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🎯 The sickest shot you’ll ever see

🎯 The sickest shot you’ll ever see

Plus, Agassi and Graf defeat McEnroe and Sharapova, where you should hit speed ups, and more...

Brandon Mackie
February 08, 2024

Hey there reader 👋

Welcome back to the latest edition of the Pickleheads Newsletter!

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In this issue:

🎯 The sickest shot you’ll ever see
🤾 Where you should hit speed ups
🎾 Agassi, Graf defeat McEnroe and Sharapova in Pickleball Slam 2
😡 Former investor accuses CEO of targeting pickleball competitors

The sickest shot you’ll ever see

Y’all know usually we don’t cover the pro game for epic points.

But, when a commentator says, “Oh, no way! That’s one of the best shots you will ever see!”. We gotta pay it some attention, right?

James Ignatowich, take a bow! 🙇‍♂️

To check out this week’s epic points, click the images ▶️

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 🙌

LevelUp Pickleball Camps

Every day, players write to us asking…

“Do you offer lessons?”

Or.. “How can I get better?”

Great questions.

You can go to open plays. But it’s hard to drill and focus on skills in rec play.

You could go to a beginner’s clinic. You’ll learn a lot - but there’s only so much you can absorb in a single session.

Your best bet? A pickleball camp.

In a camp, you’ll get 12 hours of pro instruction over 2 full days. Along with before + after video reviews, this is how you go up a level in pickleball.

And if we’re talking camps, there’s really no one better than LevelUp Pickleball Camps.

They offer camps in 35 states for every level (2.0-2.9/Beginner, 3.0-3.5/Intermediate, and 3.6-4.5/Advanced) so there’s almost sure to be one for you. And 285 reviews + 4.9 stars on Google proves players really enjoy the experience.

I talked with founder and head pro, Wayne Dollard this week. Since their camps sold out all last year, they have expanded to 225 camps across 108 cities this year.

Wayne was also nice enough to offer Pickleheads readers an exclusive $50 off any 2024 camp with code PICKLEHEADS50 (expires 2/28).

They’re selling out already so have a look and find one near you 👇

** Make sure to enter promo code PICKLEHEADS50 at checkout to claim your discount**

Where you should hit speed ups

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

Speed ups in Pickleball are one of the most important shots in the game!

Speed ups are fast shots usually used to break up dink rallies, speed up the game, and ultimately win you the point.

Hitting speed ups hard isn’t enough. You need to be able to place them well.

You see, there isn’t one specific place to hit a speed up. And the placement of your speed up depends on your opponent’s positioning.

For example, if you see a player is sitting on their backhand or forehand, speed up to their opposite side.

Also, try aiming your speed ups at your opponents right or left shoulder, as this is a hard position for them to counter from.

Lastly, aiming your speed ups at your opponents body can work too.

Don’t over use this – higher level players will anticipate it and hit a hard counter with their backhand right back at you!

So, be sure to continually mix up your speed ups based on your opponents positioning, aim at their shoulders, or, if you’re a little ruthless, their body!

Here’s a video of Rahul talking you through this week’s tip 👇

🎾 Agassi, Graf defeat McEnroe, Sharapova in Pickleball Slam 2

Unsurprisingly, McEnroe threw a few fits and Sharapova eased him away from throwing a few more.

But the tennis legends were no match for pickleball’s most popular couple.

🏈 NFL sportscaster Kay Adams trades mic For pickleball paddle

"Up and Adams" host Kay Adams lives and breathes NFL.

While she's getting ready for an epic Super Bowl in Las Vegas, she's also gearing up for her moment in the sports spotlight as a pickleball player.

😡 Former investor accuses CEO of targeting pickleball competitors

‘Pickleball Rocks’ CEO, Rodney Grubbs, once dubbed, "pickleball's ultimate ambassador”, has been accused by one of his investors of “running a Ponzi scheme”.

This could cost investors of the brand millions of dollars.

Check out our BRAND NEW paddle quiz! I’m really excited about this one…

I get asked every week for paddle recs but it’s hard without knowing your playstyle and needs…

So enter the quiz - answer 7 quick questions and I’ll recommend the 3 best for you. I tested over 80 paddles last year but only pick from the top 30.

Are you playing with the best paddle for your game? Find out below 👇

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 “Games”.

With over 4,400 open play schedules listed in the US and CA, you can find one whether you’re traveling or looking in your own backyard.

Download now for free: pickleheads.com/app

Pickleheads App Apple ad Android Download

Castle Hot Springs, Morristown, AZ

You’ll find this week’s dream court on the great lawn of the Castle Hot Springs resort in Morristown, AZ (just north of Phoenix).

Surrounded by some pretty majestic mountains, this wellness resort sits on 210 acres of pristine desert land.

You could say, it’s the perfect off-the-grid escape.

Pink Filth Valentine’s Day Deal

Do you have someone that you'd love to get Filthy with?

I’ve spoken time and time again about how much I LOVE the Bread and Butter Filth.

It’s hands down ‘the filthiest paddle I’ve ever played with’.

The founders are good people too. Usually, they offer Pickleheads subscribers 15% off.

But to celebrate the ‘world’s dumbest holiday’...their words, not ours. They’re offering 25% off two Bread and Butter Filths in pink. I got my hands on a pink filth last week and trust me… it’s a beauty!

They would usually set you back $330. Until the 24th February, you can get your hands on a pair of Filths for just $247.50 – 25% off!

That’s the sweetest deal you’re going to get this year!

Who’s booking a LevelUp pickleball camp?

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