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- š¤¾ Drop or drive? Hereās what Anna Leigh Waters would do!
š¤¾ Drop or drive? Hereās what Anna Leigh Waters would do!
Plus, master the lob, backswing tips for dinks, and much more...
Brandon Mackie
April 10, 2025
Hey there,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
š¤¾ Drop or drive? Hereās what Anna Leigh Waters would do!
ā”ļøA MUST-KNOW pickleball tip
š„ Master the lob
š Backswing tips for dinks
š¤¾ Drop or drive? Hereās what Anna Leigh Waters would do!
Iām pumped to welcome back Kyle from That Pickleball School to this weekās Level Upāfeaturing none other than Anna Leigh Waters, the No. 1 womenās player in the world, and her coach/mom, Leigh Waters.
They recently joined Kyle to talk strategy, mindset, and what separates the pros from the rest. Here's one of her biggest takeaways:
Anna says too many rec players freeze on the third shotābecause theyāre overwhelmed with options. Hereās how she keeps it simple:
If the return is short and high: Drop it
Trying to drive a low, short return usually leads to mistakes. Reset with a soft drop to the kitchen.
If the return is deep and fast: Drive it
Drops from behind the baseline often sit up too high. A controlled drive keeps your opponents off balance and sets up the next ball.
If itās in that middle zone: Play to your strength
Got a solid groundstroke? Drive. More confident in your touch? Drop.
Bonus tip: A drive doesnāt mean ripping it. Even a 50% power rolling drive can be more effective than a risky drop.
Want to see Anna Leigh break down more GOAT-level tipsālike when to attack (and when not to), how to stay engaged off-ball, and how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable (plus watch Leigh roast her serve form)?
Click below to see the full videoš
Still feeling fresh in game 5? Thatās a first.
Ever start strong, only to fade in the later games? Legs get heavy, steps slow down, and recovery takes longer than it should.
VKTRY insoles are changing that.
Made from carbon fiber and customized to your bodyweight, theyāre designed to return energy with every stepāreducing impact, boosting support, and helping you bounce back game after game.
You wonāt notice them the same way you notice a new paddle. But when youāre still moving well in game 5, youāll know theyāre doing their job.
Weāre looking for a strong editorial lead to help shape the voice of Pickleheads as we scale our content to new heights.
This is a dream role for someone who lives and breathes storytellingāand wants to build the #1 media brand in pickleball.
As Senior Editor, youāll be responsible for executing on our content roadmap, maintaining our high editorial standards, and managing a team of freelance writers and editors.
š§ About You:
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ā”ļøA MUST-KNOW pickleball tip
š„ Master the lob
š Backswing tips for dinks
Shoes that donāt quit mid-match
You know the kindāshoes that start out fine but give up on you halfway through a session.
The Tyrol Smash is different. Itās built for the way we actually move on courtāfast cuts, hard stops, pushing off the line. No slip, no roll, no weird pressure points.
The grip is solid, the ventilation works, and I didnāt need a break-in period. Just laced them up and played.
And after a few long sessions? My feet werenāt screaming at me. Thatās a win.
If youāre logging real court time, these are worth a look. You can also save 10% on Tyrol Pickleball Shoes with code PICKLEHEADS.
Built for full swings and filthy spin
Engage just dropped the Pursuit Pro1 Innovation, and after testing the 15.2mm version, Iāll say thisāit absolutely lives up to the name.
Spin is the standout. I was hitting topspin drives that dipped fast, even when I took pace off. Drops hung just long enough to pull opponents in before falling into the kitchen. The SpinCore tech? Not just hype.
Power-wise, itās not the poppiest paddle Iāve tested, but when I had time to swing, I could really unload. Itās more of a slow burn than a quick strikeāless reactive than something like the JOOLA Gen 4, but when you generate your own pace, it rewards you.
The long 6" handle is a bonus. Two-handed backhands felt super natural, and I found myself leaning into more of them mid-rally.
Now, itās not perfect: the paddleās a little slow in hands battles, and forgiveness drops off outside the sweet spot. Plus, $279.99 is steep.
But if youāre an aggressive player who likes to hit heavy and shape your shots with spināthis paddleās a real weapon.
š§ Want to level up faster? Track your mistakes.
Use your AccuSkore not just for scoringābut to click and log errors mid-game. Spot patterns, fix habits, and see real progress.
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