💨 A sky high showdown

Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

💨 A sky high showdown
🏅 Is Asia about to fast-track pickleball to the Olympics?
🤔 Is Anna Leigh Waters bigger than Serena Williams?
 😲 “The Pickleball Swindler” owes $47 million

💨 A sky high showdown

This week’s epic point was submitted by Pickleheads subscriber Ian.

This point is a full-court hustle, packed with lob attempts, scrambles, full-stretch overheads, and gets.

You’ll be exhausted just watchin’.

To check out this week’s epic point, click below 👇

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 🙌

🏅 Is Asia about to fast-track pickleball to the Olympics?

A new study just dropped—and the numbers out of Asia are wild.

According to YouGov and UPA Asia, 282 million people across 12 countries now play pickleball at least once a month. In India alone, 178 million people are frequent players. Vietnam saw a 152% increase in awareness this year. And across the region, 62% of people only discovered the sport in the last two years.

So what does that mean for us here in the U.S.? It could be a very big deal.

Olympic inclusion has long felt like a stretch for pickleball—but with Asia’s massive player base, rising youth engagement, and new pro tours launching across the continent, the case is suddenly stronger than ever.

If this momentum keeps building, the IOC won’t be able to ignore it much longer. And with the U.S. still dominating the pro scene, the Olympic debut could come with some very winnable gold.

🤔 Is Anna Leigh Waters bigger than Serena Williams?

Pro pickleball player Zane Navratil recently made the audacious claim that 18-year-old, World No. 1, Anna Leigh Waters is a more dominant athlete than Serena Williams during her prime.

😲 “The Pickleball Swindler” owes $47 million

Rodney Grubbs—aka The Pickleball Swindler and founder of Pickleball Rocks—just waived his bankruptcy discharge, meaning he’s still personally on the hook for $47M in debts.

Grubbs promised “guaranteed” returns to hundreds of investors—then funneled new money to cover old debts.

🙄 The “forbidden game” drama in Twin Cities suburb

It wouldn’t be a normal week without another noise complaint over our “forbidden game.”

Police have been called at least twice recently to shut down players—yep, for playing pickleball.

😍 Submit a video. Get your DUPR rating.

We just launched something brand new — and I think it solves a real problem for players.

With RateMyGame, you can now get a verified DUPR rating by simply submitting a short video of yourself playing. That’s it.

No matches to log. No clinics to attend. Just submit footage from any doubles game and get your official rating in 48 hours or less.

If you’ve been wondering where you stand — or just want better games — this is the easiest way to start.

Ready to level up your game?

Shop the Match & Match Light now—adidas quality from just $79.

Still playing with a cheap Amazon paddle? Meet the Match & Match Light—the adidas-built paddles made to last, perform, and turn heads.

The Match is your go-to starter: balanced, dependable, and easy to swing.

The Match Light takes some weight off the handle, making it great for players who like quicker hands at the net.

Both feature a tough composite face and a 14mm honeycomb core. In plain English? They’ve got legit pop, solid control, and won’t fizzle out after a week.

They’re perfect for casual games, driveway battles, or backyard pickleball with friends—and at $79 apiece, they’re a smart pick for anyone getting into the game.

Y'know, showing up with some bold adidas branding definitely beats pulling out something that looks like it came free with a beach set.

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