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- 🤾 Stop leaving gaps. Do this instead.
🤾 Stop leaving gaps. Do this instead.
Plus, these shoes are kind of a big dill, the drop before the storm. Pickleball goes international this Friday, and much more...
Brandon at Pickleheads
October 29, 2026
Hey reader,
Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
🌪️ The drop before the storm.
🥒 These shoes are kind of a big dill
🤾 Stop leaving gaps. Do this instead.
🌍 Pickleball goes international this Friday
🤔 3 beginner mistakes you’re probably still making
🌪️ The drop before the storm.
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 🙌
🥒 These shoes are kind of a big dill
 | SQAIRZ has gone full pickle with its limited-edition Dill Pickle shoes—and there’s proven performance behind the playful design. The XRZ and XRZ2 have been featured in our best pickleball shoes guide for years. This latest release brings pickle-inspired style to the stability and control SQAIRZ is known for, helping you stay connected to the court through every cut, push-off, and recovery. |
Fancy adding some flavor to your footwork? This limited edition won’t be around forever.
🔥 The Holbrook Fuze VantaGrit is here!
After giving Pickleheads readers exclusive early access last week, the Holbrook Fuze VantaGrit is now available to everyone!
Building on one of our highest-rated paddles of 2026, the VantaGrit adds a new, long-lasting grit surface for even more spin, while retaining the muted, connected feel and excellent control that made the original Fuze such a hit.
Stephen recently put it through its paces and came away seriously impressed.
Normally $200, you can grab yours for just $170 with code PICKLEHEADS.
🤾 Stop leaving gaps. Do this instead.
Stoked to welcome back Jordan from Briones Pickleball Academy on YouTube for this week's Level Up!
Hey Pickleheads readers,
Ever had a ball fly straight between you and your partner, with neither of you knowing whose it was?
Chances are, your positioning was the problem.
The secret is shading: moving together with your partner to follow the ball and close down the gaps.
Here's what I want you to remember:
1️⃣ Know who's covering what
When the ball goes wide to one opponent, the player facing them covers the sideline, while their partner shifts across to protect the middle.
2️⃣ Move together
If your partner shifts across to cover the line, you need to move across too. Otherwise, you're leaving a huge gap down the middle.
But don't overdo it! Moving too far can expose the opposite side of the court.
3️⃣ Make life easier with your returns
Returning down the middle takes away some of your opponents' angles and makes it easier for you and your partner to cover the court as you move forward.
Remember, good court coverage isn't about covering more ground. It's about being in the right place together.
Watch me demonstrate how to cover the court and avoid the most common positioning mistakes in this week's video 👇
🏓 Master the fundamentals of pickleball for FREE!
Want to build a stronger foundation for your game? Jordan and the team at Briones Pickleball Academy have created Pickleball Framework, a completely FREE video series covering the essential skills and strategies every player should learn to build a solid foundation.
🌍 Pickleball goes international this Friday
The first-ever MLP Nations Cup starts in Dallas on October 30. Eight teams from the USA, Canada, Asia, Europe, South America and Australia will play for bragging rights.
One to watch is 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro on Team Asia. He’s already beaten Hunter Johnson once this year.
🎬 Mark Wahlberg is going to Worlds
The Pickleball World Championships start in Dallas on November 2 with more than $1.6M in prize money. Every No. 1 seed is entered.
The headline act might not be a pro, though. Mark Wahlberg will lead the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown on 5 November, playing alongside the tour’s top players live on Tennis Channel.
Say hi to your mother for us, Mark. 😂
❤️ Saved by “Charlie’s Angels”
Charlie, 72, felt dizzy between games at Udall Park in Tucson. Moments later he collapsed with no pulse.
His fellow players stepped in: a retired ER doctor, two nurses and an off-duty paramedic. Two shocks from a defibrillator later, he was talking again. Last week he was back on the same courts, playing with the friends who saved his life.
🤔 3 beginner mistakes you’re probably still making
🧂 Learn the shake and bake in 3 steps
🌑 Why your drives keep going high
How far does the non-volley zone extend from the net on each side? |
Can a server switch between a volley serve and a drop serve from point to point during a game? |
On your opponent's serve, you cannot see the ball leave their opponent’s hand. What can you do? |
Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:
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What do you think of the Pickleheads Newsletter? Let us know how we can be even better in the comments. |