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- 🫡 A truly INSANE rally
🫡 A truly INSANE rally
Plus, a $280-level paddle for $126, ALW named in TIME ‘100 Most Influential’ sports list, are you “holding your dink”? And much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
June 11, 2026
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
🤯 A $280-level paddle for $126 – limited time only
🫡 A 54-shot, truly INSANE rally
🤾 Under 3.5? I bet you make these mistakes
🎨 The cheapest pickleball upgrade you haven't made yet
⭐️ ALW named in TIME ‘100 Most Influential’ sports list
🤔 Are you “holding your dink”?
🤯 A $280-level paddle for $126 – limited time only
Hey Pickleheads readers, Taylor here 👋
I'll be straight with you. I didn't expect this paddle to be this good.
After more than 10 hours on court, the FLiK F3 is one of the best paddles I've ever reviewed.
The F3 uses a triple foam core built around all-court consistency. Not to get too technical, but it generates a 2,100+ RPM spin rate — that's how fast the ball is spinning off the paddle face. And for an all-court paddle, that high of a number is rare.
Most paddles that generate spin at that level sacrifice control to get there. The F3 doesn't. More spin and control means you can lift dinks over the net, shape backhands that would otherwise go flat, and bring topspin drives back down into the court. All of that adds up to better strokes, and better strokes mean a better game.
Most paddles I review do one thing really well. The F3 does everything to a high level. Control, forgiveness, spin, power. It all works together.
Right now you can pick up the FLiK F3 for $126. That's a third off our current top-rated all-court paddle in our best paddles guide, and I gave it a 5/5. I'd put it up against anything at $280. The Pickleheads discount is auto-applied at checkout. Stock is limited so if you've been thinking about upgrading, now's the time.
"I'm not exaggerating when I say that the FLiK F3 does everything to an elite degree. If you want a paddle that can do it all without costing you more than $200, this is it."
If you've been eyeing something like the JOOLA Pro V but can't justify the cost, this is a smart alternative.
$126 with discount auto-applied at checkout
🫡 A 54-shot, truly INSANE rally
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 🙌
🤾 Under 3.5? I bet you make these mistakes
“Your coach”, Jordan Briones from The Briones Pickleball Academy is back for this week’s Level Up!
Hey Pickleheads readers,
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is players thinking they need new shots or better technique to move from 3.0 to 3.5. In reality, a lot of players could level up simply by making better decisions.
After breaking down a real 3.0 gold medal match, I noticed the same mistakes showing up again and again.
1️⃣ Stop attacking low balls
If the ball is down around your ankles or below the net, that's usually not your green light to speed it up. I see players forcing attacks from difficult positions all the time. More often than not, the better play is a drop or a dink that lets you reset the point and get into a stronger position.
2️⃣ Get to the kitchen
One of the most common mistakes at the 3.0 level is hitting a return and staying back. After you return serve, your job isn't done. You need to work your way up to the kitchen line and join your partner. Staying back gives your opponents control of the point.
3️⃣ Leave yourself some margin
A lot of players lose points because they're trying to hit the perfect shot. Better players don't aim for the sideline on every drop or drive. They give themselves room for error, keep more balls in play, and let their opponents make the mistake first.
The good news? None of these fixes require a new paddle or a new technique. Clean up your decision-making, and you might be surprised how quickly your level starts to climb.
Watch me break it all down in this week's video 👇
Most players lose points because they’re out of position. Fix it with this free training.
🎨 The cheapest pickleball upgrade you haven't made yet
I was on court last week and looked around at the paddles sitting against the fence.
Black. Navy. Gray. Maybe the occasional Crystal Blue if someone's managed to get their hands on one.
But generally, pickleball gear has a boring problem. And honestly, I get it — most players spend their money on the paddle itself, not how it looks. But the edge? That's where you can actually do something.
That's why I love what Edgy Pickleball is doing. Edge tape with 48 real designs and counting. Galaxy, graffiti, camo, fire, checkers, beach stripes. Slap it on in 60 seconds, and your paddle looks like yours instead of everyone else's.
One strip holds up for weeks of regular play. And they've got two sizes, so it fits pretty much any paddle on the market. When you're ready for a refresh, it peels off clean.
$19 for a 3-pack, and they've got a deal for Pickleheads readers – Save 15% with code: PICKLEHEADS15.
⭐️ ALW named in TIME ‘100 Most Influential’ sports list
At 19 years old, Anna Leigh Waters has already conquered pickleball. Now she's earning recognition far beyond it.
The World No. 1 has been named to TIME's inaugural TIME100 Sports List, placing her alongside some of the biggest and most influential names in global sport.
🎬 Angelina Jolie swaps Hollywood for pickleball
Angelina Jolie and her son Pax were among a star-studded lineup at a celebrity pickleball fundraiser in Los Angeles. They were joined by names including Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Mel C, Billie Eilish, and Finneas, proving pickleball's celebrity fan club keeps getting bigger.
✍️ How a pickleball to the face inspired a novel
Most pickleball injuries end with an ice pack. This one ended with a book deal. One author's painful on-court mishap became the unlikely inspiration for her latest novel.
🤔 Are you “holding your dink”?
♟️ Defensive tip of the year!
🧨 Fix your overhead smash
The server begins calling the score and hits the serve before finishing the call. What's the ruling? |
Mid-rally, your grip tape starts unraveling and wrapping around your hand. Can you stop play to fix it? |
During a rally, you're certain your opponent let the ball double-bounce on their side before returning it. Can you call a fault on them? |
Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:
Skipped a scroll or two? No worries — here are the last few editions we sent your way:
What do you think of the Pickleheads Newsletter? Let us know how we can be even better in the comments. |
