Have you ever noticed the music playing while the pros warm up on Championship Court? Or caught Ben Johns dancing when a Taylor Swift song comes on during a timeout?

That’s the work of the audio-visual team. As the AV lead for the PPA Tour and MLP, Gage Sepulveda takes pride in setting the perfect atmosphere by curating the soundtrack that energizes both players and fans alike.  

“I curate a playlist prior to the event so that I have some stuff to pull from. Once I see who’s playing on Center Court, I try to play what their vibe is,” explained Sepulveda. “Luckily, I’ve been doing this for about three years now so I know most of the pros on a personal level and I know what hypes them up.”

The music played throughout the tournament is designed to keep fans entertained between points during a packed match day, but what many don’t realize is that much of it is also carefully curated with the pro players in mind.

“I try to meet the players where they’re at and keep it broad enough so that the fans still enjoy it,” said Sepulveda. “I really care about the players. I want them to know they’re being cared for. I want the music to be a good experience for everyone. If they speak a different language, I’ll try and get some of that in there, too.”

Federico Staksrud is among the select pros with his own personalized playlist, featuring some of his favorite tracks to play to on court.

While Johns enjoys a mix of classic rock and contemporary pop artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, Anna Leigh Waters’ musical preferences have evolved over the years as she’s grown up.

“When I started, she was about 15 years old and she was listening to a lot of Taylor Swift. It was that kind of bubbly gum poppy music. But as she’s gotten older, her music taste has evolved,” noted Sepulveda. “After Taylor, she listened to a lot of Coldplay. Now, she’s been listening to The Weekend.”

Waters is one of the few players who competes on Championship Court across all three divisions, and Sepulveda tailors a distinct vibe for each event.

“When she’s warming up before a singles match, I’d play some 60s or 70s doo-wopp stuff because it’s uplifting, her whole family is here, and it’s a good morning vibe,” he explained. “I think she takes a lot from her partner's music, too. For example, she and Ben’s walkout song is the K-pop song “Golden,” but when she plays with Anna Bright, it’s “Milkshakes.” It’s the duality of Anna Leigh’s music taste. She really absorbs what her partners like.” 

Now that Sepulveda has gotten to know the players’ musical tastes, have any of their song requests surprised him?

“Michael Loyd. Since he has all these piercings and tattoos, I assumed he’d be into punk rock or metal, just based on his look,” he mentioned. “Instead, he wanted Christian rock and Christian rap.”

Jack Sock is another pro who has his own custom playlist for the AV team to play.

“He’s one of the lucky ones to get a full playlist because he actually came up to me and we worked out the vibe he likes,” confirmed Sepulveda. “It’s fun because he actually reacts to the music when we play it. He’ll point up to the DJ booth and sing along. I think he feels appreciated when you curate stuff for him.”

While the pros are always going to bring their best, the right playlist can still help them lock in and get into the zone.

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The Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships presented by Ensure Max Protein start Monday, April 27 at Life Time Peachtree Corners in Peachtree Corners, GA, and the professional draws for all five divisions of play have been released.

Live broadcast coverage begins with the Round of 64 on Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET on Pickleballtv.

Here are the draws:

Men's Singles

Women's Singles

Men's Doubles

Women's Doubles

Mixed Doubles

One event remains in the main circuit of the 2025-2026 PPA Tour season: the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, which begin next week in the Georgia capital.

This tournament, designated as a Slam worth 2000 points, is the final chance for players to earn points to qualify for the PPA Tour Finals, which will take place May 4-10 in San Clemente, CA and put a bow on what has been a memorable campaign.

The Finals is a unique, invite-only event that is reserved for the top-performing players in each discipline and follows a pool play format instead of a traditional bracket.

To qualify, a player must be inside the top 8 (singles, mixed doubles) or top 16 (gender doubles) in the Race rankings, which take into account the total number of standings points earned in a player's best 16 tournaments since the 2025 Atlanta Pickleball Championships, which took place last May.

In this article, I will provide the latest Race rankings, highlight the players who have already qualified for the Finals in each discipline, and discuss what will be at stake at next week’s event.

Let’s get into it!

Women’s Singles (Top 8 Qualify)

• 1. Anna Leigh Waters: 17,500
• 2. Kate Fahey: 13,000
• 3. Kaitlyn Christian: 12,100
• 4. Brooke Buckner: 9,550
• 5. Lea Jansen: 7,850
• 6. Catherine Parenteau: 6,400
• 7. Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang: 5,100
• 8. Judit Castillo: 4,000
• 9. Parris Todd: 3,900
• 10. Liz Truluck: 3,775
• 11. Genie Bouchard: 3,600
•  

After making the quarterfinals at last week’s event in Sacramento, Judit Castillo now holds the final qualifying spot in women’s singles. Parris Todd is the closet to her at 3,900 points but has stopped competing in singles and is not in the draw in Atlanta.

This means that Castillo is really battling against Liz Truluck and Genie Bouchard for the final spot.

Bouchard has not competed (outside of Pickleball Slam) since PPA Mesa back in February, but she is in the draw for Atlanta as the No. 10 seed.

She will need to make at least the quarterfinals to tie Castillo’s current total and hope for an early exit from the Spaniard.

Truluck made the quarterfinals in Atlanta in 2025 and would need a similar result this time around to earn her ticket to the finals.

Women’s Doubles (Top 16 qualify)

• 1. Anna Leigh Waters: 21,700
• 2. Anna Bright: 21,300
• 3. Tyra Black: 14,700
• 4. Jorja Johnson: 12,975
• 5. Parris Todd: 12,700
• 6. Catherine Parenteau: 12,300
• 7. Rachel Rohrabacher: 10,650
• 8. Jade Kawamoto: 8,700
• 9. Tina Pisnik: 6,800
• 10. Jackie Kawamoto: 6,350
• 11. Lacy Schneemann: 6,225
• 12. Meghan Dizon: 6,000
• 13. Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang: 5,400
• 14. Kaitlyn Christian: 5,200
• 15. Kate Fahey: 4,800
• 16. Alix Truong: 4,600
• 17. Mari Humberg: 4,000
• 18. Ting Chieh (Jamie) Wei: 3,975
• 19. Jessie Irvine: 3,950
•  

Alix Truong is in the final qualifying position in women’s doubles, and Mari Humberg is her biggest competition for that spot with 4,000 points. Both players are dealing with medical complications; Truong missed Sacramento with a foot injury, while Humberg withdrew ahead of her quarterfinal match in Sacramento with a wrist injury.

Truong is playing with Chao Yi Wang, while Humberg will team up with Liz Truluck. These teams could face off in the Round of 16 in a clash that would have massive implications for who makes it to San Clemente in women’s doubles.

Women’s Mixed Doubles (Top 8 qualify)

• 1. Anna Leigh Waters: 21,200
• 2. Anna Bright: 15,100
• 3. Jorja Johnson: 13,150
• 4. Tyra Black: 8,000
• 5. Jessie Irvine: 5,540
• 6. Catherine Parenteau: 5,100
• 7. Tina Pisnik: 5,025
• 8. Parris Todd: 4,750
• 9. Rachel Rohrabacher: 4,300
• 10. Alix Truong: 4,000
• 11. Kate Fahey: 3,600
•  

After her bronze medal finish in Sacramento alongside Andrei Daescu, Parris Todd has a 450-point advantage over Rachel Rohrabacher for the final qualifying spot.

Todd/Daescu could face off against Rohrabacher/Christian Alshon in the quarterfinals in what would be a must-win match for Rohrabacher to qualify for San Clemente.

Men’s Singles (Top 8 qualify) 

• 1. Chris Haworth: 13,200
• 2. Federico Staksrud: 12,950
• 3. Hunter Johnson: 11,675
• 4. Christian Alshon: 9,250
• 5. Connor Garnett: 6,475
• 6. Roscoe Bellamy: 5,787.5
• 7. Jack Sock: 5,150
• 8. John Lucian Goins: 5,000
• 9. Gabriel Joseph: 4,200
• 10. Zane Ford: 3,825

18-year-old John Lucian Goins is in the final qualifying position in men’s singles after not playing in last week’s event in the California capital. He has a healthy lead over Gabe Joseph for that spot, although those two could face off in the Round of 16 in what would be a must-win match for Joseph.

Zane Ford has given himself an outside shot at qualifying with his silver medal in Sacramento. He would need some help, including a second consecutive win over Jack Sock if they meet in the Round of 16, but anything can happen as Ford is playing some of the best singles of his career.

Men’s Doubles (Top 16 qualify)

• 1. Ben Johns: 20,700
• 2. Gabe Tardio (tied with Ben): 20,700
• 3. Christian Alshon: 14,800
• 4. Hayden Patriquin: 14,200
• 5. Andrei Daescu: 13,300
• 6. Federico Staksrud: 13,200
• 7. JW Johnson: 12,700
• 8. CJ Klinger: 12,300
• 9. Eric Oncins: 7,400
• 10. Tyson McGuffin: 5,700
• 11. Dylan Frazier: 5,450
• 12. Jay Devilliers: 5,050
• 13. Noe Khlif: 4,275
• 14. Jaume Martinez Vich: 4,150
• 15. Matt Wright: 4,125
• 16. Riley Newman: 3,912.5
• 17. Augie Ge: 3,475
• 18. Pablo Tellez: 3,200
• 19. Connor Garnett: 3,100
•  

Riley Newman is in the final qualifying spot in men’s doubles and is set to partner up with Armaan Bhatia in Atlanta. The longtime pro has a sizeable lead over Augie Ge for that spot.

Ge is teaming up with Dekel Bar for the second consecutive event after a quarterfinal finish in Sacramento. The lefty will need to make the semifinals in Atlanta—and hope for an early exit from either Newman or Matt Wright—to have a chance at overtaking one of them for the final spot.

Men’s Mixed Doubles (Top 8 qualify)

• 1. Ben Johns: 22,200
• 2. JW Johnson: 12,950
• 3. Hayden Patriquin: 12,150
• 4. Andrei Daescu: 8,900
• 5. Christian Alshon: 8,300
• 6. Gabe Tardio: 6,700
• 7. Federico Staksrud: 5,700
• 8. Eric Oncins: 5,000
• 9. Noe Khlif: 4,650
•  

Eric Oncins now has firm possession of the final qualifying spot after capturing his first career mixed doubles title in Sacramento alongside Tyra Black. He will team up with his former Texas Ranchers teammate Tina Pisnik this week, while Noe Khlif will partner with Jessie Irvine.

Khlif will need to make at least the quarterfinals—and hope for an early exit from Pisnik/Oncins—if he wants to qualify for San Clemente in mixed doubles.

Main draw action from the Peach State begins Tuesday on Pickleballtv.

For the first time ever, an MLP team is joining forces with an MLP Champions Series team.

The Palm Beach Royals are bringing the Boca Surge under their umbrella as the Palm Beach Royals Champions in a unification of generations, experience, and excellence.

From the future of the sport to the legends of the game, Palm Beach is building something that has never been done before.

MLP announced a partnership with Champions Series Pickleball last month.

Champions Series Pickleball will license the MLP brand for its professional coed senior team format, which will be promoted as the MLP Champions Series.

MLP and Champions Series Pickleball will also collaborate on marketing, promotions, and media opportunities to grow the partnership and visibility of the MLP Champions Series.

Monthly events are scheduled in July, August, September, October, plus an October championship.

Events coinciding with the MLP presented by DoorDash schedule tentatively include Chicago (July 23-26), the 2026 MLP Playoffs in Dallas (August 6-9), and a to be announced event in late October.

MLP Champions Series will feature 16 teams in its 50+ division.

Champions Series Pickleball was established in 2022 as the first professional pickleball league for the 50+ age group.

Choosing the best pickleball set on Amazon comes down to a few key factors: paddle material, included accessories, durability, and overall value for money. Amazon offers a wide range of beginner-friendly and advanced sets, many of which include paddles, balls, and a carrying bag, making them ideal for players who want a complete, ready-to-play solution.

Pickleball continues to grow as one of the fastest-rising sports in the U.S., and Amazon has become a go-to marketplace for affordable, high-quality pickleball sets. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, the right set can improve your performance and overall enjoyment of the game. The best Amazon pickleball sets combine quality construction, complete accessories, and strong customer value, making it easy to get started right away.

What to Look for in an Amazon Pickleball Set

When shopping on Amazon, it’s important to focus on paddle construction. Fiberglass and graphite paddles offer better control and durability compared to traditional wooden paddles. Many popular Amazon sets feature polymer honeycomb cores, which enhance power while maintaining a lightweight feel. 

Another key consideration is what’s included. Most top-rated sets come with at least two paddles, multiple balls (indoor and outdoor), and a carrying case. Some bundles also include grip tape or accessories for added value. For example, many Amazon deals feature complete kits designed for immediate play, which is ideal for beginners.

Best Overall Amazon Pickleball Set

OLANNY Pickleball Paddles Set of 4

$44.99

The OLANNY Pickleball Set stands out as a top choice for families and group play. It includes four graphite paddles, multiple balls, and extra grip tape, offering excellent value. The honeycomb core construction provides a strong balance of power and control, making it suitable for both beginners and intermediate players.

Best Budget Amazon Pickleball Set

Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddles set of 2

$38.99

Affordable carbon fiber paddle set with solid durability and performance.

For shoppers on a budget, this carbon fiber paddle set delivers impressive performance at a lower price point. Amazon frequently features similar sets under $40, many of which include balls and bags, making them ideal for casual players. Some bestselling options on Amazon even earn thousands of positive reviews for their ease of use and durability. 

Best Premium Amazon Pickleball Set

JoncAye Pickleball Paddles Set of 4

$59.90

This setis a high-quality fiberglass paddles with balls, bag, and added accessories for serious players.

Premium sets like this fiberglass option are designed for players who want enhanced control and longevity. These sets often include USAPA-approved paddles, which meet official tournament standards, along with higher-quality materials and ergonomic grips.

Final Thoughts

Amazon offers a wide variety of pickleball sets that cater to different budgets and skill levels. Beginners should prioritize complete sets with forgiving paddles, while more experienced players may prefer graphite or fiberglass paddles for better performance. With competitive pricing, fast shipping, and thousands of user reviews, Amazon remains one of the best places to find a reliable pickleball set for any level of play.

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The backhand flick has long been a powerful shot in men’s doubles pickleball, but in recent months, it’s become increasingly common in the women’s game as well.

“The backhand flick is coming into the women’s game because it takes away time from opponents,” explained Alix Truong, who has been developing her backhand flick for women’s doubles. “People used to take a step back off the line and rip the ball, which is great, too. I still do that sometimes depending on the shot, but to be able to have that reach and take the ball early is an advantage.”

Mari Humberg was among the first professional women to incorporate the backhand flick into her game.

“When I first started playing pickleball, I was naturally hitting a backhand flick and I didn’t even realize it,” mentioned Humberg. “It was always something that came naturally from tennis, and I feel like I lean in a little bit more. I saw the local guys doing it and I copied them.”

While mastering the flick can be difficult, Truong views it as an exciting new challenge in the pro game and a valuable addition to her skill set.

“Everybody can develop a flick, but I think it becomes who’s going to be the best at developing a flick combo because if you’re reaching to flick the ball and your arm is stuck out there, you’ve got to be able to come back fast and stay compact at the same time,” she explained. “That’s something I’ve been working on.”

Since the men’s game adopted the backhand flick earlier, Truong turned to her brother, Jonathan, for additional tips and insights.

“For some of the girls, that flick movement feels unnatural for their wrist, so it’s becoming more of a poke rather than a flick, which I think is great,” she shared. “I feel like as long as you can get the ball out in front of you quickly and down, it’s a good alternative.”

Another key to executing the flick is reading the ball correctly and deciding which shots are best to attack with it..

“It depends on the ball. You have to assess which balls you can actually flick, get down, and maneuver on the court, and decide which balls you can take out of the air just to throw your opponents off. A poke can be right at my opponent’s body if they’re jumping all around, but a flick would be more of a putaway or an angle shot, so I’m really figuring out when and where to use both in game situations,” said Truong. 

“I actually started experimenting with the flick out in Vietnam because the ball is slower out there, so it gave me time to get to the ball and figure it out. In the US, the Life Time ball is a lot quicker and harder to adjust to. It was helpful to be able to experiment with the flick in the slower environment,” she added.

Truong has been working on the shot for a few months, but has yet to debut her flick in a pro match. 

She hopes to unveil it soon.

To keep up to date on all things pro pickleball, follow us on Instagram. 

If you’re practicing pickleball alone, the key is to build consistency, control, and footwork over time.

You obviously won’t get real rally dynamics, but you can certainly sharpen the fundamentals that actually matter in games. 

Here are seven of the most effective solo drills to improve your skills fast.

1. Wall Rally Drill

A simple wall becomes your best training partner.

Hit forehands and backhands continuously against a wall, focusing on:
- Clean contact
- Low, controlled shots (Just above net height)
- Rhythm and consistency

To progress:
- Move closer (Faster reflexes)
- Move farther (More power control)
- Alternate forehand/backhand for realism

This drill builds hand speed, reaction time, and paddle control.

2. Dink Control Drill (Soft Game Mastery)

Dinking wins games, and you can train it solo.

How to do it:
- Use a wall or mark a “net line” on it
- Hit soft shots that land just above that line
- Focus on touch, not power

Goal:
- Keep the ball “unattackable”
- Develop patience and feel at the kitchen

This is one of the most valuable solo skills for match play.

3. Serve Target Practice (High ROI Drill)

Serving is fully under your control, so repetition pays off quickly.

Setup:
- Place cones, towels, or bottles in service boxes
- Aim for corners, deep middle, and wide serves

Focus on:
- Consistency over speed
- Depth (Push opponents back)
- Reducing faults

Try hitting 10–20 perfect serves in a row to build confidence.

4. Drop Feed Groundstroke Drill

Great for mechanics and timing.

How:
- Drop the ball in front of you
- Let it bounce once
- Hit controlled forehands and backhands

What it builds:
- Proper swing path
- Balance and foot positioning
- Clean contact under pressure

5. Footwork Shadow Drill (No Ball Needed)

This is underrated, but huge for improvement.

Do court movements without hitting a ball:
- Split step (Move forward to kitchen)
- Lateral shuffles side-to-side
- Simulate dink, drive, reset positions

This builds court awareness and movement efficiency.

6. Ghosting Drill (Game Simulation)

Pretend you're playing a real point.
- Move as if returning a serve
- Transition to kitchen
- Simulate dinks, volleys, and resets

This helps connect movement patterns into real match situations.

7. Third Shot Drop Practice (Advanced Solo Drill)

If you have a court:
- Start at baseline
- Hit soft arcing shots into the kitchen
- Focus on height + landing control

Goal:
- Learn patience instead of rushing attacks
- Build transition consistency

A simple solo pickleball routine that takes about 30–40 minutes starts with 10 minutes of wall rallies to build consistency and hand speed, followed by 10 minutes of dinks to develop soft touch and control at the kitchen.

Next, spend 10 minutes practicing serves to improve accuracy, depth, and reliability, and finish with 10 minutes of footwork and drop drills to strengthen movement, balance, and transition play.

The most effective solo practice isn’t about hitting harder, but about repetition, control, clean technique and smart movement that carries over into real matches.

Pickleball enthusiasts are concerned—and with good reason—after the City of Seattle proposed a new plan that could eliminate dozens of courts.

The city's “Racquet Sports Strategy” would remove pickleball lines from public tennis courts to essentially separate the two sports. Shared courts were originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate the rise in pickleball’s popularity.

The proposal would cut the number of pickleball courts from 92 to 56, eliminating 32 shared courts across seven Seattle neighborhoods. Meanwhile, tennis would retain a total of 107 courts citywide.

In response, pickleball players and supporters are urging officials to rethink the plan.

In May 2023, Seattle led the nation in pickleball courts per 100,000 residents, but it has since been overtaken by Louisville, KY, Madison, WI, and Honolulu, HI.

Last year, three Seattle pickleball courts were required to adjust their operating hours after multiple noise complaints were filed.

The courts at Gilman Playground, Laurelhurst Playfield, and Mt. Baker Park are now open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and city-observed holidays.

The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association launched an online petition drive asking Parks and Recreation officials to pause the pickleball court removals and study alternatives that expand access for both tennis and pickleball players, rather than reducing court availability.

The next step for the proposal is an official briefing at Thursday's Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting, which includes a public-comment period.

JOOLA has established itself as a major force in the pickleball world, not only with its high-performance paddles but also by stepping up its apparel line.

Now, the brand is expanding even further with its entry into footwear.

Their first pickleball shoe, the JOOLA R4LLy, is designed to be lightweight, durable, and built specifically for dedicated players.

Gjermund Haugbro, JOOLA’s Senior Director of Product Engineering for footwear, shared insights into the development and innovation behind this new release.

“This is JOOLA’s first entry into pickleball footwear,” said Haugbro. “For too long, players have relied on footwear borrowed from other sports like tennis, running, or cross-training, none of which are designed to meet the specific demands of pickleball.” 

While tennis shoes can get the job done on a pickleball court, shoes designed specifically for pickleball are the better choice because they’re built to match the sport’s unique movements.

With top pros like Ben Johns, Federico Staksrud, and Kate Fahey wearing them, the brand focused on gathering direct feedback from elite athletes to develop a shoe suited for the highest level of play.

“We leveraged insights and feedback form our top level JOOLA pickleball athletes. Always listen to the athletes,” said Haugbro. “That influenced the method of make and material build kit we used to identify the best materials and technologies to bring the R4LLy shoe to life.”

The result is a flexible, performance-driven shoe featuring abrasion-resistant materials, a reinforced toe cap, a cushioned foam midsole, and a carbon fiber shank for enhanced durability and comfort. And if there’s one thing JOOLA consistently delivers, it’s distinctive, high-quality gear built to perform.

“What makes these unique is that they’re built from the top down specifically for the environments and movements of pickleball,” explained Haugbro. “At every stage, the footwear team focused on getting it right, not just creating a good pickleball shoe, but a great one. Prototypes were continuously refined until they met our standard, and the team never stopped iterating. It’s difficult to compare them to another court shoe because this is the first true pickleball shoe of its kind.”

The first version of the R4LLy shoe debuted as a striking red-and-white design, worn by professional players at last month’s Greater Zion Cup. Its bold red color immediately drew attention, making the new shoe stand out on the court.

“We wanted to make a statement with the color. JOOLA is here,” insisted Haugbro.  “There’s no better way to introduce ourselves in footwear than with a bold, unmistakable red colorway to celebrate the launch for this model.”

Since then, JOOLA has rolled out new colorways and hinted at even more exciting releases on the horizon.

“On April 17, JOOLA released its second limited-edition drop, featuring a full run of women’s sizes in a white and green colorway,” shared Haugbro. “On the men’s side, we’ll introduce a white and blue version of the R4LLy. Then, on May 8th, we’ll launch our Core Collection, expanding into additional colorways for both men’s and women’s styles.”

To keep up to date on all things pickleball, follow us on Instagram.

There's a certain kind of tip that doesn't just fix one thing, it quietly improves your whole game. This is one of those tips. It doesn't require a new grip, a new paddle, or hours on the practice court. It just requires you to relax a little.

The tip: drop your paddle tip lower by relaxing your grip and your forearm.

That's it. But let's talk about why it works, and why you should be thinking about it on nearly every single shot you take.

Why a lower paddle tip changes everything

When most players miss into the net, their instinct is to swing harder or aim higher. But the real problem is often in the swing path, and that starts with where the paddle tip is pointing.

When you grip your paddle tightly and hold it with the tip up or level, you naturally limit your ability to brush upward through the ball. You're essentially setting yourself up to hit flat, or worse, to drive the ball directly into the tape.

