🤾 Master the speed up (off the bounce)

Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

😍 Six Zero releases a new contender for paddle of the year
🤾 Master the speed up (off the bounce)
💥 Stop doing THIS to 10x your game!
🤌 Beat bangers (by changing your grip)

😍 Six Zero releases a new contender for paddle of the year

Six Zero just dropped one of the most anticipated paddles of the year, the Black Opal. But is it a true paddle-of-the-year contender, or just another Gen 4 chasing the hype?

This launch matters because Six Zero hasn’t released a new paddle in almost two years. They’re one of pickleball’s powerhouse brands, makers of the Double Black Diamond Control, an all-time great.

The Black Opal isn’t a revamp. It’s a brand-new model, and I’ve personally put it through its paces.

Plenty of hyped paddles end up feeling meh. But the moment I took the Black Opal out, I knew it would be in my bag for a long time. It’s dangerous in the best way.

👉 Read my full review of the Black Opal

👟SQAIRZ has truly nailed it

SQAIRZ has long been one of our favorite pickleball shoe brands because their shoes stick to the court like glue and withstand a beating.

They’ve ranked as one of our best pickleball shoes for almost a year now, but they never had the top spot. A company that made its name in golf and baseball shoes didn't seem to have pickleball quite figured out.

Now there's a new version of the SQAIRZ XRZ™, and this time they truly nailed it.

👉 Read our latest SQAIRZ XRZ™ - pickleball shoes review

Save $10 with code PICKLEHEADS10

🚨 Friday Pickleball’s pre-Black Friday Drop!

Our good friends over at Friday Pickleball just dropped one of the slickest bundles we’ve seen – the Stealth Fever Kit. 

For just $89 (save $50), you get the elongated Stealth Fever paddle, paddle cover and a Friday Athletic Hat.

The Friday Fever’s all-black colorway looks sharp, and the paddle’s raw carbon fiber face delivers elite spin, feel, and consistency that builds confidence shot after shot.

At under $100 for this kind of performance, the freebies, plus Pickleheads readers get an additional $5 off with code PICKLEHEADS… it’s just ridiculous value!

🤾 Master the speed up (off the bounce)

Pumped, as always, to hand the reins to Tanner from Tanner Pickleball for this week’s Level Up.

Speeding up off the bounce: get this shot right, and you’ll catch your opponents off guard and set yourself up for easy putaways. Get it wrong, and you’ll either pop the ball up, hit straight into the net, or send it long.

Here’s how to execute a speed up off the bounce in just 3 steps:

✅ Step 1: Get your foot behind the bounce
The key to this shot? Lead leg positioning. You want your front foot planted directly behind the bounce so you can keep the paddle tip flat. Stretching = disaster.

✅ Step 2: Treat it like a setup shot
Think of it like a one-two punch in boxing — don’t go for a winner. Hit the speed up, expect the counter, and get ready for the next ball.

✅ Step 3: Snap the wrist
A quick wrist snap gives you that spicy topspin that helps the ball dip fast — and stay in play.

Hope this helps!

Watch Tanner break it down in under 60 seconds 👇

Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:

• 🚨 Deal alert: 11SIX24 just dropped a pre-Black Friday sale

• 🤑 Our best budget paddle of 2025

• 🦄 A carbon paddle from a legendary pickleball brand for just $70

• 🇺🇸 A new American brand with paddles built different

Skipped a scroll or two? No worries — here are the last few editions we sent your way:

• 🔥 Chaos at the Kitchen

• 🤾 3 mistakes killing your serve (and how to fix them forever)

• ♟️ Strategy over technology, every time!

• 🤾 A secret way pros attack

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