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PPA Tour to test smaller court for singles
Who are the 10 most powerful people in pickleball?
We’re betting that if you’re subscribed to this newsletter, you probably are hoping to be a better pickleball player in 2026 than you were in 2025. Just a hunch.
Today we have a handful of shots and strategies that are simple, effective, and — if adopted — can help you win more games this year. Learn more below.
Also in this issue:
14-year-old takes down World No. 2 Federico Staksrud 👀
How UDRIPPIN became a one-stop shop for pickleball accessories 🛍️
Who are the 10 most powerful people in pickleball? 🤔
PPA Tour proposes modification to court size for singles 🤯
2016 trend, but make it pickleball 📷
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
14-year-old Camden Chaffin takes down World No. 2 Federico Staksrud
There was a match on Thursday at the PPA Tour Indoor National Championships that could go down as a big inflection point in pro pickleball history.
The juniors have been knocking on the door in recent months, but 14-year-old Camden Chaffin just kicked it in and burned down the whole dang house with his monumental singles win over world No. 2 Federico Staksrud in the Round of 16.
The juniors are no longer coming. They are here.
🔗 Check out highlights from their match on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALL POWER 50
We’ve reached the Top 10 on our Power 50 list
We recently launched our Pickleball Power 50 series, a ranking of the most influential people in pickleball. The list includes investors, CEOs, players, league executives, team owners, creators, podcasters, operators and more.
Today we dropped Nos. 6-10 — these are serious industry heavyweights who make the rules, manufacture the equipment we all use and work behind the scenes to run some of the biggest organizations in the sport. Stay tuned on Instagram to find out who is in the Top 5 later this week!
6. Adam Franklin – President of Franklin Sports, he oversees one of the longest-standing and most trusted equipment brands in pickleball. Under his leadership, Franklin has driven paddle and ball adoption at both the grassroots and professional levels, combining mass-market distribution, product consistency, and brand credibility. Recently, Franklin elevated its pro presence by signing world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters to a long-term deal. Franklin sells roughly 80% of pickleballs on the market.
7. Mike Nealy – CEO of USA Pickleball, Mike leads the sport’s amateur governing body, overseeing rulemaking and equipment certification. As paddle technology has rapidly evolved, his role has grown increasingly influential in shaping national standards, equipment compliance, and the future direction of how the game is regulated at scale.
8. Rob and Mike Barnes – Co-founders of Selkirk, the brothers built the company into one of pickleball’s most influential equipment brands. Through American manufacturing, aggressive pro sponsorship, premium positioning, and continued reinvention via campaigns like Selkirk Labs, Rob and Mike have set the modern standard for performance paddles and brand-building in the sport.
9. Chris Patrick – General Counsel & COO for Pickleball Inc. and Deputy Commissioner for the United Pickleball Association, he oversees the league’s legal framework and player relations. Chris plays a central role in negotiating pro player contracts, resolving disputes, and managing the legal complexities that underpin roster construction, league operations, and competitive integrity.
10. Bob Whyley –SVP of Production at Tennis Channel, Bob was a driving force behind the creation of PickleballTV in 2023. The network now broadcasts every PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball event while producing original pickleball programming, playing a central role in the sport’s national media exposure and professional presentation.
2016 THROWBACK
What the pros looked like 10 years ago
TRENDING
In an effort to “create a more dynamic game and further highlight the athletic abilities of pro pickleball players,” a test of narrower court dimensions will take place in Pro Singles at upcoming PPA Challenger events, the PPA Tour announced Wednesday.
The new court dimensions will bring the sidelines in by a total of three feet, making the court 17 feet wide. This change is meant to allow for “longer points and a more exciting player and spectator experience.”
The change will be implemented over the next four Challenger tournaments: Houston, Harbour Island, Newport Beach and Opelika.
What do you think of the proposed change to court dimensions for singles? |
FEATURED STORY
How UDRIPPIN became a one-stop shop for pickleball accessories
Like a lot of entrepreneurs, Jon Nilson wasn’t really trying to start a business in the early days of what eventually became UDRIPPIN.
He was just trying to find some tennis and pickleball overgrips for himself after Wilson stopped making their hot pink tour grips – his favorite at the time.
After searching on sites like eBay and having a hard time finding them, he started to wonder if it was something he could produce himself, or find a supplier that could make him a custom order.
It took a few tries to get the color and tackiness just right, but eventually he had his very own hot pink overgrips. Then he started to wonder: ‘I can’t be the only one who is looking for colorful overgrips, right?’
So he ordered a bunch more and started selling them, and UDRIPPIN was born.
The company now offers overgrips in just about every color and pattern imaginable, allowing players to bring flair to the court without sacrificing performance.
“I wanted to be a one-stop shop for grips,” Nilson said. “From tacky grips to mid-tacky to custom and dry grips, we make something for everybody. So whether you’re into the bright colors or want something more classic, you can find something you like and that is high quality. That’s been the goal with the grips all along.”
LOOKING FOR OVERGRIPS? Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout to get 15% off on all orders from the UDRIPPIN website.
INSTRUCTION
Shots and strategies that will help you win more games in 2026
Want to play better pickleball in 2026? Here are 6 shots that you want to make sure you have in your game. We bet you could use improvement on at least 4 of the 6, especially if you're a 3.5 or 4.0 player looking to improve your rating this year.
👌🏻 A RELIABLE BACKHAND RETURN OF SERVE
Too many of you are running around the backhand return to hit a forehand. There are a few downsides to that strategy:
You open up the court on your side.
You make it way harder to get to the NVZ line before the fourth shot (this is deadly to your game).
You increase the chances that you will return short (it’s an energy issue).
So stop running around your backhand and start developing a backhand return that you can trust. The shot does not have to look amazing, it just needs to be effective: In and deep.
😎 COMFORT USING MORE MIDDLE DINKS
Dinking to the outside is all the rage. And there is nothing wrong with outside dinks per se. But they make you predictable. If all you are doing is going sharp diagonal dink to sharp diagonal dink then:
Your opponent can “sit” on that shot.
If you miss it a little bit high, they are in position to attack.
You risk the sideline out of bounds.
At higher levels, you potentially give your opponent an ATP opportunity.
Instead, do as the pros do, and start using more middle dinks. You will be amazed at how much this will stress your opponents and even cause middle confusion.
🔥 HYBRID THIRD SHOT
A third shot drop is a great shot to have. A third shot drive is sexy and has its place. But there are times when a hybrid gives you the best of all worlds. The hybrid is between a drop and a drive. It is hit softly, or with spin, so that it dips just over the net. As the ball dives down onto the court, it puts a lot of pressure on your opponent. Well-placed hybrid third shots can help you generate more popups and putaway opportunities from your opponents.
QUICK HITS
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |