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- š¤¾ The MOST important thing to fix your drops
š¤¾ The MOST important thing to fix your drops
Plus, is Steve's Erne legal? The worldās first pickleball stadium and more
Brandon Mackie
January 11, 2024
Hey there reader š
Welcome back to the latest edition of the Pickleheads Newsletter!
In this issue:
š¤ Is Steveās Erne legal?
š¤¾ The most important thing to fix your drops
š 7 goals for ALL pickleball players in 2024
šļø Check out the worldās first pickleball stadium
Is Steveās Erne legal?
This weekās epic point was submitted by one of our subscribers, Dina Cotterill.
Her husband Steve (the guy all in black), hits a beautiful Erne at a Menās Doubles 4.5 charity tournament in El Segundo, CA.
But was Steveās Erne legal? Weāll let you be the judge.
It does make it a little sweeter that the tournament raised enough to feed a lot of homeless over the holidays...and Steve took first place. š
To check out this weekās epic point, click the image ā¶ļø
Have a filthy point caught on cam? šø
Reply to this email or submit yours to [email protected]. The most epic one will feature in next weekās newsletter!
AND if we pick your submission, we'll send you a free Pickleheads t-shirt š
The MOST important thing to fix your drops
Brandon here, taking over from Rahul in this weekās Level Up.
As always though, if youād like to see a 40-second video of Rahul walking you through this weekās tip, click the video below š
If not, read onā¦
You set up your 3rd shot drop. Here it comes ā a beauty shot that lands right into the kitchen as you run up!
But oops - you popped it! Your opponent smashes it for the point. Thereās nothing worseā¦ right?
Wrong!!
The worst thing you can do is hit your drop into the net.
The reason is simple - a shot into the net is over immediately. No questions asked.
But even if you pop a drop up against a serious banger, you still have a chance to recover.
You could counter with another drop. Or a drive. Or even a sky lob (which I recommend!).
One of the biggest mistakes I see players make is they try to hit the absolute perfect drop that lands right in the kitchen, untouched.
Theyāre so afraid of a pop up, they hit drop after drop into the net.
Thatās a bad bet!
Think of getting to the kitchen as a journey. Be prepared to hit 2, 3, even 4 drops.
If your first one isnāt perfect, no problem. Try again.
If youāre lucky, your opponentās return will end up in the midcourt, eventually giving you an easier drop.
I now proudly say that I pop drops up all the time. But I almost never hit them into the net.
Try this tip out over the next week and let us know how it works for you by replying to this email.
šļø The worldās first pickleball stadium Is opening in Fort Lauderdale
Slated to open this year, The Fort will feature 43 pro courts, live music, a fitness-recovery center and more.
Not just centered around the sport, visitors can also enjoy sweeping views of a 7-acre lake, live music, paddleboarding, volleyball, a dart room, golf simulators and luxury suites
š Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi give hilarious pickleball related dating advice
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have recently been sharing their wisdom with fans live on Instagram.
When a recent divorcee asked for advice on where to meet someone without dating, there was only one answerā¦
šæ āIn a Pickleā is the first feature film that serves up laughter and love for the pickleball community
āIn a Pickle: A Comedy with Ballsā, is the brainchild of former tennis player turned pickleball enthusiast, Dan Brooks.
Theyāve even roped in renowned comedy writer, Joel Boyd.
The film has a script, is in pre-production and set to release in summer of this year. Want to know more?
7 Pickleball Goals for You in 2024!
As we step into the New Year, it's the perfect time to set some exciting goals for your pickleball journey.
Whether you're a seasoned player or just picked up a paddle, hereās a list of goals to make 2024 your best pickleball year yet!
1. Play at a New Court in your Area
Itās easy to get in the habit of playing at the same courts with the same people. But if you want to advance, take time to find new courts.
This year, find a new court or open play in your area. I always get energized when I find myself playing with a new group, especially when theyāre better than me ;)
2. Visit a New State and Play Pickleball
Combine travel and pickleball. Plan a trip to a state youāve never visited and include pickleball in your plans.
Itās a great excuse to see a new part of the country!
