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The time Carlos Alcaraz played pickleball
Tips for moving through the transition zone safely
There’s been a flood of new pickleball paddles released in the past couple months, and we’ve been keeping an eye on which pro players are making the switch to the latest technology.
Multiple top pros were seen using new equipment at the first PPA Tour event of the 2026-27 season last week — the Veolia Pickleball National Championships in Cary, North Carolina.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of exactly which paddle models are being used by the current top players in the PPA Tour World Pickleball Rankings, as well as some other notable players who recently put new paddles in play.
In this issue:
Carlos Alcaraz has perfect pickleball form 👌🏻
Pickleball Getaways adds new locations 🏝️
RPM’s latest bag is for serious players 🎒
How to get to the kitchen line safely 🦺
Register for Honcho’s winter leagues ❄️
Let’s cook! 👨🏻🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
The time Carlos Alcaraz played pickleball
In honor of the U.S. Open going on in tennis right now, we’re throwing it back to the time Carlos Alcaraz picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time.
What followed was a rally that showcased what could have been in an alternate universe where Alcaraz was a pro pickleball player instead of a pro tennis player.
He rips three straight shots just over the net with tons of topspin (with a paddle that probably doesn’t have any grit), then finishes the point with a powerful backhand flick.
The jury is still out on whether he can dink, though.
🔗 Check out the clip on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PADDLE TRACKER
What the top pickleball pros are using right now (September 2026)
Several major brands have released new paddles recently: Proton, 11SIX24, Luzz and Six Zero, just to name a handful.
A few others — JOOLA, Franklin and PIKKL — have new paddles on the horizon that have already been approved by the governing bodies.
That means several pro players have recently put new equipment in the bag. Here’s a look at what some of the top men and women on the PPA Tour were seen using at last week’s Veolia Pickleball National Championships in North Carolina.
MEN’S PLAYERS
Ben Johns: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm (shop here)
Christian Alshon: Paddletek Honeyfoam TKO-X (shop here)
JW Johnson: Unreleased PIKKL paddle
Eric Oncins: Engage X2 (shop here)
Tama Shimabukuro: Luzz Inferno2 M1 (shop here)
WOMEN’S PLAYERS
Anna Leigh Waters: Unreleased Franklin paddle
Anna Bright: JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 14mm (shop here)
Jorja Johnson: Unreleased PIKKL paddle
Catherine Parenteau: Luzz Glider (shop here)
Kate Fahey: JOOLA Agassi Pro V (shop here)
PICKLEBALL TRAVEL
Pickleball Getaways adds new locations for 2027
Pickleball Getaways — the pickleball travel company started by Ben Johns and Dekel Bar — just added new locations in Spain and Curaçao to the upcoming schedule for 2027.
Below is a look at all of the Pickleball Getaways trips coming up in the next several months. Select trips include clinics with Johns (No. 1 men’s player in the world), Bar (multiple-time PPA Tour gold medalist) and a rotating cast of pro players and coaches at world-class resorts and destinations.
🇺🇸 Texas Hill Country | Sept. 17-20
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Oct. 13-20
🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos | Nov. 7-13 and Nov. 13-19
🇲🇽 Mayan Riviera | Dec. 1-8
🇦🇬 Antigua Luxury Edition | Dec. 1-6
🇦🇬 Antigua | Dec. 3-9 and Dec. 9-15
🇲🇽 Mayan Riviera | Jan. 4-11, Feb. 1-8 and Feb. 8-15
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Feb. 23-March 2 and March 2-9
🇩🇴 Punta Cana | March 5-11
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | April 13-20
🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos | April 25-May 1 and May 1-7
🇪🇸 Spain | May 12-21
🇨🇼 Curaçao | Sept. 24-30, 2027
🔗 Find more information about Pickleball Getaways here — use code “KITCHEN” for $100 off any trip.
INSTRUCTION
Why ‘Get to the line’ can be misleading advice
Just about every amateur pickleball player has been told at some point they need to get to the kitchen line. That's where the game is supposed to be played.
But attempts to get to the line too quickly often do more harm than good. Coach Tony Roig has some tips this week on how to judge the quality of the third shot before trying to advance, and how to move through the transition zone without opening yourself up to an attack.
MAKING THE READ
Moving through the transition zone when you’re the serving team depends on three factors:
Position of the players on the return side.
Existence (or not) of an early attack opportunity.
Quality of the third, fifth, etc. shot.
For most rallies, both players on the return team will be up at the kitchen line at the time of the third shot.
In this case, movement depends entirely on the quality of the third shot that is hit. You need to make a read to determine whether to stay or go.
On a good shot, you go.
On a not-so-good shot, you stay.
Even when it’s “go” and you move forward, you’ll need to determine how far you can get.
There are times when you may be able to make it all the way to the line in one movement. But more likely than not, you will need to make at least one stop along the way.
Think of these stops as connections along your flight. You will often be taking a connecting flight from the baseline to the kitchen line. Nonstop flights are the exception.
WHAT TO DO NOW?
First things first: Discard “Get to the line!!” from your playing vocabulary. It’s getting you “killed” up there.
Next, learn how to stay back, particularly when you’re not sure what to do. If you’re not sure whether to stay or go, err on the side of staying.
From the back, work on staying alive. Give your opponents shots that are increasingly difficult for them to attack you from. Then move forward opportunistically. This approach will result in many more points scored and far fewer smashes suffered.
GEAR
Everything James Ignatowich fits in his new RPM backpack
RPM Pickleball founder and pro player James Ignatowich recently gave us a walkthrough of everything he keeps in the new RPM Tour Backpack.
With 40.8 liters of storage, room for 6+ paddles in dedicated sleeves, and a ventilated exterior compartment for shoes or sweaty gear, the new bag is built for long tournament days.
It also features two thermal-lined side compartments to keep snacks cold, recovery drinks chilled, and your post-match fuel ready when you are.
It’s fully waterproof and works just as well for travel as it does for the court.
🔗 Shop the new RPM Tour Backpack here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 15% off!
HONCHO PICKLEBALL LEAGUES
Registration for winter leagues starts Sept. 21
Honcho isn’t your typical amateur pickleball league.
It’s super social, beginner-friendly, and built around fun, competitive games every single week. It’s one of the best ways to meet people, compete and build your pickleball community.
There are Honcho leagues in 90+ CITIES NATIONWIDE (see locations here). You can sign up for a Same-Partner League with your favorite teammate, or sign up solo for a Rotating-Partner Ladder League and play with/against a bunch of new, similar-skilled players.
Don’t miss out! Registration and early-bird pricing for Honcho’s winter season opens Sept. 21.
🔗 Register here — use code “KITCHEN” for the lowest price
QUICK HITS
Domination: When a pro plays a 5.0
Speaking of tennis: This point was wild
Hmm: Is this shot legal?
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