But when you relax your hand and forearm and allow the paddle tip to sink down naturally, something clicks into place. Your swing path becomes more naturally upward, and suddenly you're brushing up the back of the ball instead of driving through it.

That brush is topspin. And topspin is your best friend on almost every shot in pickleball. It pulls the ball down into the court after it clears the net, giving you a much larger margin for error. Instead of trying to thread a flat shot through a narrow window, you're working with physics instead of against it.

It works on every shot — here's how

What makes this tip genuinely rare is how universally it applies. This isn't a fix just for your serve or just for your dink. Think through your whole game:

In every one of these situations, a lower paddle tip, enabled by a relaxed grip, makes it easier to produce topspin, clear the net comfortably, and still have the ball land in bounds. The mechanics are the same whether you're hitting softly at the kitchen or ripping a third-shot drive.

The key is relaxation

Here's the part that players most often get wrong: they try to force the paddle tip down. They tense up, crank the wrist, and manufacture the position artificially. That defeats the purpose entirely.

The paddle tip drops naturally when your hand is loose and your forearm is soft. Think of it less like a deliberate move and more like releasing tension you didn't know you were holding.

- Keep your grip loose enough that someone could pull the paddle from your hand between shots
- Let your forearm feel heavy, not clenched (tension rides up the arm and into the wrist)
- Allow the paddle tip to fall below the level of your wrist naturally
- From that position, swing upward and through (don't muscle it, brush it)
- Notice how the ball responds differently (more arc, more spin, safer trajectory)

The feel you're after is something between "holding a baby bird" and "shaking hands with an old friend." Firm enough to be in control, and relaxed enough that the paddle can do its job.

The diagnostic test: Are you missing into the net?

Here's an easy way to know if this tip applies to you right now: Are you regularly missing a particular shot into the net? A specific drive that keeps clipping the tape? A dink that won't stay up? A third-shot drop that just won't cooperate?

Before you change your footwork, your stance, your swing speed, or your targeting, try this first. Consciously relax your grip. Let the tip drop. Brush up.

In a huge percentage of cases, that's all it takes. The net-miss disappears not because you aimed higher, but because you changed the angle of your paddle and the shape of your swing path.

There's a reason good coaches come back to this cue again and again. It addresses something fundamental about how pickleball physics work: topspin keeps the ball in play, and you can't generate topspin efficiently if your paddle tip is riding high and your grip is locked.

Next time you step on the court, pick one shot you've been struggling with. Relax your hand. Drop the tip. Brush up through the ball. Then watch what happens.

Dale Young didn’t set out to build a pickleball company.

Long before Six Zero, before carbon fiber and aramid fiber faces, before prototypes and patents, his life looked very different. He grew up on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, surrounded by water, sports, and movement. He spent his youth surfing, playing junior tennis, and trying to figure out how things worked.

His natural curiosity is what led him to a career in engineering. But not long after stepping into a corporate job, something felt off.

“I was working in a big high-rise tower… and I just felt a little piece of me dying every day.” Dale says.

So, when his partner, Tanya, had the opportunity to work in rural Africa, Dale made a decision that would re-shape the rest of his life—he went with her. What was meant to be a short stint turned into ten years living in rural Tanzania. And that’s where the real story begins.

The problem that changed everything

In Tanzania, Dale found himself surrounded by global development efforts in water and sanitation. But something didn’t make sense. Despite decades of work and massive funding, many systems kept failing.

“They were just repeating the same mistakes,” Dale says. “Then came the cholera outbreak,” he continues, “It was in our face… people were dying in large numbers.”

That moment shifted everything for Dale. He stopped observing and started fixing. What he discovered was simple—but critical—no one owned the systems. Water wells were installed, pumps were built, but when they broke, they were never repaired. Something had to change. The model had to change. So, Dale got to work outlining a model that would actually work:

• Local ownership,

• Community investment, and

• Small, sustainable business models.

The result wasn’t just better infrastructure—it was a whole new system that actually worked.

