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Major paddle company makes blockbuster acquisition
How Tama Shimabukuro became an overnight sensation
Each year in the spring, seemingly every pickleball paddle brand under the sun comes out with new models.
This year was no different, with a flood of new releases in February, March and April that have shaken up the market and put new brands on the map as serious contenders in the "best paddle" discussion.
Our paddle reviewers (both 5.0+ players) recently put their heads together to rank the Top 5 new releases that have hit the market in 2026. See which paddles made the list below.
Also in this issue:
Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself 🤣
Paddletek releases new Honeyfoam TKO-X paddle 👀
Johns, Waters dominate at PPA Finals 🏆
Selkirk acquires Bread & Butter Pickleball Co. 🤝
How Tama Shimabukuro became an overnight sensation 📈
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
LOWLIGHT OF THE WEEK
We appreciate this woman’s willingness to laugh at her own expense
Listen, did this point go well for the woman who ended up on the ground? Absolutely not.
But did she and everybody else on the court still have fun with it? Definitely.
This is why we love pickleball. Sometimes this space in the newsletter is dedicated to pro players executing shots at the highest level possible, but other times we are reminded of how much fun the sport is at the amateur level.
🔗 Check out the clip on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
GEAR
Paddletek releases new Honeyfoam TKO-X
Earlier this year, Paddletek started its Reserve program, which is meant to give players an early look at the latest paddle technology in the game.
The first paddle that was launched under that program was the Reserve Honeyfoam. It was released in January in limited quantities and featured a "multi-foam floating core that is designed to expand the sweet spot and lengthen dwell time."
It was essentially a test product, and it sold out very quickly and received mostly positive feedback from players.
Because of that positive reception, Paddletek made the decision to do a second, larger run of Honeyfoam paddles, and on Tuesday the brand officially released the Honeyfoam TKO-X, an elongated model that has already been adopted by several pro players, including Christian Alshon, Riley Newman and Connor Garnett -- and all have had great recent results on the PPA Tour.
The Honeyfoam TKO-X is the same shape, dimensions and core construction that made the Reserve version so well-received, according to Paddletek.
🔗 Learn more about Paddletek’s latest model or shop the Honeyfoam TKO-X here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 10% off.
PBALLERS
Tama Shimabukuro’s breakout month just got better
Earlier this month Tama Shimabukuro, a 15-year-old pro player from Hawaii, became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Pickleball Championships.
He immediately backed it up this weekend with a win in men’s doubles and a silver in men’s singles at the 500-point event held in conjunction with the PPA Tour Finals in San Clemente, California (more on the Finals below).
In our latest episode of PBallers, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what clicked, what helps him stay so composed in big moments and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage.
PBALLERS GIVEAWAY: To celebrate the latest episode of PBallers, we’re teaming up with Proton to give away a brand-new Proton paddle of the winner’s choice. Enter here!
THE PROS
Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters complete near-perfect spring seasons at PPA Finals
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns have each played in nine PPA Tour events in 2026.
Between women's doubles, men's doubles and mixed doubles -- which they play together -- they were a combined 136-1 in those tournaments, with their only loss coming in mixed to Anna Bright/Hayden Patriquin at the Mesa Cup.
They put the exclamation point on an incredible run this spring with clean sweeps in the doubles divisions on Sunday at the PPA Tour Finals, which is the tour's season-ending championship before Major League Pickleball gets started later this month.
Here's how their records shook out in their 2026 events:
Men's doubles -- Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio: 45-0, 9 gold medals
Women's doubles -- Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright: 45-0, 9 gold medals
Mixed doubles -- Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns: 46-1, 7 gold medals, 1 silver medal (they only played in mixed 8 times)
The PPA Tour will now take an extended break before returning for the 2026-27 season in late August. Moving forward, the tour will operate on a fall-spring season (culminating in the Finals in May), while MLP will take over during the summer months.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Selkirk Sport announces acquisition of Bread & Butter Pickleball Company
Selkirk Sport, a leading pickleball paddle and equipment manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of Bread & Butter Pickleball Company, a smaller niche brand that has been well known in the paddle enthusiast community for several years.
According to a news release, the deal allows Selkirk to "reach a broader and increasingly diverse base of pickleball players" while boosting both companies' platforms as they expand internationally.
Bread & Butter will continue operating with the same branding, product direction and leadership team, according to the release.
Over the past several years, Bread & Butter has built a loyal following through a direct-to-consumer model, and its flagship Loco paddle was widely regarded as one of the best paddles released in 2025.
NOTABLE DETAILS
▪️ Bread & Butter’s leadership team and founders (the Sapusek family) remain in place.
▪️ The brand will keep its own website, marketing channels and product roadmap.
▪️ Expanded wholesale and international distribution are planned.
▪️ Future growth categories may include paddles, balls, footwear, apparel and lifestyle products.
PADDLE CORNER
Ranking the Top 5 paddles of 2026 (so far)
We’ve tested the best paddles from the top brands in the game for hours on the court, sought feedback from pros and put together a comprehensive list to help you find the perfect paddle for your game. Below you'll find what we believe to be the best paddles available right now.
1. JOOLA Pro V series: It’s hard to beat the combination of feel and power that JOOLA’s latest model delivers. It’s why you see several pro players who aren’t sponsored by JOOLA — like Catherine Parenteau and Rafa Hewett — switching to the Pro V when they have their choice of paddle. Shop here and get a FREE Kitchen hat with your purchase.
2. RPM Friction Pro V2: This paddle has been getting a lot of buzz in the industry lately, and for good reason. The V2 is an updated model that offers more power and pop than the original Friction Pro while maintaining the Gen 3 feel that many high-level players prefer. Shop here -- use code "KITCHEN" for 15% off.
3. Honolulu J6CR: This paddle features an intricate core design with multiple layers and cutouts that allows the paddle to absorb and transfer energy to the ball in a more controlled way. It’s a serious piece of engineering. Shop here -- use code "KITCHEN" for 10% off.
QUICK HITS
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