3. Get a Friend into Pickleball
Spread the joy of pickleball with a friend this year. Is there anything better than seeing a friend get obsessed with pickleball just like you are? š
4. Play in a Tournament
Test your skills at a pickleball tournament! Rec play is great but tournaments are a whole different atmosphere.
Theyāre a great way to improve your game and play others at your level. Donāt worry about winning or losing; itās all about the experience and funā¦to start with.
And no! Tournaments are not only for pros! Companies like the World Pickleball Tour are offering nearly 30 amateur-only events across the US this year.
5. Play Pickleball in Another Country
Feeling adventurous? Play pickleball abroad! It's a unique way to immerse yourself in another culture and connect with the global pickleball community.
Pickleheads co-founder Max Ade and I played pickleball at Pueblo Bonito in Baja, Mexico last April - it was a blast!
6. Go to a Pro Event
Attend a pro event this year ā either a PPA or MLP tour stop. Tickets are affordable, the play is next-level and the atmosphere is incredible.
You may even spot your favorite pro. I went to Nationals in Dallas last year and Ben Johns strolled right past me as I walked in. Starstruck š¤©
7. Test Out a New Paddle
The right equipment can make all the difference. Iāve seen players go up a level with the right paddle.
With so many options out there, you might just find one paddle that elevates your game to the next level.
There you have it! Seven achievable, fun, and exciting goals to make 2024 your most memorable pickleball year yet.
Get out there, make new friends, explore new places, and above all, enjoy every moment on the court. š
New: Find an open play anywhere you go
Did you know you can do a lot more than find courts on Pickleheads?
Now you can find pick-up games and open plays across the country.
Search an area or use the Pickleheads mobile app, navigate to the Discover tab and select āGamesā.
With over 4,400 open play schedules listed in the US and CA, you can find one whether youāre traveling or looking in your own backyard.
Download now for free: pickleheads.com/app
Silk Springs, Twentynine Palms, CA
This weekās dream court was submitted by one of our very own subscribers!
A friend of mine, Yoonj Kim, reached out last year asking about court dimensions because she was building a court at her Airbnb property.
Well, she sent over pictures last week. And, I had no idea it would turn out so great!
Youāll find Yoonjās court on the grounds of her awesome, Shangri-La inspired, desert ranch ā Silk Springs. Which was featured on its own TV program.
Silk Springs is perfect for retreats, stargazing, wellnessā¦and pickleball, obviously.
If you DM Yoonj on AirBnB and quote the discount āPickleheadsā sheāll give you 10% off your booking!
Just, wow š
The filthiest paddle Iāve ever played with
I tested over 40 pickleball paddles in 2023.
There were soooo many good ones. But thereās one paddle that fits my game better than any other.
And itās simply the most fun paddle Iāve ever played withā¦
The Bread & Butter Filth.
This paddle has a ton of pop and power. And I see why they named it The Filthā¦ it hits shots I can only describe as āfilthy.ā
Throw in the cool paddle design, fun brand, awesome packaging, AND affordable price and Iām calling Bread & Butter my fav new pickleball brand of the last year.
The founders are good people too. Doug hooked up Pickleheads subscribers with an exclusive 15% off discount (just use code Pickleheads15). Thatās a sweet deal, almost every other paddle company caps us at 10%.
I hope you have as much fun with the Filth as I do.
Pickleheads 15% off code auto-applied with the link above
Erne: The Ultimate Drilling Partner
Anyone get an Erne for Christmas?! Um jealousā¦
Well if you werenāt one of those lucky few, then give the Erne a look.
I think this is one of the best gifts you can give yourself in 2024.
New Yearās Resolutions are all about bettering yourself. Your health, your relationships - well donāt forget about your pickleball game!
The Erne is what you buy when youāre ready to go up a level and perfect the shots you need to beat advanced players.
Even with all the Christmas shopping deals over, Iām stoked the Erne team has kept our PH100 ($100 off) code active.
Though the Erne is still on backorder, I recommend ordering before you get bumped to the next production run.
Cheers to improving our games in 2024!
***Use code PH100 to save $100 on the Erne***
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