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🎮 Play pickleball without leaving your chair!
Plus, when your behind-the-back is better than your forehand! A cult favorite gets a grittier makeover, learn to flick low balls like the pros, and much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
October 22, 2026
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
😂 When your behind-the-back is better than your forehand!
🔥 A cult favorite gets a grittier makeover
🤾 Playing with a weaker partner? Try this.
🎮 Play pickleball without leaving your chair
📚 Learn to flick low balls like the pros
😂 When your behind-the-back is better than your forehand!
Have a filthy point caught on cam? 📸
Reply to this email or submit yours to [email protected]. The most epic one will feature in next week’s newsletter!
And if we pick your submission, we’ll send you a free Pickleheads t-shirt 🙌
🔥 A cult favorite gets a grittier makeover
Psst, you’re not supposed to have access to this paddle yet 🤫
Hey Pickleheads readers, Stephen here 👋
The original Holbrook Fuze is one of our top-rated paddles of 2026. But despite all the praise it received from the Pickleheads team, I'd never actually tested one myself.
Until now.
Holbrook has just introduced the Fuze VantaGrit, keeping the same core construction but adding a new, long-lasting grit surface designed to generate even more spin.
And after putting it through its paces, I can see what all the fuss was about.
The first thing that stood out was the muted, connected feel. It's quieter than many performance paddles, with excellent control and enough forgiveness to make it a seriously capable all-court option.
Then there's the new VantaGrit surface. It really bites into the ball, letting me shape shots, generate heavy topspin, and attack angles with confidence.
But it wasn't love at first hit.
The paddle felt stiff straight out of the box, and it took around four hours of play before it started to soften up and feel more comfortable. Some added weight also helped unlock its potential.
It's not an explosive powerhouse either, but if you value control, spin, and a connected feel, there's an awful lot to like here.
And here's where it gets interesting.
The VantaGrit is actually cheaper than the original Fuze, coming in at $200.
And right now, Pickleheads readers have exclusive preorder access, with shipping starting October 30 using the code PICKLEHEADS.
Given our other favorites, the Honolulu J2NF and Bread & Butter Loco, both ended up backlogged with lengthy delivery times because of their popularity, you'll want to secure yours before anyone else.
🤾 Playing with a weaker partner? Try this.
Stoked to welcome back Tanner from tanner.pickleball on YouTube for this week's Level Up!
Hey Pickleheads readers,
Playing with someone who's not quite at your level? If you're competing in a tournament or league, you need a game plan that makes the most of both players' strengths.
Here's how I'd approach it:
1️⃣ Take control at the kitchen
As the stronger player, I want to cover most of the dinks, leaving my partner responsible for a smaller area. This makes them a smaller target and lets me apply more pressure.
2️⃣ Direct your dinks away from your side
I aim most of my dinks toward the opponent across from my partner, rather than the opponent directly in front of me.
Then I move across to cover the middle, reducing the space my opponents can safely hit into. If they try to target my partner, I'm close enough to step in and take the ball.
3️⃣ Get aggressive on the third shot
If opponents target my partner with their return, that's fine! They can hit the third-shot drop while I move forward and look to poach.
When I take the third myself, I'll favor a drive to apply pressure and potentially follow it in.
The key is playing to your strengths as a team, not trying to split every ball 50/50.
One important caveat: this is a competitive strategy that both partners need to agree on. In recreational open play, I'd stick to sharing the court equally.
Watch me demonstrate the full game plan in this week's video 👇
😍 The Loco 2 Hybrid has landed!
Last week, we dropped our full review of the Bread & Butter Loco 2. But until now, only the elongated version has been available for preorder.
That's just changed.
As of Tuesday, the Loco 2 Hybrid is officially available for preorder, combining the foam core of the much-loved original Loco with a new Space Dust Grit surface designed to maintain spin for longer.
Bread & Butter is releasing preorders in waves, and given the demand we've already seen for the Loco 2, I wouldn't hang around if you've got your eye on one.
Preorder now. Shipping November 11.
Save 10% with code PICKLEHEADS
🎮 You can now play pickleball without leaving your chair
There's a new way to get your pickleball fix.
A new update to the VR game Pickleball lets you play on your computer without a headset, including against someone playing in virtual reality.
They've even taught the AI opponents how to dink...
😳 She played on a broken kneecap
Last week, Lea Jansen revealed she'd been playing with a fractured kneecap since May but still battled through the pain to compete alongside Kate Fahey at the Virginia Beach Open.
The pair reached the quarterfinals before bowing out but with Jansen facing an uncertain future and potentially the rest of 2026 on the sidelines, her words were particularly poignant: "If this is the last time I go out, I'd like to do it with Kate."
Could this really be the end of her professional career?
🦶 Pickleball's Achilles heel is becoming a real problem
Pickleball might look gentle, but your Achilles tendon could tell a different story. Doctors are reporting a worrying rise in ruptures among women in their 60s and 70s, a group that historically experienced far fewer of these injuries.
The culprit? Those sudden sprints, quick stops, and backward movements we barely think twice about.
📚 Learn to flick low balls like the pros
👏 Make more of your thirds
💥 Let’s debunk this serving myth
During a rally, the ball strikes your hand just below the wrist while it’s gripping the paddle. Is this a fault? |
In doubles, your team wins the serve back. Your first server loses a rally. What happens next? |
On the serve, the ball clips the net and lands in the non-volley zone. What’s the ruling? |
Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:
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