🤾 This ONE tip will fix your lob

Hey reader,

Welcome back to the Pickleheads Newsletter!

In this issue:

👌 CRBN just dropped a new paddle—and it might be their best foam build yet
🤾 This ONE tip will fix your lob
💥 Bangers hate this shot
🔋 Get HUGE power on your forehand drive

👌 CRBN just dropped a new paddle—and it might be their best foam build yet

The CRBN TruFoam Waves launched today, and Taylor’s already logged 20+ hours on court with it. We loved the Genesis, but the Waves is a clear step up in both power and spin.

Put simply: this thing smashes. And the spin kicks hard.

It still has that plush, arm-friendly feel CRBN’s TruFoam line is known for, but with more bite. The hybrid face grabs the ball better, the foam core’s been re-tuned for extra pop, and the paddle plays faster without losing control.

At $280 (Save 10% with our link—discount auto-applied at checkout), it’s firmly in premium territory…and it plays like it.

That said, forgiveness is tight. The Waves comes in four shapes, but Taylor only recommends one: the square (#2). It offers faster swing speed and a more accessible sweet spot. The hybrid and elongated models were far less forgiving under pace.

In the blog, we break down how the TruFoam Waves stacks up, who it’s for, and whether it’s time to finally make the move from honeycomb.

👉 Read: CRBN TruFoam Waves review

🤾 This ONE tip will fix your lob

I’m stoked to welcome back James Ignatowich, one of the top-ranked pros in the game, for this week’s Level Up.

Hey Pickleheads readers,

The offensive lob is one of the best tools in pickleball—when it’s done right.

But I see a lot of players making the same mistake: they try to lob while standing straight up, barely using their legs.

That makes it almost impossible to get the right arc. Instead, you should really exaggerate the knee bend.

Sink down, then push up through the ball. That low-to-high motion gives the lob both height and control—making it hard for opponents to track down.

Want to see how it’s done (and how to fix your lob if it’s falling short)?

Hard to find… but now available for preorder

Here’s why it’s worth it:

The Life Time Pro Pickleball is fast. Faster than the Vulcan. Faster than the Dura Fast 40. If your game’s built on pace, this thing absolutely rips. It’s also durable. Stephen’s gotten 20–25 games per ball with no dead bounce, just consistent, clean pop.

It’s not the grippiest ball on the market, and the high bounce takes a little adjusting, but if you want high speed and consistency, this is the one.

Discount auto-applied at checkout

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Hill Country Camp Starlight, Dripping Springs, TX

You’ll find this week’s dream court in the heart of Texas Hill Country. This championship-level court has everything you could want—and then some.

Surrounded by oak trees and tucked behind a modern farmhouse in Dripping Springs, this backyard pickleball paradise comes with a private pool, hot tub, putting green, fire pit, and even a batting cage.

I’ll say it: this might just be the ultimate pickleball playground.

Fresh takes, spicy debates, and the latest hot paddles & gear – catch up on our latest Court Talk highlights:

• 👌 A paddle without a glaring weakness

• 😍 11SIX24 Alpha Pro Power – their best paddle yet

• 💥 Honolulu J2NF – explosive fiberglass power with a broad sweet spot

• 🤨 Foam paddles are the hot new thing, but are they worth it?

Skipped a scroll or two? No worries — here are the last few editions we sent your way:

• 😲 A legit get!

• 🤾 The shot you didn’t know you needed

• 🌎 Pickleball’s World Cup lands in Florida

• 🤾 Cover the Triangle, win the point

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