🤾 Most amateurs never master these 3 skills

👀 This $135 paddle rivals JOOLA’s $300 flagship

Hey Pickleheads readers, Taylor here 👋

One of the most exciting paddle brands in pickleball dropped a brand-new paddle this week… and honestly, I think Warping Point might have done it again.

The new Sophon officially launched on May 19th, and after testing it over the last few days, I totally get the hype.

Warping Point has quietly built a reputation for making some of the best-value paddles in pickleball — high-end performance without the crazy price tags. The Sophon is their first-ever foam-core paddle, and it absolutely delivers.

What shocked me most is how close this thing feels to paddles twice the price. At just $135 with our discount (code PICKLEHEADS), it genuinely competes with some of the $250–$300 paddles I’ve tested recently.

The standout is the control. The sweet spot feels enormous. Resets, drops, counters, touch shots… it all feels incredibly stable and forgiving. Unlike a lot of softer control paddles though, the Sophon still has plenty of power when you need it.

The tradeoff is speed. This paddle is definitely more head-heavy than something like the Warping Point Neon or pro Anna Leigh Water’s Franklin C45 Aurelius.

Still, if you want a forgiving all-court paddle with elite-level control and ridiculous value, the Sophon is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve made, well, ever.

And if Warping Point’s previous launches are anything to go by, I wouldn’t expect stock to sit around long.

👉 Read my full review

Save 10% at checkout with code PICKLEHEADS ($149.99 $135)

🤾 Most amateurs never master these 3 skills

Jordan from Briones Pickleball on YouTube returns for this week’s Level Up.

If you watch advanced players closely, it’s not just athleticism or consistency that separates them from everyone else. It’s a few key skills most rec players never fully develop.

Here are three that instantly level up your game:

1️⃣ Topspin dinks
The best players aren’t just dinking safely — they’re applying pressure. Jordan says the key is a vertical low-to-high swing path, not slapping forward at the ball. Keep your wrist stable, get under the ball early, and let your shoulder do the work.

2️⃣ Calm, controlled resets
Most players panic in transition and either stab at resets or overcomplicate them. Jordan’s advice? Stay balanced, keep movements simple, and focus on lifting the ball softly into the kitchen to buy yourself time.

3️⃣ Aggressive dinking starts with footwork
You can’t attack effectively if you’re stretched or jammed. Advanced players use quick shuffle steps to get behind the ball, create space and open up sharper angles and offensive options.

Master these three skills, and the game starts slowing down… fast.

Watch Jordan break this down in more detail in the full video 👇

Unlock your true potential with the most comprehensive FREE video series that gives you fast, step-by-step instructions on exactly what to work on next to skyrocket your game.

🧨 Hit a 3rd shot drive like Colin Johns

💥 How to disguise a dink vs a speed-up

🔥 When to drive vs drop a 3rd shot

☁️ The Broadmoor Club, Colorado Springs, CO

This might be the ultimate “don’t hit it out” court.

Sitting at the highest altitude of any pickleball court in the world, The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp serves up ridiculous views across the Colorado Rockies.

Fresh mountain air, towering pines, and a backdrop so big it’s hard not to get distracted mid-rally. It’s remote, peaceful, and wildly scenic — the kind of place where every game feels epic.

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

• 👌 The fastest paddle I’ve ever played with

• 🥤 An electrolyte mix built for the heat of summer pickleball

• 😂 The part of practice nobody enjoys… fixed

• 🫶 The recovery habit that makes me a better pickleball player

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

• 🔥 A tumbling cartwheel save!

• 🔥 How to counter hard drives at the kitchen

• 🧊 The deadliest drop shot

• 🤾 Stop reaching. Start controlling.

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