🤾 Paddle tracking: A pickleball cheat-code

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.

🤫 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:

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!

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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