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- Tama Shimabukuro discusses electric Atlanta run
Tama Shimabukuro discusses electric Atlanta run
Reviewing the Friday Aura and Aura Pro paddles
Last weekend in Atlanta, Tama Shimabukuro put the rest of the PPA Tour on notice. His deep runs in men’s singles and men’s doubles at a Slam indicate he could be a serious contender in the second half of the year.
We wanted to learn more about the talented 15-year-old, so earlier this week we invited him on PBallers, our remote version of Pickleballers. We talk about the Atlanta run, how he keeps his cool under pressure and what his future in the sport could look like. Learn more below.
Also in this issue:
Don’t try this at home … seriously 🔥
We’re giving away 5 JOOLA Pro V paddles! 🎁
The best amateur highlights from April 🎥
PPA Finals will crown season-ending champion 🏆
Reviewing the Friday Aura and Aura Pro paddles 😍
Ouch: These guys got hit in the worst possible place 🥜
Ranking the top juniors who compete on the PPA Tour 📈
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
These guys are absolute psychos …
Now this is a new one …
These guys found unique a solution to the age-old problem of playing pickleball at night when the courts don’t have lights. They simply soaked the ball in lighter fluid, set it ablaze and got after it.
We don’t recommend trying this at your local courts (it’s probably violating some sort of city ordinance, right?), but we do have to give credit where credit is due for the creativity.
🔗 Check out the clip on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PBALLERS
Tama Shimabukuro: Pickleball's newest superstar on the Atlanta run that changed everything
Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old pro player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at last week’s Atlanta Pickleball Championships, finishing fourth in men's doubles and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name.
In this episode of PBallers, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage.
GIVEAWAY
We’re giving away 5 JOOLA Pro V paddles!
We are excited to partner with Honcho and JOOLA to give away 5 JOOLA Pro V pickleball paddles. Winners get the paddle of their choice! 🎁
HOW TO ENTER
1. LIKE this post
2. TAG a few friends (every tag is a new entry!)
3. FOLLOW @honchopickleball @joolapickleball and @thekitchenpickleball on Instagram
4. SHARE this post to your stories
✅ 50 BONUS ENTRIES: REGISTER for a Honcho pickleball league with code “KITCHEN” and get 50 BONUS ENTRIES!
ABOUT HONCHO
Honcho Pickleball runs beginner-friendly & up amateur pickleball leagues in 70+ cities nationwide (see locations below). Registration for their late spring season ends THIS WEEK! If you’re looking to make friends, build your pickleball community and play at premier pickleball venues, these leagues are perfect.
Use code “KITCHEN” for the best price. 👨🏻🍳
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
Check out these insane plays from April!
We recently published our Top 10 Amateur Pickleball Highlights for the month of April, powered by PodPlay Technologies. Submissions included insane ATPs, wild Erne attempts, body bags, great defensive gets and more. This month also features our NOT Top 5 Amateur Highlights of the Month.
Chris Cali from Sorry Not Sorry Pickleball helps us break it all down in this video.
HOW TO GET FEATURED
✍️ Fill out this google form.
🎥 Videos must be filmed horizontally.
🎬 Please limit submissions to two clips per person.
Whether it’s a clutch point, a wild rally, an insane trick shot or pure pickleball chaos, we want to see it!
THE PROS
PPA Finals will crown a season-ending champion
With the move to a fall-spring schedule, this week's PPA Tour Finals serve as the season-ending championship for the top players on tour.
The event started Wednesday in San Clemente, California, and features the Top 8 players in singles and mixed doubles and the Top 16 in men's and women's doubles.
There are 2,000 points on the line for the winners in each division, giving those players who qualified for this event an opportunity to get their 2026-27 season off to a strong start. The PPA Tour will take a break for several months after this event as the Major League Pickleball season takes center stage over the summer.
The PPA is also running a secondary event worth 500 points for pro players who did not qualify for the Finals.
GEAR
Review: New Friday Aura and Aura Pro paddles have distinct characteristics
Over the past 2 years Friday Pickleball has transformed from a company known for its viral videos to a legitimate player in the performance paddle market. The brand took the next step on that journey this spring with the launch of their new Aura and Aura Pro paddles.
Both models are full-foam "Gen 4" paddles, but they are constructed differently and offer different performance and feel on the court.
FRIDAY AURA
The Aura delivers a soft feel and fills a need in a market dominated by stiff and very powerful foam paddles. If you're somebody who can generate your own power and you want a paddle that will help you dial in the soft stuff, this is a great option.
FRIDAY AURA PRO
The Aura Pro is more in the neighborhood of what we're used to with modern paddles, and specifically modern foam paddles. It delivers great pop in hands battles and big power on full swings like drives and overheads.
🔗 Check out our full review here or shop the Friday Aura paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for $10 off
VIRAL VIDEOS
These body bags hurt more than usual
Pickleball can be painful sometimes, but the pain experienced in this video can be felt through the screen.
We’ve put together a compilation of body bags to the one area where no man wants to be hit with a pickleball — let alone one coming at a high speed.
RISING STARS
The top juniors who are poised to break through at the pro level
After the recent breakout performance by Tama Shimabukuro at the Atlanta Pickleball Championships, we got to thinking: Who are the other top junior players who are on the verge of becoming serious contenders at the pro level.
So we dove into the current PPA Tour points standings to find the top-ranked boys and girls under the age of 18. You’ll want to remember these names heading into the rest of 2026 and beyond.
BOYS
1. Tama Shimabukuro (15) — Doubles ranking: 36; Singles ranking: 15
2. Camden Chaffin (15) — Doubles: 71; Singles: 55
3. Will MacKinnon (17) — Doubles: 63; Singles: 131
4. Braden Jacobson (16) — Doubles: 89; Singles: 95
5. Andre Mercado (16) — Doubles: 97; Singles: 129
GIRLS
1. Cailyn Campbell (15) — Doubles: 33; Singles: 22
2. Ella Yeh (16) — Doubles: 64; Singles: N/A
3. Elsie Hendershot (13) — Doubles: 71; Singles: 59
4. Emma Nelson (15) — Doubles: 82; Singles: 64
5. Jaeda Minniefield (16) — Doubles: 74; Singles: N/A
QUICK HITS
Throwback: You gotta be kidding with this point
Good to know: This is what a 5.0+ drill session looks like
Crazy: Now that’s a body bag
Luck or skill? Either way that’s a nasty shot
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