The Kitchen Newsletter
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The perfect distraction from your relatives

The perfect distraction from your relatives

These shots sabotage your game.

November 28, 2024

→ Thanksgiving Dinner not going well? It could be worse; you could have been involved in one of these dramatic moments our readers say they’ve observed on the pickleball court.

→ Thanksgiving Dinner going very well? Great, but your pickleball game could use some work. Keep scrolling for some valuable tips.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating! 🦃

In this issue:

Three eyebrow-raising maneuvers in a row
Don’t let these shots sabotage your game
The best areas in the US for pickleball fans
PPA goes international
MLP Playoffs bring the intensity

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

THANKS-GIVEAWAY

We’re Giving Away TWENTY Proton Paddles!

We are excited to partner with Proton to give away 20 of their brand new Series 4 Roadrunner pickleball paddles for Thanksgiving. These are $300 paddles! More info on this new paddle further down this email.

THIS IS A NEWSLETTER ONLY GIVEAWAY… so CLICK HERE and follow the steps to enter!

BONUS MULTIPLIER: INVITE 5 friends to this newsletter to earn additional bonus entries!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Sequential Badassery at Proton HQ

Our highlights of the week are often focused on one or two shots that impressed us during a point.

But this point filmed at the Proton headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ has three unusually-crazy maneuvers pulled off in sequence…

An antelope-hop Ernie
An around-the-back return

We won’t spoil the other one. Watch it.

POLL

On Black Friday, are you playing pickleball, shopping, or both?

INSTRUCTION

These Shots are Sabotaging Your Game

Shot selection is a common hurdle for beginners and intermediates. But pro Connor Garnett has some advice.

He’s identified a few common shots that lead players to error and how to fix them.

Here are the most common two:

The Bailout Dink

When pulled wide, trying an aggressive cross-court dink often results in a pop-up or poor positioning.

Instead, aim down the line or to the middle to stay in control and recover.

If your opponent bails out, be ready to punish elevated balls with a well-timed attack.

Low Mid-Court Drives

Driving from a low mid-court position puts you on defense. Opponents will target your feet, forcing errors.

Unless the ball is high enough, prioritize a drop shot to regain control and set up your kitchen position.

Learn how to fix all of the mistakes impacting your game.

FEATURED STORY

The Best States for Pickleball Players

While pickleball participation has grown 223.5% in the US over the past three years, there are certain places where it thrives the most, and a lot of that has to do with infrastructure.

According to the latest Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) research, some states & cities are leading the charge in both total courts and court density.

Top States for Pickleball Courts

It’s no surprise that Florida tops the list with year-round sunshine & major hubs like Naples and Tampa fueling its growth.

But it’s not just the Sunshine State making waves—California and Texas are hot on its heels, with massive expansions in cities like Austin and San Diego.

Surprisingly, New York and Ohio beat out Utah for the top five, showcasing that pickleball isn’t just a warm-weather sport.

Cities with the Most Courts Per Capita

For court density, smaller cities dominate:

Bend, Oregon boasts nearly seven courts per 10,000 residents, 6x the national average.
Arizona shows up strong with Goodyear and Surprise both cracking the top 5
Port St. Lucie, Florida seems to outrank every other hub in a state that’s become “pickleball’s second home”

[See where your state ranks]

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

“Project Roadrunner” Is Here

The Proton Series 4, aka Project Roadrunner, brings lightning speed, spin-gripping Kevlar fibers, & an edgeless carbon fiber design. At only 7.9 ounces, it moves like a feather & hits like a hammer.

What we like: it’s lighter than the spin and power forward Series One, but just as spin-capable, & much more durable than many paddles in its class.

👉️ Check it out here

INTERNATIONAL

PPA & MLP Announce Asia Leagues

The PPA and MLP just announced PPA Asia and MLP Asia, officially bringing pickleball to the world’s largest continent in 2025.

Expect tournaments in China, Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore, culminating in a global showdown featuring the sport’s best and further bolstering the nearly 160% pickleball growth we’ve seen across the continent in the last few years.

More details on the new leagues here.

MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL

Intense Moments from MLP Playoffs

If Dallas Flash’s journey to winning at MLP Playoffs last week was a movie, it had everything you'd expect in a box office smash hit: rising stars, high-stakes showdowns, & underdog triumphs.

→ A perfect blend of swagger & veteran precision, the Flash—featuring JW and Jorja Johnson, Tyra Black, & Augie Ge—toppled the top-seeded New Jersey 5s in a dramatic best-of-three series at the Vulcan MLP Playoffs in Orlando.

“Going into the playoffs, we were the only team without a former MLP Champion. That's why we knew we had to come together even more as a team,” says Flash GM Ed Chao.

Our players are incredibly smart at adjusting and picking up on tendencies after seeing something just once before and being ready for it the next time.

— Ed Chao

Not to be overlooked, the Frisco Pandas—now managed by The Kitchen—made it to the finals, showing that big moves are brewing for them.

See some impressive playoff moments.