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More drama in MLP
Johns brothers spark debate after dropping out of event
There’s no pro pickleball this week, so we took some time to reflect on what got us all into the game in the first place: The magic of open play.
Meeting new people, finding community, spending time outside, getting in a good workout … we could go on. Open play remains one of the best parts about pickleball, and we’ve got some tips on how to keep things fun at your local park or club. In short, don’t be a jerk to Nancy after she misses an easy dink in the net.
Speaking of fun, The Kitchen’s new podcast — PICKLEBALLERS — is set to drop in the next few weeks. Get the details below.
Also in this issue:
Johns brothers drop out of MLP Columbus 😮
Agassi battles with the youngsters 💪
The Kitchen Open coming to KC 🏆
Up your game with the Dink Master Pro 📈
A pro’s secrets to better prep and recovery 🤫
Let’s cook. 🧑🍳
THE KITCHEN OPEN KANSAS CITY
Sign up now to get the lowest price for TKO Kansas City!
The first stop of The Kitchen’s three-city amateur tournament series, The Kitchen Open, will be in Kansas City! The Kitchen Open Kansas City will be held on August 7-10, 2025 at PickleCon in the Kansas City Convention Center with a winner-take-all prize of $25,000! 💰
If you haven’t heard of PickleCon, it’s one of the biggest Pickleball Conventions in the country. Players will be able to explore the entire PickleCon scene in between games and enjoy unlimited open play when they are done! 🙌
Early Bird pricing for TKO Kansas City ends this SUNDAY ($15 off)! REGISTER HERE now to get the lowest price for the tournament. 🐦
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Agassi battles on U.S. Open stage
If you follow pickleball, you probably heard about Andre Agassi’s pro debut last week at the U.S. Open playing mixed doubles with Anna Leigh Waters.
The duo went 1-1, but put together plenty of highlight-worthy points, including this one against Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang.
Even against much younger competition, Agassi was able to hold his own in hands battles at the kitchen line and show off his legendary two-handed backhand.
THE PROS
Johns brothers cause a stir at MLP Columbus
Ben and Collin Johns made headlines last weekend when they dropped out of their matches at MLP Columbus, citing poor lighting at the indoor facility where the event was being played.
That decision prompted a social media firestorm, with many players criticizing the Johns brothers for withdrawing, while others defended the decision and advocated for better lighting standards, clear guidelines for maximum wind conditions, drug testing and more.
Ultimately they agreed to forfeit their event payouts for the four matches they missed, MLP said in a statement Wednesday.
No matter your opinion on the topic, there’s no debating that the Johns brothers’ team — the Carolina Hogs — were the biggest losers in the whole ordeal. The Hogs went 0-6 in Columbus and have slid all the way to last place in our MLP Power Rankings.
MORE FROM MLP COLUMBUS
⚡️ The St. Louis Shock remained undefeated on the season, going 6-0 on the weekend and beating the doors off of each of their opponents in the process.
🍊 The Orlando Squeeze also continued to impress, going 5-1 and taking the points lead in the season standings with 25 (although they have played 11 matches, tied for most in the league, so they've had more opportunity than most to earn points).
📉 Things did not go as well for the host team this weekend, as the Columbus Sliders were without starter CJ Klinger (illness). The Sliders, which were predicted by many fans and pundits to be one of the best teams in all of MLP, went 3-2 on the weekend including 4-0 losses to both St. Louis and Orlando.
MLP will now take two weeks off and be back in action Memorial Day weekend at MLP Austin from May 23-26.
In the meantime, the PPA Tour will take center stage with the Atlanta Pickleball Championships next week. Be on the lookout for a tournament preview and predictions early next week.
POLL
What external factor has the biggest impact on your pickleball experience? |
PODCAST
PICKLEBALLERS podcast dropping soon
Get ready to get weird. The Kitchen’s new podcast, PICKLEBALLERS, is set to drop in the next few weeks. It will be hosted by Jared Paul (The Kitchen founder) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player) and filmed at The Kitchen HQ.
Here’s a sneak peek of the first episode. Follow @pickleballers for new clips.
FEATURED STORY
Attitude is everything at open play
There’s plenty of talk in pickleball about partner communication and general court etiquette, but how should we interact with our opponents during open rec play?
Everyone plays with a different style and mindset, often we are playing with people we’ve never met and it’s likely that not everybody on the court will be at the same skill level. But there are a few general principles that will keep your next open play session fun and friendly, no matter the situation.
MATCH YOUR INTENSITY TO THE MOMENT
When you’re playing against beginners or players still figuring things out, try to tone it down a bit. Work on placement, dinking or just keeping the rally going. If it’s a more even matchup, play a little harder. And of course, if the competition is tough, play to win.
COMPLIMENTS GO A LONG WAY
If someone hits a great shot, whether they’re on your side or the other, try to acknowledge it. A quick “Nice shot” or “Good point” keeps things positive and makes the game feel more social. People remember who made the game more enjoyable, not just who won.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Become the most consistent player you know with the Dink Master Pro
Our friends at Enhance Pickleball recently sent us their latest version of the Dink Master Pro training aid, and we can report that this tool makes practicing easy, fun and most importantly has improved various aspects of our games in a short time.
It provides accuracy targets for you to practice placing dinks, volleys and speed ups, and comes with a drill catalog. Here are two of our favorite drills:
FAST HANDS DRILL
The Speed Master side of the board features a line showing the height of the net and a line at 8 inches above the net. Set up about 7 feet from the board (the distance between the kitchen and the net) and volley the ball back and forth while trying to keep it above the net line and below the second line. This will train you to keep the ball low in quick exchanges and will also improve your hand-eye coordination over time.
SPEED UP COMBINATIONS
The Speed Master side also has three “zones” across the board horizontally. These zones can help you work on attacking off the bounce to a specific location and then being ready to counter the next ball that comes back.
For instance, you can give yourself a dead dink to the forehand side (for a righty), speed up at Zone 1 on the far left side of the board, then switch to your backhand to be ready for the next shot that will be coming toward the left side of your body.
INSTRUCTIONAL
Pro player reveals secrets to better prep and recovery
Competing at the highest level demands intense practice, but it's also crucial to understand the importance of off-court habits, says pro player Connor Garnett.
Any amount of time missed with an injury will have a huge impact on points standings on the PPA Tour, so it's important for pickleball pros — and all players — to prioritize health and fitness so they can stay on the court.
For Garnett, there are a few key factors that contribute significantly to athletic longevity.
PROPER RECOVERY
Effective recovery encompasses both immediate post-match routines and general maintenance. Garnett says he’s found that stretching after matches is a tremendous help for recovery. Since his muscles are still warm, it reduces muscle soreness, promotes faster recovery and improves flexibility. He also incorporates ice baths into his recovery routine, which provide both mental and physical benefits.
ADEQUATE SLEEP
Sleep is a cornerstone of athletic performance and recovery. It repairs muscle tissue, replenishes energy stores and consolidates learning, all of which are crucial for sports. Poor sleep can lead to decreased hand-eye reaction time, impaired focus and decision-making, reduced endurance and increase risk of injury.
QUICK HITS
Master at work: Watch Ben Johns build a point
Throwback: Why MLP Dreambreakers rule
Electric: Fed is built different
Amazing: Women’s doubles hits different
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |