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- 🤾 A new pro strategy in 2025
🤾 A new pro strategy in 2025
Plus, three tips to fix your footwork, we’re not JOOLA fanboys...but, and much more...
Brandon Mackie
May 08, 2025
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
🤾 A new pro strategy in 2025
😍 A two-handed backhand dink masterclass
💥 Three tips to fix your footwork
🤔 We’re not JOOLA fanboys, but…
🤾 A new pro strategy in 2025
Excited as always to welcome back Tanner Tomassi of Tanner Pickleball for this week’s Level Up.
Hey Pickleheads readers,
In the past year, pro players have started using one very specific strategy—have you picked it up yet?
Picture this: you or your partner float a dead ball into your opponent’s kitchen. It’s attackable. What happens next?
Most rec players stay planted at the kitchen line and get burned.
But the pros? They take a step back to buy time and space—giving themselves a better shot at tracking the speed-up and landing a clean counter.
That one step back after a dead shot will make a huge difference to your game.
Hope this helps.
Tanner breaks it down in under 60 seconds 👇
We’re always testing new gear to bring you the good stuff. Here are a few quick hits from this week’s sessions:
 | Cool look, but not quite filthy enough: The Bread & Butter Filth has been one of our favorite paddles over the past couple years—but in today’s Gen 3 world, it’s starting to feel a step behind. We tested all three of the new Filth models (Elongated, Hybrid, and Widebody) and while they’ve still got the signature B&B style and solid control, they lack the pop and power you need at higher levels. |
They’re best suited for intermediate players or Filth loyalists just looking for a familiar upgrade.
That said, the new Fatboy surprised us—in a good way. Same shape as the Widebody, but with better dwell time, a bigger sweet spot, and wild spin. It’s the only one in the lineup we’d seriously consider competing with. If you’re a B&B fan and want something that can still hang in 2025, that’s the one to look at.
 | We’re not JOOLA fanboys, but: We’ve talked a lot about JOOLA’s new top-tier paddles—the Perseus IV is our top power pick, and the Scorpeus IV is Stephen’s favorite all-courter. But don’t overlook the Hyperion IV. It’s the third paddle in the line, and for Brandon, it’s the best of the bunch. |
The Hyperion trades a bit of the Perseus’ raw power for quicker hands and better control—especially in fast exchanges. It’s one of the easiest paddles we’ve tested for switching between offense and defense, and a top pick for all-around play.
JOOLA is the elite paddle brand for a reason—their stuff performs. But you pay for it. At $280, the Hyperion IV is a serious investment. Still, if you’re looking for a high-level paddle that can do a bit of everything, this one’s hard to beat.
 | A lighter take on a favorite: The Rallie Pickleball Machine ($1,699) is a more portable clone of the Erne—one of our longtime favorites. It’s 15 pounds lighter and holds fewer balls (85 vs. 150), but still gives you plenty of reps. Ball placement isn’t perfect on oscillation, but if you want reliable feeds in a lighter package, this one’s worth a look. |
😍 A two-handed backhand dink masterclass
💥 Three tips to fix your footwork
🔥 Three scenarios to avoid speeding the ball up
Pickleball Trail, Kayenta, UT
Most courts you drive to. These? You hike to.
About 1.5 miles into a scenic desert trail near Kayenta, Utah, you’ll stumble upon one of the most surreal pickleball experiences in the country.
The Pickleball Trail winds through red rock landscapes, cactus-lined paths, and quiet canyons—eventually revealing hidden courts surrounded by towering cliffs. And while the trail may twist and split along the way, the end reward is worth every dusty step.
Let’s be honest—you’ve never played on a court like this.
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