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Why tennis players have an advantage in pickleball
The next step for international pickleball
On the latest episode of Pickleballers, guest Will Howells and co-host Roscoe Bellamy got into an interesting discussion about college tennis players making the transition to pickleball.
Howells said he believes any high-level college tennis player (think Division I) will be a 4.5 pickleball player the first time they touch a paddle. From there, it’s just about learning the nuances of the game and dialing in the soft stuff in order to become a pro. Check out the full discussion below.
Also, registration for all Honcho amateur fall leagues ends Sunday! Sign up below!
In this issue:
We all know this type of player 🙄
The next step for global pickleball 🌏
Play for Team Kitchen at huge event 🏆
Dallas Flash go back-to-back ⚡️
Ranking our Top 5 paddles 🤓
Last call for Honcho fall leagues 🍁
Let’s cook! 👨🏻🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
How to become annoying in pickleball
We probably all have a player like this at our local courts — the one who is always trying tricky shots and making their opponents cover a ton of ground.
In this clip, those tricky shots include a serve with heavy slice spin, a third-shot lob and a perfectly placed drop volley at the net.
Is it maybe a little annoying to play against? Sure. But is it also awesome to watch? Absolutely.
🔗 Check out this week’s highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
GOT A CLIP WORTH SHARING? Each month we showcase the Top 10 Amateur Pickleball Highlights of the Month on our YouTube page. Submit your BEST clips for a chance to be featured in next month’s video using this Google Form.
PICKLEBALLERS
Will Howells on becoming a big name in pickleball and playing under pressure
In case you missed it last week, pro player Will Howells joined Pickleballers to discuss his rise in the sport over the past three years.
Howells, a former Top 15 US junior tennis player and Notre Dame standout, switched to pickleball in 2023 and within a year was on the game’s biggest stage.
So how did he do it? That tennis background certainly helped, he said — he told us he thinks any high-level college tennis player can be a 4.5 pickleball player immediately. The hand-eye coordination and athleticism was already elite, it was just a matter of learning to play under control.
🔗 Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
PICKLEBALL LEAGUES
Registration for Honcho’s fall leagues closing soon!
If you’re looking to meet new people, get some games in, and have something to look forward to every week, joining a Honcho Pickleball League might be the move.
The Honcho Fall Season starts the week of Aug. 17, bringing beginner-friendly pickleball, great people and a new weekly plan to your city. You only need to choose your venue, select your league, and show up.
Registration closes Aug. 2, and local spots won’t stay open forever. Punch your ticket today — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for an extra discount.
THE PROS
Dallas Flash win second-straight event title at MLP Chicago
It didn’t take long for the Dallas Flash to back up their MLP San Diego win.
One week later — this time in Chicago — the Flash continued their late-season run by claiming another event title and 25 more standings points with a Dreambreaker win over Brooklyn on Sunday, putting the Flash firmly in the discussion as serious playoff contenders.
The win at MLP Chicago moves Dallas up to No. 4 in the points standings and the Flash also extended their winning streak to 11 matches, with wins over several top teams (Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Columbus) during the 2-week stretch.
PLAYOFF PICTURE COMES INTO FOCUS
With only one more regular season event remaining before the playoffs, we now have a decent idea of what the playoff picture looks like. The Top 12 teams in the standings will make the postseason.
7 teams have clinched a playoff spot: St. Louis, New Jersey, Dallas, Columbus, Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Texas.
3 teams are most likely in: Palm Beach (44 points), Atlanta (36 points) and SoCal (34 points).
5 teams fighting for 2 spots: California (30 points), Chicago (27 points), Las Vegas (26 points), Orlando (25 points) and Miami (20 points).
Only a few days left before it’s gone forever!
The limited-edition JOOLA Rally Rocket paddles have been so popular that JOOLA is running out of them. We’ve been told they are only selling them through the end of July, and then they will be done forever!
JOOLA PICKLEBALL CELEBRATION
Join Team Kitchen for the JOOLA Celebration amateur tournament!
JOOLA is hosting the fourth annual JOOLA Pickleball Celebration in early September this year, and spots are already filling up fast.
The event, which will be Sept. 4-7 at the upscale Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, features a unique amateur team tournament that guarantees players a ton of time on court.
Team Kitchen will have 3 teams competing in the tournament — a 3.5/4.0 team, a 4.5 team and 5.0+ team — and we’re holding a giveaway to fill those roster spots.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IF YOU WIN
The giveaway winners will have their registration covered ($1,499 per team), and will also get a free JOOLA paddle of their choice and a discounted rate at the resort.
FEATURED STORY
Pickleball Inc. partners with Pickleball World Cup; will allow PPA Tour pros to play event starting in 2027
Pickleball Inc. — the parent company of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball — last week announced a partnership with the Pickleball World Cup designed to accelerate the growth of international pickleball through expanded competition, commercial collaboration and global media distribution.
Founded in 2023 by Peruvian siblings Hercilio Cabieses and Miranda Cabieses, the Pickleball World Cup has rapidly become a showcase for international pickleball competition, bringing together players from around the world to compete for their home countries.
One of the most significant components of the partnership is that Pickleball Inc. has lifted its previous restriction on PPA Tour player participation in the Pickleball World Cup, allowing eligible professionals to represent their home countries starting in 2027.
GEAR
Our reviewers ranked their Top 5 paddles right now
Looking for the best pickleball paddles right now?
Our reviewers recently ranked their Top 5 paddles on the market right now, featuring a mix of several brands, shapes and core types.
Check out this video for more details on why they made the selections they did and what makes these paddles stand out.
QUICK HITS
Relatable: Sometimes there’s nothing you can do
Shot of a lifetime: This made SportsCenter for a reason
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