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🦞 Do not lob a lobber
Plus, your paddle is still shaped like a 1965 plywood off cut, what 5.0 players do differently, aim your third shots here, and much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
August 27, 2026
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
🦞 Do not lob a lobber
🪓 Your paddle is still shaped like a 1965 plywood off cut
🤾 What 5.0 players do differently
🚕 Tesla just dropped another pickleball paddle
💥 Aim your third shots here
🦞 Do not lob a lobber
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 🙌
🪓 Your paddle is still shaped like a 1965 plywood off cut
Hey Pickleheads readers, Taylor here 👋
What if I said, “your paddle is still shaped like a 1965 plywood off cut...”?
Since then, pickleball paddles have transformed on the inside. Foam cores, carbon faces and thermoforming. Yet most remain shaped like the plywood rectangle first cut in 1965 because it was easy to manufacture.
Every sport eventually challenges tradition. Tennis moved beyond small wooden frames to oversized graphite heads, and players never looked back.
Now pickleball is faster and more technically demanding. Shape is the next frontier… and KOBO went straight at it.
The flagship KOBO THUNDER AXE uses a sculpted aerodynamic profile, three functional air channels, an edgeless design and perimeter weighting to deliver an unusual combination of speed and stability.
I expected a gimmick. I found a performance paddle.
Despite its slightly head-heavy feel, the THUNDER AXE only weighs 8 oz and moves through the air quick, so I never felt late during counters. It earned a rare 10 out of 10 for control in my THUNDER AXE review, while the Soft-Plex friction surface scored 9.5 for spin that should keep biting match after match.
Not everyone is ready for the cutting edge, but KOBO carries the same design thinking across its lineup. The elongated Tsunami offers a familiar rectangle shape and edge guard with dual air channels, while the Scorch combines rounded-head geometry with a 12K carbon and Kevlar on the face of its G4 series
The materials evolved years ago. Now KOBO is bringing that same engineering mindset to paddle shape.
$399 down to $339.15. Save 15% at checkout.
🤾 What 5.0 players do differently
Stoked to welcome back Jordan from Briones Pickleball Academy on YouTube for this week’s Level Up!
Hey Pickleheads readers,
I recently broke down a 5.0 women's doubles semifinal from the US Open, and there’s a lot you can learn from how these players construct points.
Guess what? It's not about flashy shots. Here are four things I want you to take into your own game:
1️⃣ Stay patient in transition
Good players don't panic when they're caught between the baseline and kitchen. They get balanced, read the ball, and decide whether to move forward, hold their position, or take a step back.
And remember, you don't always have to move forward with your partner. Make your own read based on the ball in front of you.
2️⃣ Use your return to buy yourself time
You don't need to crush every return. A deep return that gives you enough time to move forward and get established at the kitchen can be much more valuable.
Your goal isn't just to hit a good return. It's to put yourself in a strong position for the fourth shot.
3️⃣ Take time away at the kitchen
Whenever you can, look to take dinks and volleys out of the air. Letting everything bounce can push you away from the kitchen and give your opponents more time.
Lean in, take the ball early, and make them react to you.
4️⃣ Use the lob when you're on defense
A lob isn't just an attacking shot. If you're scrambling or under pressure, a high, deep lob can buy you time, move your opponents away from the kitchen, and help you get back into the point.
But you've got to choose the right moment. If you're off balance and can't control the depth, you're probably giving your opponent an easy overhead.
These players still make mistakes. What makes them 5.0s is how consistently they stay balanced, stay patient, and make smart decisions based on the ball in front of them.
Watch me break down what makes these players 5.0 in this week's video 👇
🚀 Unlock your pickleball potential
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🚕 Tesla just dropped another pickleball paddle
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Because apparently cars, robots, and rockets aren't enough, Tesla has teamed up with Selkirk for another pickleball paddle.
The Tesla Aurum Pickleball Paddle by Selkirk takes the existing Tesla Plaid Paddle and gives it a Cybercab-inspired makeover, with gold geometric patterns and bronze detailing.
Underneath, it's serious kit too. There's a 16mm PureFoam core, a Florek Carbon Fiber face, an InfiniGrit surface for extra spin, and perimeter weighting for stability.
The price tag? It'll cost you $295, or $350 with the matching bag. There's even a $40 Aurum Pickleball Tee if you really want to commit to the look.
Obviously, I’m disappointed it doesn't come with Autopilot. Y’know, for my third-shot drops.
💥 Aim your third shots here
👀 Speed up here when your opponents do this
😮💨 Never pop up another dink
You hit a shot and your follow-through carries your paddle over the plane of the net. Is this a fault? |
Your opponent calls "out" on your shot. You disagree and play on anyway. What's the ruling? |
On the serve, the ball lands clearly on the kitchen line of the correct service box. What's the ruling? |
Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:
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