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🤾 Pickleball’s biggest lies (that stop your improvement)

Plus, a pickleball IQ tip to make you smarter, tired of people who don’t dink? And much more...

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Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

šŸ† I won a 5.0 tournament with this $100 paddle
🤾 Pickleball’s biggest lies (that stop your improvement)
🤌 A pickleball IQ tip to make you smarter
šŸ’„ Tired of people who don’t dink?
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šŸ† I won a 5.0 tournament with this $100 paddle

Taylor with the Warping Point Neon

Hey, Taylor here, šŸ‘‹

What if I told you I just won a 5.0 tournament with a sub-$100 paddle? Plus, it doesn’t have the latest foam tech. It’s just a genuinely affordable paddle that earned its place in my bag. Crazy, right?

The paddle I’m talking about? The Warping Point Neon. After 35+ hours of play, I can honestly say, it’s now my main paddle. I'm just as shocked as you considering I spent most of last year testing paddles at triple the cost.

What stood out immediately was the control. The sweet spot is massive, the touch is incredible, and it absorbs pace beautifully. It’s not a raw power paddle, but it’s fast, forgiving, and deadly on counters and hand battles.

That balance is what surprised me most, and it’s why I recommend this paddle for everyone from beginners all the way up to advanced players. At just $75 (with our code), it’s official – Warping Point is here to disrupt the pickleball game.

($75 with this link. Pickleheads discount auto-applied at checkout)

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🤾 Pickleball’s biggest lies (that stop your improvement)

I’m pumped to welcome back Jordan Briones from Briones Pickleball Academy for this week’s Level Up.

Hey Pickleheads readers,

I don’t really know how else to say this, but… a lot of you have been taught things at the kitchen line that just aren’t helping your game.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is the way some coaches teach their students how to move laterally at the NVZ…

Most coaches tell you to step first with the outside leg. This pulls your contact point way outside your hips and instantly puts you on defense.

Instead, I want you shuffling with the inside leg first. That one small change keeps the ball more in front of you and puts you in a much stronger position to attack.

Another huge issue is your ready position. If your paddle is too far out or your elbow is flared up, you’re going to be late to counters every time. The best players stay neutral. Paddle calm, close to the body, and ready to reset or counter without extra movement.

And when it comes to slowing the ball down, stop trying to absorb pace with big paddle movement. Stability wins. Quiet hands, solid base, and lift the ball into the kitchen instead of pushing it.

These little misconceptions add up fast. Clean them up, and your kitchen game levels up immediately.

Watch Jordan’s full breakdown on YouTube šŸ‘‡

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This titanium paddle spins like crazy… but there’s a catch

Taylor with the Neonic Flare

Hey, Taylor here again, šŸ‘‹

I’ve recently been testing the Neonic Flare Titanium, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The titanium-infused face delivers excellent spin and impressive durability, but it comes with trade-offs…

It’s heavier than most wide-body paddles, slower at the net, and doesn’t have the soft touch you’d expect from newer foam options.

That said, at $135 with our discount, it’s a solid option if you want long-lasting grit and heavy spin without paying over $200.

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šŸ’„ Tired of people who don’t dink?

🧨 How high to lob

🤌 A pickleball IQ tip to make you smarter

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Lucky Shots Pickleball Club, Minneapolis, MN

Lucky Shots Pickleball Club, Minneapolis, MN

This is pickleball with a pulse. Lucky Shots is loud, fast, and unapologetically intense!

A warehouse packed wall-to-wall with courts, neon lights overhead, and rallies flying everywhere you look. No polite country-club vibes here.

This is where leagues grind, open play runs late, and ā€œlast gameā€ is a lie. If you like your pickleball energetic, social, and a little chaotic, Lucky Shots is your kind of place.

ICYMI header image

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

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