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🤦‍♂️ Smashing an Erne and still losing the point

🤦‍♂️ Smashing an Erne and still losing the point

Plus, pickleball: the new holiday party, Agassi rocks a pair of Christmas jumper themed Nikes and more

Brandon Mackie
December 21, 2023

Hey there reader 👋

Welcome back to the latest edition of The Pickleheads Newsletter and Happy Holidays! 🎅🎄🎁

In this issue:

🤦‍♂️ Hitting an Erne smash and still losing the point
🤾 Whiffing your overheads? Try this.
🎄 Pickleball: The new holiday party
👟 Agassi rocks a pair of Christmas jumper themed Nikes

🤦‍♂️When you smash an Erne and still lose the point

This week’s epic point has all the trick shots - an amazing reset, a leaping Erne, and an ATP (around the post).

The craziest part? The tall player (front right) hits a massive Erne smash and still loses the point.

It’s heartbreaking 💔

To check out this week’s epic point, click the image ▶️

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 🙌

Whiffing your overheads? Try this.

Rahul, Pickleheads community manager and APP Top 150 player is back once again with this week’s top tip…

If you’d like to see a 30-second video of Rahul walking you through this week’s tip click the video below 👇

If not, read on…

I see many players sailing the ball out, hitting into the net or whiffing easy returns from lobs!

So if you’re looking to stop whiffing and hit cleaner overheads… Try this.

Strike the ball with the “Trophy pose”

The Trophy pose consists of pointing your non-dominant arm at the ball to track it in the air, with your paddle cocked back like a tennis player on a trophy!

Next time an opponent tries to lob you, follow the ball with your arm and strike the ball at the height your paddle can reach, following through completely past your waist.

Just like a tennis serve.

Strike the “Trophy pose” and make overhead errors a thing of the past!

Try this tip out over the next week and let us know how it works for you by replying to this email.

👟 Pickleball Slam 2 star, Agassi rocks a pair of Christmas jumper themed Nikes

Pickleball Slam 2 is on the horizon and Agassi has taken to the courts in a festive pair of Nike Air Tech Challenge 3 sneakers!

Agassi and Graf’s daughter says she wants a pair. We’re not so sure. Make up your own mind – here.

🎬 Why Emma Watson stopped acting and started playing pickleball

It's been over four years since Emma Watson last graced the silver screen in Little Women.

It seems, the actress has no regrets about taking a sabbatical from the industry, prioritizing her dog Sofia and “really stupid things” like pickleball.

Did she really just say that?

Pickleball: the new holiday party?

Could we be waving goodbye to the traditional office Christmas party along with the champagne, shots and sequins?

Today, companies are embracing a fresh, inclusive way to celebrate year-end festivities: guac and pickleball!

This shift, seen in businesses like the innovative Outschool, replaces the typical dinner-and-drinks routine. Driven by a desire for inclusivity, activity and building camaraderie beyond a Zoom call.

Fostering team spirit and equality, this new trend is steering clear of making drinking the main event.

Companies are now opting for fun, active gatherings that don't focus on a single holiday.

Instead of the usual holiday-themed events, businesses are booking pickleball lessons, virtual murder mysteries and "The Great Guac Off," a team guacamole-making competition.

What a great idea, huh?

Remember, next fall when the office holiday party organizers unite, get in on the action and let your voice be heard…”let’s play pickleball!”. 🥑🏓🎉

New: Find games when you travel with vacation mode

Traveling this holiday season? The NEW Pickleheads App now has vacation mode to help you find games wherever you go.

Our team has scoured the internet to find 4,400 open play schedules across the US and CA. With vacation mode, you can find nearby games wherever your travels take you.

Just flip it on and start browsing nearby games.

This feature is available for free in the new Pickleheads app for iOS and Android!

Download now for free: pickleheads.com/app

Pickleheads App Apple ad Android Download

The Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Boy, did we try to find somewhere ‘Holiday themed’ for this week’s dream court…

Although, in the search for a festive court we did discover this beauty!

If you’re one of those tryin’ to escape the madness, heading to Vegas for the holidays (you crazy cat), and looking for a pickleball fix…

Checkout the thirteen, fifth floor, rooftop courts atop The Plaza Hotel and Casino. 🙀

Oh, yeah! We’ve heard there’s a few things to do apres-pickleball in the local city too…

Enjoy. 🃏🎉🍸

PCKL Pro Series

I’ve played with over 34 raw carbon, thermoformed paddles this year so far. They’re all the rage.

So when PCKL came out with their own line, the PCKL Pro 13 & 16, I was skeptical it would be just another copy of everything already out there 🤔

But I admit - I was wrong. The Pro 16 had a bit of everything - I could hit hard mid-court drives, land 3rd shot drops (finally!), and play with big spin.

This paddle is like a well-made cocktail 🍸, it’s just balanced. You get all the ingredients – power, control, and spin – but nothing is overwhelming.

After my testing period was over, I kept playing with the PCKL 16 every week and started recommending it to anyone looking for a step-up paddle.

This is the paddle you buy when you’re tired of playing with a cheap one and ready to play with a real paddle.

I like the price too – at $160, it’s one of the best values out there. And the PCKL team has given Pickleheads subscribers an extra 15% off – which means you can get this paddle for $135.99.

You don’t need to drop $250+ on a JOOLA or Selkirk to play with a great paddle.

If you’re thinking of upgrading, or you need a last-minute gift idea… give this one a look 👇

***PICKLEHEADS 15% code auto-applied with the link above***

ERNE site-wide discounts

ERNE’s Ultimate Drilling Partner was the hottest pickleball product of 2023. If you were lucky enough to get one… I’m jealous.

And you could score some major brownie points buying that special someone an Erne this Xmas.

Hey, maybe you've got extra holiday cash from that Christmas bonus…

So just in case, I’m excited to share this special $100 off code for the Erne, good through 12/25:

ERNESanta - $100 off ERNE

And if you know someone that has an Erne, they also sell some pretty awesome accessories. Like their sound-dampening balls - buy these if you have angry neighbors next to your court!

And for the real fans out there, Erne also sells a full line of apparel.

Check out these codes for the extras:

ErneElf - 10% off apparel

ERNEStuff - 10% off accessories

Happy shopping! 🛍️