother Jonathan have had some success in the past, winning a PPA Tour Asia event last year, but they’ve also had their challenges on the court and have decided to mix it up this year and play with different partners.

“It’s tough having that brother-sister dynamic,” she said. “It gets to a point where we’re not arguing with each other, but it takes us a while to sit back and process what each other are saying. Because it's hard to admit like, "Oh, OK, you’re right."

đź”— Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple

PRO PICKLEBALL HIGHLIGHTS

The best plays from PPA Sacramento

Last week’s PPA Tour Sacramento Open was full of controversy and epic highlights. We put together the best plays from all the matches, including behind-the-back shots, insane defensive gets and clutch plays. Find the highlights here.

LIMITED RELEASE

11SIX24 drops special-edition peach colorway of popular Power 2 series

Just in time for next week’s PPA Tour Atlanta Pickleball Championships, 11SIX24 has released a limited-edition peach colorway of the brand’s popular Power 2 series.

▪️ Available in all three shapes: Vapor, Huarache X and Pegasus

▪️ Power 2 build: 16mm full-foam core, “HexGrit” surface

Pro players Dekel Bar, Augie Ge and others will be rocking the new special-edition paddles in Atlanta next week.

If you’re on the fence about getting one of these, check out our video review, where we break down everything you need to know about the Power 2 series.

đź”— Shop all 11SIX24 paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” for $10 off

THE PROS

Anna Bright reveals which pro players have impressed her the most in 2026

Anna Bright is just like us: Obsessed with pickleball.

Not only does she play on the PPA Tour and in Major League Pickleball, but she also follows the pro circuit very closely, keeping an eye on matches and tournaments that she's not participating in.

In a recent newsletter, Bright went into detail on which pro players have impressed her the most in 2026. Several are established veterans who have added new tricks to their game to stay relevant even as pro pickleball as a whole trends younger.

Here are a couple of the players on her list:

JAY DEVILLIERS

Devilliers has made multiple quarterfinals in both men's doubles and mixed doubles this year, including a bronze medal with Jaume Martinez Vich at the Texas Open.

"Jay brings a lot to the court you just can’t teach — power, size, and EFFORT," Bright said. "... He brings 100% every time he steps on the court. ... He has every shot (he has added a two-handed backhand, something Tyson and other legacy players have yet to figure out!), and I am never happy to see Jay on the other side of the net."

In our latest power rankings, we moved Devilliers up to No. 12 on the men's side (he was previously No. 14). Devilliers' success this season has also coincided with an equipment change. He's been using the Six Zero Coral for the past several months.

LEA JANSEN

She's been having a bit of a resurgence this year, with impressive wins over Kate Fahey, Kaitlyn Christian and Brooke Buckner in women's singles. She has two silvers and three bronze medals on the year.

"Despite not being the best ball striker in a game that is only getting progressively more defined by ball striking ability, she continues to find ways to win and has been more clutch in the last few events than I’ve ever seen from her, WHILE dealing with a chronic condition (diabetes)," Bright said. "All hail Queen Lea."

We moved Jansen up to No. 4 in our latest power ranking of the Top 20 women's singles players. Jansen is another player who has made an equipment change recently -- she's now using the JOOLA Agassi Pro V 14mm.

For the past three weeks, Proton pickleball paddles have not been permitted in professional play on the PPA Tour due to a contractual dispute between the brand and the United Pickleball Association, which is the body that oversees PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball events.

That dispute came to an end this week, and players have been notified that they are free to use Proton paddles going forward in pro events.

The news comes just days before one of the biggest events on the PPA Tour calendar -- the Atlanta Pickleball Championships, which is one of four "Slams" on the schedule. The tournament starts Monday with pro qualifying.

INSTRUCTION

From tennis to pickleball: The adjustments that matter most

Many tennis players are able to make the transition to pickleball fairly quickly, but reaching a high level in pickleball usually requires a few important adjustments.

If you’re a tennis player stepping into pickleball, you’ve likely noticed that many of your skills transfer well. Your footwork, hand-eye coordination and court awareness give you a strong foundation. But as you continue learning, you’re also seeing that pickleball has its own unique rhythm, strategies and shot selection. To reach a higher level of play, it’s not just about using your tennis skills. It’s about adapting them.

ADJUSTING YOUR STRATEGY

Coming from tennis, you’re used to controlling rallies with deep, powerful shots. In pickleball, however, while drives can be effective, long exchanges often shift toward softer play at the kitchen (non-volley zone). If you’ve found yourself winning some points with power but struggling against experienced players who control the net, this is why.

Mastering the balance between power and control, especially at the kitchen, will be key to your improvement.

QUICK HITS

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