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PPA Tour turns back the clock with wooden paddle tournament

PPA Tour turns back the clock with wooden paddle tournament

New DUPR Forecast tool generates a point spread for pickleball matches

September 25, 2025

The PPA Tour is turning back the clock this week, as the pros will all be using wooden paddles at the Sacramento Vintage Open, which started Thursday with singles.

It's no secret that paddle technology has advanced rapidly over the past 3-4 years, which has changed the game in many ways -- more speed, more spin, more athleticism, etc.

But this week could be more about dinks than drives, which might favor those who were playing at a high level before 2020/2021. We break it all down below.

Also in this issue:

New DUPR Forecast tool generates a point spread 👀
How to win the Kawamoto way 📝
Is this the flashiest point that’s ever been played? 🕺
These are the best shoes for pickleball 👟

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

We found pickleball’s greatest showman

This might be the flashiest single point a pickleball player has ever played.

It comes to us from the Roma 2025 European Pickleball Championships during a match between Spain and Austria. Team Spain came to play (and entertain), and the crowd went crazy after one of their players put together this absurd combo:

Lob ➡️ tricky drop shot ➡️ behind-the-back counter ➡️ tweener — all from the same player in the same point!

His partner cleaned it up with an overhead putaway to bring the crowd to its feet. This video also comes with an incredible call from the announcers, so we recommend listening with the sound on.

It’s hard to beat international team pickleball, which is why we can’t wait for pickleball to be in the Olympics.

🔗 Check out this point on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

INSTRUCTION

Winning the Kawamoto way: Use the same strategies as the pros to win more games

Twins and pro pickleball players Jade and Jackie Kawamoto have been at the game for several years. They are fan favorites and great ambassadors of the sport, but had yet to win a PPA Tour title until they won the Cincinnati Showcase earlier this month.

They defeated the No. 1 seed Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright and also took down another top team in Jorja Johnson/Tyra Black to claim the title.

During their championship run, they executed several strategies to perfection -- things that you can adapt to your own pickleball game. Maybe these will help you take out the top teams in your area, just like the Kawamotos did.

COURT POSITIONING

Court positioning is always important, but particularly so at higher levels. During their two signature wins in Cincinnati, the Kawamotos were able to:

Effectively cover the court and cut off angles of attack.
Maximize their defensive percentages.
Still apply offensive pressure when the opportunity presented itself.

They also redefined the transition zone: What many players treat as a danger zone, they used strategically -- using this area of the court to adjust their positioning and neutralize rallies.

NEXT SHOT FOCUS

The Kawamotos lost Game 1 in the best of 3 semifinal and were down 4-9 in the deciding Game 3. Yet they found a way to win.

In the finals, they were again down after losing Game 1 and Game 2 in the best-of-five Championship Sunday format. They won three in a row to claim the title.

So, how did they do it? They played each rally independent from all the others.

The footage shows two professional pickleball players going about their business. Make one, miss one, keep battling. They were never rattled.

Pickleball is played one rally at a time -- actually one shot at a time if you really think about it. While the concept of "one shot at a time" may sound too simple when stated plainly, it is true. And the idea is often forgotten in the heat of playing.

To give yourself the best chance to win, it's all about the next shot.

🔗 More strategies from the pros that you can incorporate into your game

DUPR FORECAST

DUPR releases new tool that generates a point spread for pickleball matches

DUPR, the top rating system in pickleball with more than 1 million players, this week released its newest feature: DUPR Forecast.

The latest update to the DUPR app will allow players to get a preview of how a match is expected to play out before it even starts.

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1: Select the players who will be playing in the match.

Step 2: Choose the match format.

Step 3: Generate forecast showing who the favored team is, and by how much -- similar to a point spread in other sports.

After the match, DUPR compares the actual outcome to the forecast.

- If a team outperforms expectations, their ratings go up.

- If a team underperforms, their ratings go down.

DUPR players will have the ability to run unlimited match simulations to see how their odds change with different partners or opponents.

In a news release, DUPR touted the new feature as the "next step in data-driven pickleball."

🔗 Learn more about the DUPR Forecast tool here

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

These are the best pickleball shoes on the market

Back in the spring, we partnered with DAPS to launch our first high-performance pickleball shoe: The Desi Low.

In the months since, we’ve received tons of positive reviews from players of all skill levels. DAPS has also released a Desi Mid version for players who prefer more ankle support.

They’re backed by science, are made by fourth-generation shoe makers and have been tested by top pros.

So if you’re in the market for a new shoe, check them out here.

🔗 Check out our in-depth review and our list of the best pickleball shoes on the market