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- These body bags are savage
These body bags are savage
How Eric Oncins became one of pickleball's most exciting players
Anybody who has ever played pickleball — we’re betting you have — has been hit with the ball at some point. As the game has sped up in recent years with Gen 3 and Gen 4 paddles hitting the market, “body bags” have become commonplace.
But not all body bags are created equal. We recently set out to find the most savage, insane and downright painful body bags of all time. You can find them here. Who said pickleball isn’t a contact sport?
Also in this issue:
How Eric Oncins became one of pickleball's most exciting players 🎧
First-ever MLP Cup starts TOMORROW đź‘€
How did Christian Alshon get himself out of this jam? 🤯
Like a tacky overgrip? These are for you đź«°
Get CPR and AED trained at Pickleball World Championships đź«€
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Hands battles are rare in singles, but they are electric ⚡️
You don’t see this every singles match: Both players at the net firing swinging volleys at each other. In fact, it’s pretty rare.
That’s what makes this throwback singles point between Christian Alshon and Connor Garnett special. Alshon somehow resets several full-speed attacks from Garnett, then turns the tables and goes on offense.
He lets out a well-deserved roar after he finds the perfect ball to send into the open court.
đź”— Check out this point on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
Eric Oncins: The rise of Brazil’s pickleball superstar
Brazilian pickleball pro Eric Oncins joins Pickleballers this week to share his journey from growing up in São Paulo to becoming one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars.
Eric opens up about his father’s tennis legacy, discovering pickleball in 2017, training under Simone Jardim, and the heated match with Johnny Goldberg that changed everything. After back-to-back pro titles in Asia, he’s now a global fan favorite bringing fire, flair and emotion to the court.
PICKLEBALLERS DOORDASH & PROTON GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re doing a Pickleballers giveaway to celebrate the latest episode. This week we are giving away a $500 DoorDash gift card & a Proton pickleball paddle. Enter here!
VIRAL VIDEOS
Pickleball’s greatest body bags — a compilation
The body bag in pickleball is like a big hit in football — exciting, often coming by surprise and sometimes painful for the player on the receiving end.
As modern paddles have made the game faster, the frequency of body bags has increased. Several pros have even been known to go for “full bags” in recent years, where the objective is to hit their opponent in the upper chest area rather than keep the ball in play. If you can’t hit a winner, you might as well hit a person.
While we certainly don’t condone trying to hit your opponent in the head or neck, it’s clear that the body bag is here to stay in pickleball, and — when executed properly — can be an exciting play at the higher levels. Or sometimes it ends up in a blooper reel.
What are your thoughts on going for body bags? |
THE PROS
First-ever MLP Cup to be held in Dallas
The first-ever MLP Cup will be held this weekend just outside of Dallas, bringing together Premier Level and Challenger Level teams for three days of matches with prize money and the team title on the line.
The event will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, kicking off the 10-day Pickleball World Championships.
In a nod to the original Major League Pickleball format, pool play will lead into a single-elimination bracket in both divisions.
The MLP season finals wrapped up in New York City in August, with the Columbus Sliders defeating the New Jersey 5s to claim the Premier Level title. The Las Vegas Night Owls defeated the Nashville Chefs in the Challenger Level finals.
At the Challenger Level this week, there will be two teams made up of up-and-coming players: The College All-Star Team and the Junior All-Star Team. The Collegiate World Championships are also being held this weekend, and the team competing in the MLP event will be made up of the top college players from around the country.
The Junior All-Star Team will be made up of Tama Shimabukuro, Camden Chaffin, Elsie Hendershot and Ella Yeh — all have recently signed pro contracts with the PPA Tour.
This weekend's tournament will be the final event for GMs and team owners to see their teams in action before making roster decisions in the offseason.
Teams will play across three courts from Friday through Sunday, with the Premier and Challenger Finals closing out the event on Sunday, setting the tone for the championship week ahead.
All matches are available on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App.
TRENDING
The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A), the governing body of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, this week announced a partnership with AED.US to bring hands-on CPR and AED training sessions to players and fans during the 2025 Pickleball World Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas.
In collaboration with GoRescue and Safe Life, these interactive sessions will teach participants how to respond confidently and effectively when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest on or around the court.
The CPR and AED sessions will be offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the Pickleball World Championships, open to all registered players, coaches and fans.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Once you grab onto these grips, you won’t let go
If you’re a player who struggles to keep a secure grip on your paddle in hot/sweaty conditions, we’ve got the perfect overgrip for you: The UDRIPPIN FREAKY TACK Grips — engineered for players who demand outrageous tackiness without sacrificing feel.
These grips are insanely tacky, locking your hands in with a secure, no-slip grip that feels like it’s glued to your palms. But here’s the freaky part: despite the extreme tack, they still deliver exceptional feel and comfort. Whether you're dialing in finesse shots or ripping drives, the FREAKY TACK grips give you that confident connection without harshness or bulk.
Use code “Kitchen” on the Udrippin website to save 15%.
QUICK HITS
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