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- JW & Jorja Johnson kick off Season 4 of Pickleballers
JW & Jorja Johnson kick off Season 4 of Pickleballers
UDrippin just dropped a SICK pickleball bag
You know it’s a good day when we’re debuting Episode 1 of a new season of Pickleballers.
To kick off Season 4, siblings JW and Jorja Johnson join the podcast to discuss their rise as the sport’s best sibling duo. We dive into their training regimens, talk about the MLP surprise that landed Jorja on the New Jersey 5s this season, and discuss some of their favorite moments on the pro tour.
Check out the full episode below.
Also in this issue:
Sign us up for living room pickleball 🤣
MLP storylines heading into Week 2 👀
Pickleball serve tips: Keep it simple for consistent success 📋
This new UDrippin pickleball bag is 🔥
Trailer released for upcoming pickleball movie 🍿
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
The singles point of the year might have happened in somebody’s living room
Today’s highlight gives new meaning to the phrase “home court advantage” — and might have introduced a new form of pickleball.
Using some furniture and home decor, these guys set up a singles match in their living room. What followed was complete chaos and some electric points.
🔗 Check out this clip on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
JW & Jorja Johnson: MLP drama and pickleball's sibling reign
JW and Jorja Johnson are the most decorated sibling duo in professional pickleball, known for transforming the game with the JW backhand flick and the Jorja fire — two of the most talked-about weapons on tour.
In this episode of Pickleballers, JW and Jorja sit down with Roscoe and Jared to trace their unlikely path from Pittsburgh, Kansas to the top of the pro game. They get into the zero-pressure upbringing that made it all possible, the South Florida training culture they helped build, and what it actually takes to stay dominant in a sport evolving as fast as pickleball.
🔗 Check out the latest episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
PICKLEBALLERS GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re doing a giveaway to celebrate the latest episode of Pickleballers. This week one person will win a Proton paddle of their choice + a $100 DoorDash gift card. Enter here!
INSTRUCTION
Pickleball serve tips: Keep it simple for consistent success
If you walk up to any public pickleball court in the country and watch a few games, there's a good chance you will see several players trying to fool their opponents by adding a lot of spin to their serves.
If you pay close attention, you'll notice the following outcomes from those serves, in order of which is most common:
1. The serve is in, but their opponents don't have any trouble handling it.
2. The serve is out (very bad outcome for the serving team).
3. The serve is in and forces an error from the opponent.
The third option is the one the server is going for, but it is by far the least likely outcome.
In a recent article we took a closer look at why so many players spend so much time and effort on something that rarely works, and what they should be focused on instead.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH ADDING EXTRA SPIN?
There is technically nothing wrong with learning how to spin the ball a lot. But at what cost?
▪️First, there is the distraction from working on other parts of the game that likely give you greater bang for your buck. When was the last time you practiced your volleys – block and punch? Or your footwork?
▪️Second, brushing up on the ball to add more topspin is likely to result in increased errors. Shot reliability is determined at the moment when your paddle intersects the ball. When you swing your paddle across the shot trajectory – which is what you do when you brush up on the ball – you decrease the chance that your paddle will intersect the ball correctly.
▪️Third, you can lose some power in your shot. One of the most effective strategies on the serve is to hit the ball deep and with good pace. This pushes the returner back and makes their path to the kitchen line more difficult. When you start adding extra spin, often it just results in a shorter serve, not a more difficult one to handle.
THE PROS
MLP is SO BACK … and so is Ben Johns
The Major League Pickleball season kicked off last weekend in Dallas, and it is back and better than ever. New teams, new matchups, controversial new rules, nasty bodybags, and Ben Johns looking fully locked in made for a very exciting opening weekend.
The Los Angeles Mad Drops — led by Johns — walked away from MLP Dallas as the biggest winner, defeating the Columbus Sliders to secure the top overall spot for the event and earn 25 standings points.
Chris Cali from Sorry Not Sorry breaks down all the action from Week 1 here, and you can find our updated Power Rankings here.
WEEK 2 STORYLINES
The league is wasting no time getting back to the action, as MLP Columbus started Thursday with group play matches.
Group A: Atlanta Bouncers, California Black Bears, Chicago Slice, Columbus Sliders, Miami Pickleball Club, New Jersey 5s.
Group B: Carolina Hogs, Florida Smash, Las Vegas Night Owls, St. Louis Shock, Palm Beach Royals.
Here are a few of the biggest storylines to watch this week:
▪️Sliders make a trade. Parris Todd was suspended for the season-opening event in Dallas, so MLP newcomer Danni-Elle Townsend and Alix Truong started the year for the Sliders. Both players had great weeks, which created a tricky lineup situation for Columbus — they had three strong women’s players and it wasn’t clear how they would use them. We got our answer Thursday morning, as it was announced that Columbus had traded Truong + cash to the Phoenix Flames in exchange for Judit Castillo. This gives the Sliders a very strong singles player in Castillo and shows they’re committed to the Townsend-Todd lineup in doubles.
▪️We will see a New Jersey vs. Columbus rematch this week. In what was one of the best matches in group play last week, the Sliders edged out New Jersey 12-10 in the second mixed game to earn a 3-1 win. That match allowed Columbus to win their group last week and play in the 1st/2nd place match on the final day of MLP Dallas. The two teams find themselves in the same group again this week, so we don’t have to wait long to see the sequel.
GEAR
UDrippin releases premium bags built for serious players
The new UDrippin Apex Backpack was built for players who show up ready and stand out when they do. Available in two sizes — 40L and 25L — this bag is the ultimate fusion of performance, durability and elevated style.
Crafted from premium TPU with a rugged, structured build, this pack is designed to handle everything from daily sessions to tournament weekends. Every compartment is purpose-built for serious players — from a quick-access paddle system that keeps your gear protected and organized, to a spacious main cavity that adapts to your full setup.
Thoughtful details like padded straps, a reinforced rubber base, and modular exterior storage allow you to move seamlessly from the court to anywhere else your day takes you.
🔗 Shop the new UDrippin Apex Backpack here — use code “KITCHEN” for 15% off
PICKLEBALL ON THE BIG SCREEN
WATCH: Trailer for new pickleball comedy ‘The Dink’
We got an early look this week at Ben Stiller’s new pickleball comedy “The Dink” featuring Jake Johnson as a washed-up former tennis star who discovers the superior racket sport.
The trailer focuses on Johnson’s character as he experiences what many young, athletic men have been through at one time or another on the pickleball court: Getting his ass kicked by a bunch of older ladies who know what they’re doing.
QUICK HITS
Textbook: Turning defense into offense
New shot unlocked: The shovel drop
Star in the making: Danni-Elle Townsend has arrived
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