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MLP Quarterfinals deliver epic matches
We're giving away 20 UNRELEASED 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 paddles
If you’re a fan of pro pickleball, you had just about everything you could ask for this weekend.
The quarterfinals of the Major League Pickleball Playoffs delivered upsets, high-stakes drama, incredible plays and several epic matches involving many of the best players in the game.
In the end, there were four teams left standing. We break down all the action below.
In this issue:
We’re giving away 20 11SIX24 paddles 🫡
Tina Pisnik just hit the shot of the year 🤯
Warping Point building community 🤝
Pro tip: Give yourself more margin 🎯
Breaking down the RPM paddle lineup 🤓
Let’s cook! 👨🏻🍳
GIVEAWAY
We’re giving away 20 UNRELEASED 11SIX24 paddles
We’ve teamed up with 11six24 to give away 20 of their UNRELEASED Jelly Bean 2 paddles! 🍭
How to enter:
LIKE this post
TAG a few friends (every tag is a new entry!)
FOLLOW @11six24_pickleball and @thekitchenpickleball
SHARE this post to your stories
BONUS ENTRIES: Enter your email into the giveaway here.
***YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL THE STEPS TO BE ELIGIBLE***
The giveaway ends Aug. 25. 🥳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
You won’t find a better ATP than this one
As we mentioned at the top, this weekend’s Major League Pickleball matches were filled with incredible shots and plenty of drama.
This unbelievable ATP from Tina Pisnik came at one of the most crucial moments of the weekend, with the New Jersey 5s and Palm Beach Royals tied at 15-15 in a Dreambreaker.
The shot made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays on Saturday, coming in at No. 2. Honestly, we’re not sure how it wasn’t No. 1.
And it wasn’t the only incredible ATP of the weekend. Catherine Parenteau also went full send on a shot around the post.
🔗 Check out this week’s highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
FEATURED STORY
Warping Point focused on community and innovation as brand grows in US
For Warping Point CEO Isaac Gu, pickleball is all about community.
He’s seen it change people’s lives through competition, social connection and physical and mental health. Early on in his pickleball journey, Isaac heard from a close friend who had discovered a new sense of purpose through pickleball and built lasting friendships with players of every age and background.
He knew then that he wanted to be a part of the sport as more than just a player – he wanted to be somebody who helped other players get the most out of the game.
That motivation has led Warping Point to where it is today: A rising paddle brand that has seen significant growth and increasing popularity among players over the past few years.
PREMIUM QUALITY AT A REASONABLE PRICE
Part of Warping Point’s community-driven mission is creating paddles that are competitive in terms of innovation and performance at the top of the market without the premium price tag.
The brand’s current paddle lineup ranges from $99.99 to $219.99, with several performance-focused models priced at $149.99 or below.
Phoenix: A power-leaning “Gen 3” paddle with excellent spin, controllable power and a soft, stable response. This has been Warping Point’s most popular paddle among higher-level players over the past year. Shop here, $219.99
Sophon: A control-focused “Gen 4” foam paddle launched recently that delivers a soft, stable feel, great forgiveness and power when you need it on big swings like third-shot drives and overheads. Shop here, $149.99
Neon: A control-leaning “Gen 3” paddle with a forgiving sweet spot. The paddle of choice for pro player Wyatt Stone for more than a year. Shop here, $99.99
🔗 Learn more about Warping Point here or shop all Warping Point paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 10% off!
THE PROS
Major League Pickleball Playoffs: Quarterfinal round delivers multiple instant classics
Four teams punched their tickets to the Major League Pickleball semifinals this weekend:
🖐 New Jersey 5s
⚡️ St. Louis Shock
🏙️ Brooklyn Pickleball Team
💥 Dallas Flash
But not all routes to the next round in New York City were created equal — some teams cruised through the Quarterfinals with little resistance, while others had to fight for their playoff lives in a grueling 3-match series. Here’s a look at what went down this weekend:
ST. LOUIS LEAVES NO DOUBT
Nobody felt better on the way out of Newport Beach than the Shock. They dominated in their series vs. Texas, cruising to a 2-0 sweep and outscoring the Ranchers by a combined score of 66-20.
NEW JERSEY SURVIVES CLOSE CALL
The New Jersey 5s also advanced by sweeping their opponents — the Palm Beach Royals — but they’re not exactly leaving Newport Beach with a ton of momentum like St. Louis is. Match 1 went to a Dreambreaker, which New Jersey narrowly won, then the 5s took Match 2 by a score of 3-1. But here’s the concerning part: Noe Khlif/Anna Leigh Waters lost both of their mixed doubles games to Dekel Bar/Pisnik (11-4, 11-9), leading some to question whether they should stick with the Khlif/Waters pairing moving forward.
DALLAS FLASH STAY HOT
The Dallas Flash have been on a tear since trading for Alix Truong and Danni-Elle Townsend in June. They’ve now won 15 of their past 16 matches, and the Los Angeles Mad Drops were their latest victim. This was a very close series, with all three matches going at least four games and one match going to a Dreambreaker.
BROOKLYN KNOCKS OUT DEFENDING CHAMPS
For the second straight year Brooklyn has had to battle injuries/illnesses throughout the season. Both Rachel Rohrabacher and Riley Newman have missed significant stretches this year, and it was starting to look like another lost season with a strong roster on paper. But Brooklyn was finally able to put all the pieces together this weekend, knocking off the defending champion Columbus Sliders in a very close series.
INSTRUCTION
Why you’re aiming your volleys all wrong
Do you have a target when you’re about to hit a pickleball shot? If you do, is there enough margin around your target? And are you feeding the information about your intended target to your processing unit (brain)?
If you answered “yes” to all of the above, then good job and have fun the next time you play. You’re on the right track.
If you answered “no” to any of the above or if you’re wondering what the heck we’re talking about, then read on. We have some work to do. And this work will radically improve how you hit your volleys — and ALL your shots.
STEP 1: THE DECISION
In the shot scenario we’re working on – a volley – the decision we need to make is about how we are choosing to hit our volley relative to the net. More specifically, how high over the net do we want to aim the shot?
Whenever you hit your volley into the net, Question 1 should be: “Did I have an intended target for my volley over the net?” If the answer is, “No, I didn’t really think of that” or “I’m not sure,” then this is where you want to start.
STEP 2: AN OPTIMAL DECISION
The next step is to make the decision you made in Step 1 a good one. Minimum height to aim for: Paddle width above the net (about 7 inches). This target gives you a better margin for error.
STEP 3: THE INPUT
If you’re taking Steps 1 and 2, you’re already far ahead of most players you’ll face. But to get the full benefit of Steps 1 and 2, you will want to complete the cycle with Step 3.
In Step 3, you will visualize the shot you want. Full visualization where you literally picture the shot you want in your mind. For the volley, you’ll “see” your volley travel about 7 inches above the net. Visualizing the shot is how you’ll input it into your brain.
GEAR
RPM Pickleball: Full paddle lineup and reviews for each model
RPM Pickleball might have one of the most impressive paddle lineups of any company. But with three very different paddles to choose from, figuring out which one is right for your game can be a challenge.
In this video, we break down the entire RPM Pickleball lineup, including:
Original Friction Pro
Friction Pro V2
Q2
We discuss how each paddle feels, how much power and control they offer, and what type of player is best suited to each option.
🔗 Check out our full review of the RPM lineup and shop all RPM paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 15% off!
QUICK HITS
Exhilarating: These ladies put on an absolute show
Full send: He earned that celebration
Annoying: We all know a guy like this
Relaxing or stressful? We can’t decide
LOL: No days off
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