🎁 My best pickleball Christmas gifts

Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

🎁 My best pickleball Christmas gifts
🤾 I bet your coach taught you this…
💥 Don’t hit the ball if it’s HERE
🧨 If you’re at the baseline, don’t do this.

🎁 My best pickleball Christmas gifts

If you’ve got a pickleball lover on your Christmas list, good news: I’ve done the hard part for you.

This year’s gift guide is stacked — from the new kid on the block Honolulu Sword & Shield J2NF, to the hard-to-find Bread & Butter Loco, to the gift that always lands: pickleball lessons with a certified local coach.

And that’s just the start. I’ve rounded up the best gear, accessories, bags, balls, training tools, Secret Santa picks… everything.

I’ll be updating it all month long, so bookmark it and keep checking back.

👉 Dive into the full 2025 Pickleball Christmas Gift Guide

🌴 Buttonwood Reserve, Eleuthera (Bahamas)

Our Dream Courts are usually the kind of places you admire from afar… gorgeous, inspiring, but not exactly within reach. This one’s different! Because Buttonwood Reserve is a Dream Court you can actually book, and you’re invited to start planning your trip today.

The property sits high on a ridge with a view that doesn’t feel real: the Caribbean Sea on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Warm breeze, endless blue, total island calm.

And the court is just the beginning. Guests get free access to a heated pool, bikes, kayaks, paddle boards, boogie boards, and golf carts to reach their private 2-mile pink-sand beach… completely untouched and absolutely stunning.

There’s also a calm Caribbean-side shore steps from your door, ideal for snorkeling, paddleboarding, or settling in for a sunset.

Coming with friends or planning a pickleball group getaway? The optional Main Lodge is built for groups. Complete with a huge kitchen, sunset deck, and plenty of room to hang and recharge.

If you’re dreaming of a winter escape where your morning pickleball session flows straight into a beach day… Buttonwood Reserve is one for the list. And with 2026 trips already taking shape, now’s the perfect time to start planning.

Or, follow their Instagram for updates!

🤾 I bet your coach taught you this…

Stoked to welcome back Tanner for this week’s Level Up!

Hey Pickleheads readers,

Let’s challenge one of the most common lessons in pickleball: always stay tethered to your partner at the kitchen line.

It’s good advice, but not great. And here’s why:

✅ The problem:
You’ve been taught to shift side-to-side with your partner, staying glued together no matter where the ball goes. But if your partner is chasing a wide ball, sliding with them doesn’t help — you can’t assist with their shot, and you’re leaving your own side exposed.

✅ The fix:
Stay home until after your partner hits the ball. “Home” is the center of your box. Once your partner makes contact, then you react.

• If they go wide and hit crosscourt, then you slide over to cover the line.

• If they hit middle, you stay balanced.

• If you move too early, you’re guessing — and putting yourself out of position.

This subtle shift in timing can make a huge difference in your court coverage and consistency.

🎥 Want to see how it works?

Tanner walks through the concept step by step in this week’s clip — check it out below:

Introducing Pickleheads Plus

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. 👇

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

• 🥤 An electrolyte mix that comes with some serious pickleball cred

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

• 👟 SQAIRZ has truly nailed it

• 🤑 Our best budget paddle of 2025

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

• 😎 A deceptive ATP defense

• 🤾 How to deal with spin

• 😬A test of patience, power and grit!

• 🤪 Chaos on the court

Love what you’re reading? Why not tell others about it too!?

The sponsors of this newsletter support our free tools at Pickleheads. Thanks for reading.