Hey there, reader 👋

Welcome back to the latest edition of the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

🫨 Attacks, resets and misdirects
🤾 Possibly THE most important shot in pickleball
👩‍⚕️ Doctor’s tips to prevent pickleball injuries
😧 A new $56k pickleball getaway with the pros

🫨 Attacks, resets and misdirects

This week’s epic point is wild.

It’s full of attacks, resets and misdirects, and a player praying for the ball to go out!

To check out this week’s epic point, click the image ▶️

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 🙌 

🤾 Possibly THE most important shot in pickleball

Rahul, Pickleheads community manager and APP Top 150 player, is back once again with this week’s top tip…

One of the most important shots in pickleball isn’t the most obvious. The shot I’m talking about?

The mid-court reset!

Not only is it one of the most common shots, it helps you get to the kitchen faster.

If you don’t know how to hit one, or can’t do it consistently – you’ll get stuck.

Mastering the mid-court reset isn’t difficult, it just requires positioning and practice.

To begin, ensure your feet are spread wide apart and you’re bending low.

This wide stance and low bend allows for easier side-to-side movement without the need to move your feet too much.

With this stable base you can almost cover the entire court with minimal effort.

When resetting, try and push the ball upwards softly from the side of your hip to just about your stomach.

Unlike a groundstroke or even a drop, the mid-court reset is a very short stroke and mimics a push.

To make this easier, especially off the backhand, turn your wrist upwards in order to exaggerate the push motion. This will add consistency to your reset.

If you’re looking for a good drill to practice your mid-court resets, you’ll need a partner.

One of you is positioned at the kitchen, the other in mid-court. The player at the kitchen is attacking the player in mid-court. The player in mid-court needs to reset all attacks.

Once the player in mid-court hits 100 resets, the roles are reversed.

Remember, if the player at the kitchen hits a high shot, the player in mid-court should attack this ball. Like you would in a tournament! This will develop your transition zone attack.

Here’s a video of Rahul talking you through this week’s tip 👇

We’re HIRING! 👏

Role: Senior Full-Stack Software Engineer

Know anyone who would be interested in building technology for pickleball players?

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Build consumer tech for America's fastest-growing sport

• Work directly with product-obsessed founders

• Focus on writing code. No red tape or soul-sucking meetings.

See the job posting below for full details and a link to apply 👇

👩‍⚕️A doctor’s tip to prevent pickleball injuries

The AMA recently put together a great article, “What doctors wish patients knew about preventing pickleball injuries.”

If the article is TL:DR, find the key points below:

1. Some people are more prone to injury

You might think the older population experience more injuries, but Dr. Wu sees more middle-aged (30-50) patients with predominately strains and overuse injuries.

2. Overuse injuries are most common

Strain or overuse injuries are the most common among pickleball players.

Shoulder pain or knee pain that develops over time—there’s not really one specific moment or movement where you can say, ‘Ow, that really hurt.’

3. Acute injuries happen too

Sprained ankles and pulled hamstrings are examples of acute injuries in pickleball in which “there’s one specific moment where you step wrong or you’re lunging for a ball.”

If you struggle to bear weight or have pain and swelling around the injury, see a doctor.

4. Listen to your body

From an aerobic or cardiovascular standpoint, playing pickleball certainly can help these systems.

However, if you’re dealing with pre-existing conditions and joint pain, let your body guide how much and how often you play.

5. Start and end with stretching

Before playing pickleball, warmup with dynamic stretches, like walking lunges, high knees or arm circles.

Cooling down is the best time to do static stretches that help with flexibility and keep the muscles loose and ready to go.

Now you understand all the things doctor’s wish pickleball players knew to prevent injuries, stay safe out there!

Check out our BRAND NEW paddle quiz! I’m really excited about this one…

I get asked every week for paddle recs but it’s hard without knowing your playstyle and needs…

So enter the quiz - answer 7 quick questions and I’ll recommend the 3 best for you. I tested over 80 paddles last year but only pick from the top 30.

Are you playing with the best paddle for your game? Find out below 👇

The Lodge at Kukuiula, HW

You’ll find this week’s dream court in Kukuiula, on the South Shore of Kauaʻi, Hawaii.

This place boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, which gives you the perfect opportunity to get outside and perfect those dinks, backhands and overheads in a beautiful tropical setting. 😍🥰

Custom Medals

Looking for custom, personalized spinner, gem, glitter, 3D, or even glow in the dark medals?

Well, with over 20-years experience and rated ‘Excellent’ with 1000+ reviews, GS-JJ is your one stop service for all things medals, with free design and artwork, no minimum order, and free shipping to US, UK, CA, and AU.

Claim up to 30% off today on already very low prices.

If medals aren’t your thing, check out their lapel pins, patches, challenge coins, belt buckles, keychains, lanyards, and wristbands.

Should this paddle be banned?

“This paddle should be banned.”

I’ve heard a few people say it by now. Can you guess which paddle I’m talking about?

It’s the new Gearbox Pro Power.

I’ve heard players call it “unfair” or even “dangerous” – and that’s because of how hard the paddle hits.

I just finished my testing last week and wow does this paddle have power! The ball just flies off the face.

Control takes a little getting used to but if you’re a power player (like me), you gotta check this paddle out.

I waited 12 weeks to get mine but now it’s back in stock. The paddle goes for $275 and there are no discounts given how popular it is right now.

But though it’s premium priced, I’ve never played with anything like it.

To my fellow bangers, enjoy!

**This paddle has been back-ordered everywhere but fortunately our friends at JustPaddles have it in stock and ready to ship same-day**

Love what you’re reading? Why not tell others about it to!?