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- 🤾 Paddle tracking: A pickleball cheat-code
🤾 Paddle tracking: A pickleball cheat-code
Plus, a game-changer in the budget paddle range, THIS is killing your dinks, and much more...
Brandon Mackie
May 29, 2025
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
🤩 A game-changer in the budget paddle range
🤾 Paddle tracking: A pickleball cheat-code
💥 One pickleball tip you wish you knew sooner
😢 THIS is killing your dinks
🤩 A game-changer in the budget paddle range
We test more paddles each month than most players will swing in a lifetime. Still, it's rare we find a sub-$100 paddle that’s good enough to crack our top picks. The 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean is one of those paddles. We just updated our Best Pickleball Paddles guide – our most-read page – to include it as our new budget pick.
Here’s why that matters: below $100, the quality drop-off is steep. Most paddles in this range feel flimsy, inconsistent, or just plain bad. The Jelly Bean is the rare exception, and don’t let the name fool you – this thing is legit. It plays like a $150 paddle – balanced, forgiving, and loaded with spin.
Stephen Mijangos, our lead tester, called out how easy it is to shape low balls into the kitchen, and praised the extra-long handle for two-handers, or for anyone who likes to reach back on their backhand.
🤾 Paddle tracking: A pickleball cheat-code
Excited as always to welcome back Tanner Tomassi for this week’s Level Up.
Here’s one simple tip you can use immediately to level up your defense:
Track the ball with your paddle.
That means wherever the ball is on your opponent’s side of the net, your paddle tip should be pointing at it—at all times.
Most rec players hit a shot, then let their paddle drift back to center.
But higher-level players? They mirror the ball with their paddle. It’s a tiny habit that leads to faster reactions, better anticipation, and more controlled counters.
So next time you’re in a rally, don’t just track the ball with your eyes—track it with your paddle.
Want to see exactly how this looks in action? 👇
🤫 We’re heading to Palm Beach next month, and we’d love for you to join us
From June 27–29, the World Pickleball Convention is taking over the Palm Beach Convention Center, and Pickleheads is running a full lineup of round robins, tournaments, and special events.
We’ll be there all weekend—and even speaking at the conference!
There’s something here for every kind of player, from rec-level regulars to serious competitors.
Each player who signs up gets 2 free WPC tickets ($60 value).
Plus, registration is 50% off until Sunday, June 1st—so now’s a great time to lock in your spot.
We’re always testing new gear to bring you the good stuff. Here are a few quick hits from this week’s sessions:
 | Fresh pickleball eyewear: Stephen tried out two pairs of pickleball glasses from Blinded Wear – the Mirror II (clear lenses) and the Rippled X (polarized lenses). The Mirror II worked best for him. They had a more comfortable shape, though he didn’t like how close they felt to his face – his eyelashes were touching the lenses, which was a little weird. They also fog up more than his CRBN Pivot Pickleball Glasses, especially when playing outside in the morning. |
Stephen wasn’t a fan of the Rippled X. They’re just too polarized and dark, which makes it hard to track the ball, especially in dink rallies or hand battles. He didn’t love the style either—the shape was less comfortable than the Mirror II.
While he’ll be sticking with his CRBN Pivots, these are a decent alternative for anyone trying to save $15-25. Of the two, he’d go with the Mirror II, but only if you play mostly indoors or in low light outdoors because they have clear lenses.
A hard protective case would help too. A glasses bag just feels a little risky to toss in a pickleball bag!
💥 One pickleball tip you wish you knew sooner
😢 THIS is killing your dinks
👏 A topspin tip for aggressive pickleball players
Lake Nokomis Community Center, Minneapolis, MN
Just a few miles from downtown Minneapolis, you’ll find a pickleball hub tucked between tall trees and lake views.
With the city skyline on one side and peaceful parkland on the other, it feels like the best of both worlds.
Weekends here buzz with players rotating in, catching games, and soaking up that Minnesota summer.
Add in the lakeside trails and shaded paths, and this place is more than just a spot to play—it’s a full-on hang.
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