🤾 How to control the kitchen line

Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

😍 Selkirk’s best paddle in a long time
🤾 How to control the kitchen line
💥 Want faster hands? Do this.
👏 3 backhand shots you need to master

😍 Selkirk’s best paddle in a long time

After a string of so-so releases and sky-high price tags, Selkirk just dropped a paddle that actually feels worth talking about.

Stephen’s just finished his review of the SLK ERA Power Elongated, and it might be their best paddle in years.

It’s quick, it’s powerful, and it doesn’t feel like you’re paying extra just for the name on the handle.

At $200, this thing hits a sweet spot most brands miss. It fills that awkward gap between great-value $150 paddles and high-end $250+ options—and it actually delivers.

In his review, Stephen breaks down how it stacks up against Selkirk’s LABS line, what kind of players will get the most out of it, and why he thinks this paddle could become very, very popular…

👉 Read Stephen’s SLK ERA Power Elongated review

🤾 How to control the kitchen line

Excited as always to welcome back Tanner Tomassi for this week’s Level Up.

Hey Pickleheads readers,

Ever find yourself getting pushed off the kitchen by fast, aggressive dinks?

Most rec players try to run these balls down sideways—and end up stretched out, off-balance, and handing the point over.

Instead, do this:

1. Step across with your inside foot

As soon as you see the aggressive dink coming, step across your body with your inside foot.

This helps you cut off the angle early and stay balanced.

2. Reset to the middle

Don’t try to out-dink your opponent crosscourt. Just reset to the middle of the kitchen. You’ll take away their angles and slow the rally down.

It’s a simple adjustment—but it turns defense into offense and keeps you at the line.

Watch Tanner demonstrate the footwork and middle reset in action 👇

Warner Woods Park, Westerville, OH

These courts don’t just serve up good games. They come with trails, creeks, and some serious forest feels.

Tucked inside a 40-acre woodland escape just outside Columbus, Warner Woods Park is part pickleball hangout, part nature fix.

And the vibe? Super chill. No rush. No noise. Just clean air, clear skies, and maybe the occasional deer sighting.

Pickleball meets peaceful. We’re into it.

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