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- ☄️ A firefight and a tweener to win!
☄️ A firefight and a tweener to win!
Plus, a great pickleball machine for under $1,000? America Is still short 25,000 courts, watch this if your putaways suck, and much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
August 13, 2026
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
☄️ A firefight and a tweener to win!
🤖 A great pickleball machine for under $1,000?
🤾 The secret to the perfect paddle position
🇺🇸 America is still short 25,000 courts
👀 Watch this if your putaways suck
☄️ A firefight and a tweener to win!
Have a filthy point caught on cam? 📸
Reply to this email or submit yours to [email protected]. The most epic one will feature in next week’s newsletter!
And if we pick your submission, we’ll send you a free Pickleheads t-shirt 🙌
🤖 A great pickleball machine for under $1,000?
Hey Pickleheads readers, Stephen here 👋
I've tested some incredible pickleball machines over the years, but there's always been one pretty big barrier: price.
The original Erne set the standard for high-tech training machines, but at around $2,000, it's a serious investment.
That's why the new Erne Dink + Drop Pro caught my attention…
At $850, it's less than half the price of many premium machines. Use our exclusive PICKLEHEADS code and you'll save another $42.50, bringing it down to $807.50.
So, what are you sacrificing?
You won't get the 60+ mph speeds or advanced programming of the $2,000 machines. What you do get is pinpoint accuracy, up to eight hours of battery life, app-controlled drills, and a ridiculously portable 17-lb machine that's perfect for hammering dinks, drops, and drives on repeat.
In fact, it's good enough to replace the Lobster as our #1 budget pickleball machine.
If you've always wanted a ball machine but couldn't justify spending thousands, this might be the one you've been waiting for.
Discount auto-applied at checkout
🤾 The secret to the perfect paddle position
Stoked to welcome back Tanner from Tanner Pickleball on YouTube for this week’s Level Up!
Hey Pickleheads readers,
Where should you hold your paddle? The answer isn't always "up and ready."
Your last shot gives you a pretty good clue about what's coming next. I want you to use that information to get your paddle ready before your opponent even hits the ball.
Here's how:
1️⃣ Hit down? Get your paddle up
If you hit the ball down toward your opponent's feet, they're likely going to have to hit up on the next ball. Anticipate it and get your paddle higher, ready to attack.
2️⃣ Pop it up? Get your paddle down
If you leave the ball high, you know what's probably coming next. Your opponent is going to attack down toward your feet, so lower your paddle and prepare to defend.
3️⃣ Think about where you are on the court
The further back you are, the less sense it makes to hold your paddle high. A ball hit high at your body is probably heading out anyway. Protect the area where your opponent can actually keep the ball in – down low.
Don't just react to your opponent's shot. Use your own shot to predict what's coming next, and you'll find yourself ready for a lot more balls.
Watch me explain where your paddle should be in under 60 seconds in this week's video 👇
🇺🇸 America is still short 25,000 courts
According to Tim Keightley, CEO of Center Court Pickleball in Arizona, even if no additional Americans picked up a paddle, the country still need approximately 25,000 more courts to meet existing demand.
⛹️♂️ Charles Barkley's doctor friends LOVE pickleball
It’s safe to say former NBA legend Charles Barkley has never had a problem sharing his opinion, and he’s convinced pickleball is NOT the perfect sport for older players.
In fact, he says his doctor friends call pickleball the "gift that keeps giving" thanks to all the injuries they see. His advice for staying active after retirement? Stick to golf. 🙄
😲 These mistakes raise injury risk for people 40+, experts say
The data backs up Charles Barkley's point too, while pickleball is booming among adults over 40, doctors warn the sport's low barrier to entry masks a real injury risk.
👀 Watch this if your putaways suck
👏 This one tip will instantly improve your dinks
🤔 You might be missing your thirds because of this
Your shot hits the net and gets tangled in it instead of bouncing over or back. What's the ruling? |
In singles, when should you be serving from the left side of the court? |
The ball visibly cracks mid-rally. According to the rules, when should play stop? |
Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:
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