We try to avoid saying any pro pickleball match is definitively “the best of the year” or “the best EVER.”

But when so many members of The Kitchen community say this match is, without question, the best they’ve ever seen…we have to see what all the fuss is about!

Watch a few points from what some are calling Match of the Year Match of a Lifetime below.

Also in this issue:

• You're screwing up your drops

• Pro James Ignatowich can save your drops

• What you need to know about coaches

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

GIVEAWAY

WE’RE GIVING AWAY 10 JOOLA PADDLES OF YOUR CHOICE!

We are excited to partner with JOOLA to give away the 10 BRAND NEW PADDLES! Winners will get to choose from any Mod TA-15 or 3S paddle! (We break two of those down below).

10 winners will be chosen on 10/27.

THIS IS A NEWSLETTER ONLY GIVEAWAY…so CLICK HERE TO ENTER and follow the steps earn bonus entries!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK YEAR

The Best Match...of the Year? EVER?

The Las Vegas PPA Women’s Doubles Gold Medal match between Bright/Rohrabacher & Waters/Parenteau was a five-game marathon, showcasing speed, strategy, and sheer willpower…as well as some pretty impressive lobs.

• In the final game, Waters and Parenteau looked to be out of gas, but somehow staged an incredible comeback, reeling off seven unanswered points with relentless drives & brilliant kitchen play.

We can't tell you how many posts we've seen calling this either "the best of the year" or "the best EVER." 

It's points like these that make the case for either. The focus, the fast hands, the resets…incredible.

INSTRUCTION

Top Pro James Ignatowich Says You’re Screwing Up Your Drops

James "Big Poppa Jimmy" Ignatowich runs a LOT of clinics, and says players often overthink their swing by adding unnecessary complexity to the movement.

Here are a few common mistakes he sees:

Too big of a swing: The bigger your swing, the harder it is to gauge its speed. Simple is absolutely better on a drop, whether you’re slicing or rolling.

Slowing down or speeding up: This is probably related to swing size, but Big Poppa sees lots of speed changes either right before or after contact. You should be thinking of the drop swing as a gradual pace where the ball is just getting in the way of the paddle.

Too much topspin: Many grossly overestimate the amount of topspin you can and should use on a roll drop. It’s still more important that it’s soft and low.

There are two more common errors you might be making. Educate yourself on those here.

FEATURED STORY

How to Throw A Charitable Pickleball Tourney

Last week, we wrote about the N.C. pickleball facility helping to funnel hurricane relief supplies...and then Hurricane Milton struck Florida, causing extensive damage in some areas.

Ever since, many in the pickleball community have been wondering what they can do to help.

While plenty of hurricane relief charities are accepting donations, we wanted to answer the call with a pickleball-first approach.

We see this question posed by the community practically every week: how do you organize a pickleball fundraiser?

So, we consulted with some experts, and put together a full guide to fundraiser tournaments.

Here’s a quick rundown of the key steps to make your event a success:

• Set Clear Goals: Define how much money you want to raise. Your target will shape decisions on registration fees, sponsorship, & event size.

• Choose the Right Format: A round-robin format is ideal for fundraisers—it’s easy to manage, allows more playtime, & keeps things social.

• Get Creative: Stand out with a fun theme! One event used a “Round Robin Rumble” with pro-wrestling-style nicknames & championship belts to get players engaged.

• Secure Sponsors: Reach out to local businesses for sponsorships or in-kind donations. Even small businesses can contribute valuable support by sponsoring nets or donating gift cards.

• Smooth Event-Day Logistics: Have plenty of volunteers, a streamlined check-in process, & hospitality tents with snacks & drinks.

Check out the full guide.

PADDLE(S) OF THE WEEK

We Know You’ll Want to Win These

Since we’re giving so many JOOLA paddles away (see giveaway above), we figured we’d make the giveaway winners’ choice of paddle a little easier by highlighting two of our favorites here.

The entire 3S series is pretty powerful, but every shot on the Magnus 3S feels like it’s dialed in. That’s because it’s capable of some serious dwell time — the ball sits on the paddle longer, allowing you to really feel-out those drives & drops. Full review here.

While the Magnus is perfect for aggressive or singles players, the Mod TA-15 delivers everything you'd expect from a high-end, all-court paddle. Full review here.

Want to watch & learn from some high-level pickleball? The National Pickleball League Championship Weekend is here!

→ The top 50+ players from across the country gather at The Pickle Lodge in Cincinnati this weekend to play for a $150,000 prize pool.

Favorites like the Boca Raton Picklers & Columbus Hotshots have first-round byes, but upsets are brewing as 12 teams battle for the championship trophy.

Matches kick off at 8 a.m. Friday. Can’t attend? You can catch all the action live on NPL’s YouTube channel.

DON’T MISS THIS

Everything You Should Know about Coaches

At the amateur level, having a “coach” for pickleball can be the best thing for your game...or the worst. The tricky part is you don’t know until you try, at least until now.

We just published our full guide to getting the most out of a pickleball coach. Importantly, though, if you're going to pay someone for pickleball advice, you should know what NOT to do once you've hired them.

That leads us to our best bit of advice: A coach should not be your sole source of practice.

We know some coaches out there act like practice partners.

But that creates a false sense of confidence because you never experience different play styles in a controlled environment. You get comfortable and your progression stops...Plus, that's an expensive practice sesh.

Use what your coach works with you on in drilling with partners, during rec play, or just by yourself against a wall. More here.

QUICK HITS

• Whoa: Steve Martin’s pickleball selfie

• LOL: A lil post-hurricane pickle

• Competition: An absolutely WILD hands battle

• Gear: Pickleball deals & steals 

• Ya Hate to See It: Those AARP members are built different

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