Hey there, reader 👋

Welcome back to the latest edition of the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

🤩 I’ve never seen a shot like this…EVER
🤾 How to advance to the kitchen
🎾 “I might have to start playing pickleball” – Roger Federer
🤨 More now play pickleball than THIS popular past time

🤩 I’ve never seen a shot like this…EVER

This week’s epic point is a quick one. It’s over in just a couple of shots because of THIS trick shot.

They’ve called it ‘The Yates’...

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 🙌 

Donate to mental health and win packages from Diadem

I first started playing pickleball in the depths of the pandemic. It was a really hard time for me.

I'll be the first to admit my mental health took a big hit.

Pickleball became my biggest outlet during that time. It scares me to think what that time would have been like without pickleball.

A big reason why I co-founded Pickleheads was because of that experience. I saw firsthand how pickleball can bring people together.

So when Ashleigh Cromer, CEO of Be Strong, reached out with a campaign to support mental health, I was really excited to take the call.

Ashleigh's FUNdraiser is raising $100,000 for mental health. Plus, every donation is matched 1:1, so you can double your impact.

With pickleball's tie to mental health, it's only fitting that one of my favorite brands, Diadem, is offering prizes for donors.

If you're a parent, grandparent, or believer in the importance of mental health (like me), this campaign is a great opportunity to support something many people are struggling with 🙏

Depending on the amount of your donation, you'll be entered into the following prize competitions:

🤾 How to advance to the kitchen

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

This week's tip focuses on positioning.

Your position on court is one of the most underrated aspects in pickleball.

This week, I’ll focus on how to advance to the kitchen.

Whether you decide to drop or drive your third shot, your main goal should always be… get to the kitchen! Why?

Because pickleball is won at the kitchen!

When we drive our third shot, we are aiming to get a short ball back so we can drop the fifth to advance to the kitchen. A good third shot drop should help us get close to the kitchen.

However, sometimes players tend to overrun, don’t come in enough, or worst of all… don’t advance at all!

So in order to change this, we need to remember THIS one key element…

After you’ve hit your return, get as close to the kitchen as possible before the ball crosses the net.

After this, you can use your mid-court reset (I spoke about this last week).

Or, another defensive shot to help you get to the kitchen line faster.

BEWARE! If you continue to advance after the ball has crossed the net, you probably won’t be ready to hit your next return.

This is how we advance to the kitchen to maximize our position in the most effective way possible.

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

Save 10% on everything at Pickleball Central

Now, this is one of our biggest exclusive deals EVER…

Starting today Pickleheads readers can enjoy 10% off everything on Pickleball Central.

Well almost everything… no Selkirk, Gearbox, or machines.

Just use code PICKLEHEADS at checkout.

Pickleball Central carries almost everything. But it’s by far my favorite place to buy pickleball nets.

With the weather getting nice, I know many of you are shopping for nets to play with over the spring and summer season.

Nets can be hard to find and expensive, so this deal will save you some serious dough!

I just published my Top 7 nets for 2024 and you’ll see the discount code along with other special freebies Pickleball Central is offering with each purchase 👇

**Use code PICKLEHEADS for 10% off almost EVERYTHING**

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, Utah

You’ll find this week’s dream court on the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, in the picturesque town of Orderville, Utah.

Could the East Zion Resort be THE ideal destination for pickleballers?

Imagine a full day of pickleball surrounded by those stunning landscapes of southern Utah! 😍😍😍

Vatic Pro

Players ask me all the time…

“I only have $100, what paddle should I buy?”

Easy. The Vatic Pro PRISM Flash.

Okay how about if I have $150 to spend?

Also easy - The Vatic Pro Flash.

Seriously these paddles are the best values you can find in all of pickleball.

Up until recently, you had two options: 1) play with a junk paddle or 2) spend $250+ on a JOOLA or Selkirk.

Now you can have a real performance paddle for $100 to $150. How they packed all the best paddle tech in a paddle for under $100, I have no idea…

Vatic paddles to me are perfect for intermediates. They’re control paddles at heart, with surprisingly big spin and enough power to play an all-around game.

The Vatic Pro Flash is the thermoformed version, so it hits harder. The PRISM is non-theroformed so if you need more control, I recommend that one.

If you want to take your game up a level, without draining your bank account, check these guys out.

And if they weren’t already cheap enough… you can grab an extra $10 off with code PICKLEHEADS.

I love what they’re doing for the sport.

**Use code PICKLEHEADS for an extra $10 off**

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