⚡️ 99% of pickleball players make this mistake

🎯 Stop playing it safe on your serve

I’m pumped to welcome back Kyle from That Pickleball School to this week’s Level Up.

This week, Kyle’s joined by Zane Navratil, a pro player so influential the rules had to change—multiple times—just to keep up with his serve.

Hey Pickleheads readers,

On their serve, most rec players play it safe—aiming for the middle and never missing.

But Zane says if you’re not missing any serves, you’re not being aggressive enough.

Zane’s hot take:

Placement doesn’t matter. Height and depth do.

Here’s his go-to approach:

1. Start deeper behind the baseline to generate more lift

2. Step in to transfer weight for more power and spin

3. Focus on depth and bounce height, not location

Like Zane says, “There’s no shot in pickleball I should make 100% of the time. If you never miss a serve, you’re probably not serving effectively.”

Want the full backstory on the spin serve controversy, plus Zane’s thoughts on what’s next for serving in pickleball? 

Watch the full video here 👇

My new go-to paddle!

I’ve tested a lot of paddles that promise the perfect blend of power and control—but the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV, well… it actually delivers!

It’s got the same Pro IV tech as the Perseus and Hyperion, but the wider face and shorter build make it feel way more forgiving—especially in quick exchanges or when you don’t catch it clean.

It’s fast, easy to maneuver, and the sweet spot is HUGE.

You can still swing big from the baseline, and the spin is elite. I was rolling backhands and shaping topspin drives with confidence.

But where this paddle really stood out was in the soft game. Drops and resets felt clean and consistent, and I didn’t have to overthink finesse shots.

It’s not as explosive as the Perseus or Magnus, and yes, at $279.99, it’s a premium buy.

But if you’re an aggressive, all-court player who wants a power paddle that won’t bite back on touch shots or mishits, this is one of the most complete paddles I’ve tested.

In my full review, I just rated it 5/5. Honestly, it just replaced the ESQ as my go-to paddle.

Read Stephen’s full review here