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- 😎 A deceptive ATP defense
😎 A deceptive ATP defense
Plus, DUPR is back on top after major shakeup in the ratings world, 13-year-old makes $2,000 a month selling pickleball paddles, and much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
December 09, 2025
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
😎 A deceptive ATP defense
📊 DUPR is back on top after major shakeup in the ratings world
😲 Is pickleball dying?
👏 13-year-old makes $2,000 a month selling pickleball paddles
😍Introducing Pickleheads Plus
ICYMI: Last week, we rolled out something big… Pickleheads Plus! A simple $1/month upgrade that unlocks the stuff players have been asking for.
With Plus, you can now:
🌴 Find & join games while traveling
🔍 See players, games, and groups at every court in the world
💬 DM players directly to set up your next matchup
If you love getting games in (anytime, anywhere), this one’s for you. 👇
😎 A deceptive ATP defense
This week’s epic point flips the script in the best way.
Just as it looks like the opponent is about to seal the rally with one of pickleball’s holy-grail shots, a deceptive ATP defense comes out of nowhere and steals the point right back.
A perfect mix of timing, disguise, and “no way they just did that.”
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 🙌
🎓 Want to introduce pickleball to new players? Learn the essentials in just 3 hours.
Pickleball is exploding, and more players means more coaches are needed to keep the game fun, simple, and easy to learn.
If you’ve ever thought about coaching (or just want to be the go-to person at your local courts), the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) has a brand-new introductory course made for you.
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“It’s not how much you know, but how much you care that matters most as a teacher”
Want to check it out? You can get all the details right here or give them a call at 843-785-7244.
📊 DUPR is back on top after major shakeup in the ratings world
Last week, USA Pickleball and DUPR announced a new agreement that makes DUPR the official and exclusive rating system for sanctioned events, marking a significant shift in how tournament results will be standardized across the sport.
Earlier in 2024, the APP, USAP and UTR partnered to explore UTR’s platform and UTR-P rating. The move created a period of transition for players who were adjusting to a new system and new event-management tools. With this latest update, the organizations appear to be aligning around a clearer long-term direction for ratings.
Beginning in January 2026, results from USA Pickleball Golden Ticket events and APP tournaments will feed directly into DUPR. For players, that means fuller data, better continuity and a more complete picture of competitive results nationwide.
“While there hasn’t been an official announcement from the APP related to this, an APP spokesperson did authorize me to say that “DUPR ratings will be available to players at APP events” going forward.”
Love DUPR or not, this is a big step toward one consistent rating system for the whole sport.
Do you think having a single ratings standard is better for pickleball? |
😲 Is pickleball dying?
A business TikToker is predicting that pickleball’s meteoric rise is finally slowing down, pointing to facility closures and loan defaults as signs the sport’s boom was unsustainable.
👏 13 year old makes $2,000 a month selling pickleball paddles
🦉 Electronic line-calling to pro pickleball
During a volley serve, the server accidentally hits the ball twice in one motion. What’s the ruling? |
You hit a groundstroke from behind the kitchen line. After the ball bounces on your opponent’s side, your momentum carries you forward and you step into the kitchen. What’s the ruling? |
During a rally, the ball clips the top net strap and then lands in the opponent’s court. What’s the ruling? |
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. |
