Reaching a 5.0 rating in pickleball is no easy task. It’s the goal of many players, but few ever achieve it.

5.0 players excel in almost all areas of the game, and once you reach this point, the game becomes a lot more about strategy than raw talent.

Below we dive into what separates 5.0 players from the masses, and what you need to do to get there.

Also in this issue:

• NFL star Micah Parsons is a pickleball junkie 🏈

• Ben Johns breaks out crazy trick shots 🤯

• Everything you need to know about the new adidas paddles 👀

• Top American pros playing back-to-back PPA Tour Asia events 🌏

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT(S) OF THE WEEK

When you’re playing Ben Johns, you have to be ready for anything

Ben Johns has a wide range of elite shots that we get to see on a weekly basis on the pro tour — backhand flick, precision dinking, electric hand speed, etc.

But it turns out he’s actually been holding back.

In a pro-am match last week ahead of the PPA Tour Asia Malaysia Cup, Johns dug deep into his bag of shots and pulled out some crazy trickery. When you’re playing against the GOAT, you have to be ready for anything.

🔗 Check out these trick shots on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

INSTRUCTION

Your guide to reaching 5.0

So you want to be a 5.0, huh?

At the 5.0 level, players have the ability to hit a wide array of shots from all areas on the court, waste almost no extra movement in getting to their spots, and can execute advanced strategies effectively — think 2 and 3 shot combos at the kitchen line.

Here are a few areas where 5.0 players excel compared to the vast majority of players:

💪 Both the forehand and backhand are strong: Lower level players usually have a weaker side that opponents can recognize within a game or two. Not so at the higher levels. 5.0 players can utilize both the backhand and forehand to generate offense while also having a high level of consistency in a defensive position.

😤 Aggressive dinks: 5.0 players dink with intent. This aspect of their game is not just used to keep the point alive, but used to create opportunities. They are able to move opponents around, hit balls with varying degrees of pace and spin, and work to get their opponent out of position. Players use dinking to create winning opportunities.

♟️ Strategy: This is arguably the most defining factor of a 5.0 level player. The strategy in pickleball can be overlooked at most levels, but this is what higher level players use to their advantage. They are able to strategically place the ball around the court and work to find an edge over their opponents. 5.0 players also have incredible footwork, allowing them to be in the optimal position on the court to hit nearly any shot that is required. And finally, they adapt quickly to other play styles and adjust strategies based on both the opponent and their partner's strengths/weaknesses.

🔗 Check out our complete guide to reaching the 5.0 skill level in pickleball

FEATURED STORY

NFL star Micah Parsons says he's 'addicted' to pickleball

NFL defensive end Micah Parsons is off to a strong start to the 2025 season after a blockbuster trade over the summer that sent him from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers.

Parsons was a big storyline in the NFL this week because he returned to Dallas for the first time since the trade -- the Cowboys hosted the Packers on Sunday, and the game ended in a 40-40 tie. Parsons logged one sack.

The secret to his offseason training regimen leading into this season: Pickleball, of course.

"I'm playing like two, three times a week," Parsons said in a July interview with CBS Sports. "It's like great cardio playing singles. I'm addicted."

Parsons' love of pickleball has been building for years, and he even joined the ownership group of MLP's Texas Ranchers in 2023. He credits his agent, David Mulugheta, for getting him into the game initially.

"David had a pickleball event like two years ago in Austin. We all came down, and that kind of like sparked my interest," he said. "As it started growing, I ended up getting a stake in the Ranchers, and that's when I really started getting involved, wanting to be around it, learning more about it."

While he's confident he is one of the best pickleball players in the NFL, Parsons has seen high-level pickleball up close and acknowledges he's not quite there yet.

"I think I'm an OK player," he said. "I've played against some pros and some really good players, so I'm like OK. There's levels to it. Pickleball is all about touch. It ain't really about how strong you can hit it. It's about touch, feel, placement. It's strategic. I'm still mastering it. It's hard."

🔗 Read more about Parsons’ pickleball obsession

TRENDING

The second of back-to-back PPA Tour Asia events is underway in Vietnam, and several top American pros are in the field for the second straight week.

The first two rounds of the Vietnam Cup, being held at Tien Son Sports Arena in Da Nang, were held Tuesday night (U.S. time), and the tournament has now reached the semifinals. You can catch all the action on Pickleballtv or the Pickleballtv app.

Here are a few of the top U.S.-based players who are still alive in the event 👇

Men: Ben Johns, Dekel Bar, Tyson McGuffin, Eric Oncins, Zane Navratil

Women: Chao Yi Wang, Kaitlin Christian, Alix Truong, Liz Truluck

🔗 Learn more about the PPA Tour Asia Vietnam Cup

PADDLE CORNER

Expert review: Adidas launches new ADIPOWER series

Earlier this year it became clear that adidas was going all-in on pickleball when they released their updated Metalbone paddles.

That launch was the first big splash of 2025 for the apparel and sports equipment company, and now adidas is back with a new launch: Three paddles that are part of the ADIPOWER PRO-EDT series.

While the Metalbone paddles used a construction method unique to adidas and had a different feel from most paddles on the market, the ADIPOWER line will look and feel more familiar for most pickleball players.

There are three variations of this paddle:

ADIPOWER PRO-EDT 14: A 14mm elongated shape with a 5 1/2-inch handle.

ADIPOWER PRO-EDT 16: A 16mm elongated shape with a 5 1/2-inch handle.

ADIPOWER PRO-EDT 16 C: A 16mm widebody shape with a 5-inch handle.

The two 16mm models are endorsed by recently signed adidas player Jaume Martinez Vich and feature his logo on the paddle face. The company also announced last week that they've signed CJ Klinger, who will be debuting with an adidas paddle at the PPA Tour Virginia Beach Cup on Oct. 6-12.

While the different shapes and thicknesses lead to differing performance characteristics, each of the ADIPOWER paddles use the same construction method, which includes:

Low density polypropylene honeycomb core: Promotes longer dwell time and soft feel, while maintaining solid put-away power.

Raw carbon fiber surface: Generates good spin and ability to shape the ball.

Carbon perimeter & reinforced edge guard: Structural reinforcement boosts durability and stability, giving the paddles a solid feel.

TriFoam edge reinforcement: EVA foam reinforcement along the perimeter stabilizes the paddle face and reduces vibration.

🔗 Check out our in-depth review of the ADIPOWER series

QUICK HITS

• WOW: Is this a future World No. 1? 

• LOL: How NOT to return a lob

• So true: Me listening to gangsta rap on the way to play pickleball

• Singles madness: Who says pickleball players aren’t athletes?

• Perfect combo: Lob —> Slam