Pregnant and battling one of the best in the world

Dave Fleming shares secrets of PPA Tour

July 14, 2026

 

We think it’s a pretty safe bet that everybody reading this newsletter wants to play better pickleball.

But how, exactly, do we go about improving? There are the obvious answers: Drilling, developing new shots, seeking out higher-level opponents, etc.

But there also are some not-so-obvious answers that can have a huge impact: Hitting the gym, diet changes, better sleep habits, etc.

In this newsletter we’re breaking down the off-the-court lifestyle changes that can help you get to the next level. Learn more below.

Also in this issue:

  • 4.5 months pregnant and battling against top pros

  • Dave Fleming shares stories from behind the mic 🎤

  • St. Louis Shock win MLP Mid-Season Tournament ⚡️

  • The best paddles under $120 💸

Let’s cook! 👨🏻‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

4.5 months pregnant and battling one of the best in the world 🤰

Imagine being 4.5 months pregnant and going toe-to-toe with one of the world's top men's pickleball players.

That's exactly what Tammy Emmrich did during the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in the DreamBreaker between the Palm Beach Royals and Texas Ranchers.

Facing Eric Oncins, Emmrich made him work for every point. She ultimately came up short, but her fearless performance and incredible heart made this one of the most inspiring highlights of the weekend.

🔗 Check out this highlight on Instagram or Facebook

PICKLEBALLERS

Dave Fleming shares behind-the-scenes stories on growth of the PPA Tour

In case you missed it last week, PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball announcer Dave Fleming joined Pickleballers to discuss his winding path to the pickleball mic.

Fleming details how he connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe years ago — a meeting that helped shape the modern pro pickleball landscape — and how he eventually became the defining voice of the sport’s biggest broadcasts.

We also asked him his prediction on which discipline — gender doubles, mixed doubles or singles — will be the one to break pickleball into the mainstream. His response: “Mixed doubles is the best thing in pickleball.”

🔗 Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts

11SIX24 GIVEAWAY

FINAL HOURS! We’re giving away 10 BRAND NEW limited-edition 11SIX24 Power 2 strawberry paddles

We’re partnering with 11SIX24 to give away 10 BRAND NEW limited-edition strawberry Power 2 paddles.

The Power 2 Series has been one of the most popular paddle releases of 2026, and this latest colorway celebrates the season with a bold new look.

The strawberry collection includes the Hurache-X, Vapor and Pegasus shapes, all with the HexGrit surface that 11SIX24 introduced earlier this year.

THE PROS

St. Louis Shock dominate at MLP Mid-Season Tournament

The St. Louis Shock have been the most dominant team in Major League Pickleball for the past several weeks. They haven’t lost since May 31 and have been sweeping teams more often than not as of late, but were still No. 2 in the points standings heading into the Mid-Season Tournament this week.

With all 20 teams in the field in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it was an opportunity for the Shock (and a couple other teams) to definitively say they they are the best team in the league right now.

St. Louis left no doubt, winning the title Sunday with a 3-0 sweep over the New Jersey 5s, earning 10 standings points and jumping into a tie with New Jersey at No. 1 in the regular-season standings (both teams now sit at 93 points, 28 points clear of third place).

HOW THEY DID IT

St. Louis’ Anna Bright/Kate Fahey handed New Jersey’s Anna Leigh Waters/Jorja Johnson their first loss of the season (11-6) in women’s doubles to grab control of the match from the start. Bright/Fahey targeted Johnson with almost every shot, and the strategy paid off — the game was never in doubt for the Shock.

Hayden Patriquin/Gabe Tardio then cruised in men’s doubles over Will Howells/Noe Khlif (11-3), and Bright/Patriquin took down Waters/Khlif (11-8) to seal it.

“This is our third year together as a group, and we have not yet been able to hold up this trophy here in Grand Rapids,” Bright said after the win, which gave the Shock their first-ever Mid-Season Tournament title. “So I’m really excited that we get to do that this year, and it was a great match against the 5s. We will likely see them again this year, but this is a really big win and gives us a lot of momentum going into the postseason.”

Only two weeks left before the JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles are done forever!

INSTRUCTION

This simple lifestyle change can improve your pickleball game

We’ll start this by stating the obvious: To enjoy pickleball, you need your body.

The better your body can move, the better you’ll play. And the more “in shape” your body is, the less likely you are to injure yourself playing pickleball.

Now the not-so-obvious: “Nutritious movement” is critical to your body’s health. Our bodies evolved as vehicles to move us from Point A to Point B in search of food. That is our most basic function.

But because modern society is largely sedentary, we no longer move to get food. Instead, we drive to get it or have it delivered to us.

The result is a mismatch between how our bodies are designed and the world in which we live. And this mismatch leads to at least some (if not a lot) of the ailments that we suffer from physically.

Why should all this matter to you? The better your body, the better you will play the sport you love. The good news is that, with some attention and intention, you can do more for your body more easily than you may think.

PLAN FOR MOVEMENT

As much as possible, add more movement to your daily routine. Maybe it’s walking to the store or to the pickleball courts instead of driving. Or getting around to that landscaping project you’ve been putting off. Or taking an evening stroll around the neighborhood.

If you add more movement off the pickleball court, we bet you’ll move better on the pickleball court.

GEAR

Top 5 paddles under $120 | July 2026

One of the biggest mistakes pickleball players make is assuming they need an expensive paddle in order to play good pickleball.

These days, that simply isn’t the case, as there are plenty of great paddles that are closer to $100 than $200.

In this video, we break down our current Top 5 paddles that come in under $120.

So whether you’re a seasoned player looking for a new paddle or a newer player looking to upgrade from an entry-level option, we’re confident you can find something to elevate your game without overspending. And using code “KITCHEN” at checkout will get you an added discount for all of the brands on our list.

Enhance MPP Turbo: Has a similar construction to several paddles that are twice the price or more. Shop here

Luzz Glider: The hybrid shape has a very low swingweight, making it great for hands battles at the net. Shop here

Friday Aura: The Aura is probably the softest feeling foam paddle we have played with to this point, which fills a need in a market dominated by stiff and overly powerful foam paddles. Shop here

Vatic V-Sol Pro: Big baseline power when you want it while maintaining feel and consistency in the transition zone. Shop here

11SIX24 Vapor Jelly Bean: This paddle is designed for ultimate control and is a great option for players who are starting to move up in level and take the game more seriously. Shop here

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