There are rec players. There are the game’s biggest stars. And then there are the hundreds, if not thousands, of pros grinding it out week after week, living out of suitcases, creating content, chasing sponsors and doing everything else they can to build a career in pickleball.

Hannah Blatt is one of those players, and this week she joins Pickleballers to break down how she built one of the largest audiences in the sport while chasing her dream. Check out the episode below.

Also in this issue:

• Remember the name Kelly Goodnow 🔥

• The top performing duos in MLP this season 📈

• Does the third-shot lob have a place in rec games? 🤔

• Selkirk drops new colorway for paddles, apparel, bags 👀

• Pickleball x SportsCenter never gets old 🍿

Let’s cook! 👨🏻‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

14-year-old makes epic MLP debut

Kelly Goodnow, a 14-year-old rising pro from Phoenix, made her Major League Pickleball debut last week for the Carolina Hogs -- and it was a good one. Goodnow went toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the game, like Christian Alshon and Tyson McGuffin, and did more than hold her own.

She and Michael Loyd secured the clinching game to help Carolina upset the Palm Beach Royals, who came into the week at No. 5 in the MLP standings. Goodnow has also had recent success on the PPA Challenger Series, winning multiple medals in women's doubles since the beginning of May.

All of that is to say: You probably want to make a mental note to remember the name Kelly Goodnow, because it looks like she’s going to be a real problem on tour in the coming years.

🔗 Check out these plays from Goodnow on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

PICKLEBALLERS

Hannah Blatt: Pickleball’s first influencer, marrying her doubles partner and going pro

Hannah Blatt was one of the top squash players in the world before transitioning into professional pickleball, where she's now ranked No. 22 in singles and has become one of the most followed players in the sport on social media.

In this episode of Pickleballers, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace her path from elite junior and college squash to professional pickleball, and how she became one of the first players in the sport to build a following around her personal brand rather than just her results on the court.

Hannah also opens up about how a mixed doubles partnership with Grayson Goldin turned into an engagement, and her goals to crack the top 20 in all three divisions.

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

PICKLEBALLERS GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re celebrating the latest episode of Pickleballers with a giveaway. This week one winner will get a signed paddle from PPA Tour pro Hannah Blatt. Enter here!

VIRAL VIDEOS

Every time pickleball made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays

Pickleball has made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays several times. In this video, we’re revisiting all the shots that broke through to the mainstream sports world, including the two most recent shots from Casey Diamond at MLP St. Petersburg.

Diamond hit an insane behind-the-back winner and ATP in the same weekend, and made the Top 10 both times — which caused some to wonder whether Diamond has the ear of a producer over at ESPN. Either way, we’re always happy to see pickleball get its moment in the sun.

🔗 Here’s every time pickleball has made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays

THE PROS

These Major League Pickleball duos are having ELITE seasons

Major League Pickleball has the week off ahead of next week’s Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

So we thought it would be a good time to reflect on what we’ve seen during the first 6 weeks of the season and look at which players are having breakout years.

Below you’ll find the top performing doubles duos in the league so far in 2026 (minimum 10 matches).

MEN’S DOUBLES

1. Hayden Patriquin/Gabe Tardio (19-3, 86%) — For the second year in a row, the St. Louis Shock duo leads the way in men’s doubles.

2. Christian Alshon/Riley Newman (11-2, 85%) — Newman missed some time with an injury, but when these two are healthy they’re dangerous for Brooklyn Pickleball Team.

3. Ben Johns/Max Freeman (13-4, 76%) — Freeman has received his share of criticism, but the LA Mad Drops duo is still among the best in the league.

WOMEN’S DOUBLES

1. Anna Leigh Waters/Jorja Johnson (22-0, 100%) — An undefeated season is very much in play for the New Jersey 5s teammates.

2. Anna Bright/Kate Fahey (19-3, 86%) — The St. Louis Shock duo is now 70-20 over the past three seasons.

3. Tina Pisnik/Sofia Sewing (18-4, 82%) — They’ve been a consistent force for the Palm Beach Royals.

MIXED DOUBLES

1. Anna Leigh Waters/Noe Khlif (20-2, 91%) — Khlif hasn’t had a great year in men’s doubles for the New Jersey 5s, but he has been very solid in mixed next to Waters.

2. Kate Fahey/Gabe Tardio (16-2, 89%) — This is a very good sign for the St. Louis Shock, given that Fahey/Tardio is their No. 2 mixed team.

3. Jade Kawamoto/Ben Johns (14-2, 87%) — We’ve seen some epic performances from Johns in mixed this season.

🔗 Find our latest MLP Power Rankings here

GEAR

Selkirk drops new Canyon Court Capsule — with limited-edition paddles, shoes and more

The all-new Selkirk Canyon Court Capsule is here! 🏜️

The limited-edition seasonal collection features paddles, apparel, shoes and bags in striking red-rock-inspired colors.

We hear these items are going fast, so if you want something in the collection, we recommend acting fast.

🔗 Shop here — Use code “INF-KITCHEN” for a gift card with your purchase

INSTRUCTION

Third-shot lob … good strategy or just plain rude?

There’s no shot more controversial in pickleball than the lob. For some, it’s simply part of the game. For others, the lob is taboo and ruins the fun.

The differences in opinion become more pronounced when you consider the type of lob. A lob from the kitchen line is a much more accepted shot than the third-shot baseline lob. Despite its polarizing nature, there are plenty of sky-bound balls being hit every day across the country.

In a recent article, we took a closer look at the settings and scenarios where the third-shot lob has its place, as well as when and where it should be avoided.

REC PLAY

We all go to the pickleball courts to enjoy a friendly (hopefully) and challenging (again, hopefully) contest where we bat the ball back and forth a few times each rally. One of us wins the rally. One of us loses the rally. But the fun comes from hitting the ball back and forth.

A third-shot lob disrupts this cycle and will likely lead to frustration among your opponents if used frequently. Run back. Retrieve lob. Run back. Retrieve lob. … does that sound like fun to you?

There’s also this: Lob coverage is the most dangerous movement on a pickleball court – by a mile. Broken arms and wrists, and even head injuries. Throwing up a lob in rec play does not make you responsible for your opponent’s fall. But … if you can remove this danger by not hitting one shot, wouldn’t you at least consider it?

COMPETITIVE SETTINGS

There are times when the third-shot baseline lob is still on the table: Tournament and league play.

When executed well, it can be a very effective shot because it disrupts your opponents’ rhythm and puts them on their heels. In competitive settings, use whatever legal advantage you can.

🔗 More thoughts on where the third-shot baseline lob fits in today’s game

QUICK HITS

• Throwback: Just when you think you got Anna Leigh Waters …

• Hmm: Should fans be allowed to chirp at players?

• LOL: We’ve all been here

• Wow: Singles pickleball is electric at this level