A new chapter

After over 10 years in Tanzania, Dale decided it was time to start a new chapter in his life. He stepped away from his humanitarian relief projects and returned to Australia in 2021. He wanted to slow down, focus on his family, and get back to surfing more. Then, almost by accident, pickleball entered the picture in a huge way. 

Dale’s mother kept hassling him to try, what she called, a new sport. By his own telling, he initially thought pickleball was just a game for "oldies." But when he finally stepped onto the court, he was hooked.

At the time, pickleball paddles were predominantly from major U.S. brands and were quite expensive in Australia. Even worse, many of the paddles were not holding up very long. Players were paying premium prices, only to end up with paddles that would crack, break down at the edges, or lose their feel too soon.

What Dale was seeing in pickleball paddles felt eerily familiar to him:

• Outdated designs

• Repeated ideas and 

• Very little TRUE innovation

So, for fun, he decided to see if he could build a better pickleball paddle. He ignored the status quo in the market, and he started from scratch.

The backyard experiment

In a backyard workshop, alongside his father Bruce—a builder by trade who still loved working with his hands at 80-years-old—Dale started re-imagining and building pickleball paddles. Not as a company. Not to make money. Just as a little hobby to see if they could make something better.

“I never set out to start a business,” says Dale, “I was just having some fun with my dad in my workshop.”

Together, Dale and his dad built paddle prototypes, tested them at the local courts with friends and family, made changes, then built new prototypes. They did this repeatedly—over and over—with literally hundreds of iterations. Early experiments focused heavily on core materials, including: aluminum, Nomex, and various polypropylene thicknesses.

Over the course of the next 18 months, Dale and his dad probably made well over 100 prototypes together in the backyard workshop. Little did they know, what started out as a curiosity, was about to become something much bigger.

The pickleball paddle that changed the industry

Six Zero wasn’t supposed to happen—at least not the way it did. Dale Young didn’t launch with investors or outside funding. He didn’t build a brand strategy deck—he was just solving problems.

When raw carbon fiber paddles started becoming popular everywhere, players loved the feel and the spin they offered. But they had one major flaw: they tended to crack around the edges and fail structurally after a relatively short period of play.

Most paddles on the market shared the same flaws:

• Weak edge structures

• Handles prone to failure

• Inconsistent performance

So, Dale approached it like an engineer:

• What’s breaking?

• Why is it breaking?

• How do you fix it at the root?

Dale saw an opportunity to apply simple engineering principles to build a paddle that gave players the performance they were looking for while dramatically improving their durability. He designed and built a unibody paddle that extended the carbon paddle face and edge all the way down the full length of the handle. Then, he reinforced the edges to resist cracking and chipping. He also sourced the best materials he could find, including true Japanese Toray Carbon Fiber. 

Then, came the breakthrough…

In his backyard workshop, Dale and his dad built a paddle with a carbon seam edge that essentially welded the top and bottom of the paddle together when placed in a special oven. It’s a technique commonly used in bicycle and car parts manufacturing, and it’s known as thermoforming. In his paddles, Dale decided to call it: Carbon Fusion Edge Technology.

The idea didn’t feel revolutionary. Thermoforming itself was not new as a manufacturing concept, but it was certainly new to pickleball paddles.

Dale recalls: “I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”

But it was.

Building a paddle that would last

After roughly 18 months of R&D—and hundreds of prototypes—Dale formalized his company and named it Six Zero. The name was a reference to the 6.0 pickleball skill-ranking, representing the highest, pro level skill-level in the sport. With his newly formed company, Dale introduced the first ever Gen 2, thermoformed pickleball paddles to the market—the Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond Pickleball Paddles.

The Black Diamond featured a first-to-market raw fiberglass paddle face in pickleball, which created a lively, responsive feel with a strong blend of pop, power, and dwell time for spin. The Carbon Fusion Edge Technology made the paddle more durable and gave it a stiffer, and more connected feel compared to other paddles on the market.

The Double Black Diamond featured the increasingly popular raw carbon fiber face, giving players the controlled response, spin potential, and precision that were becoming increasingly desirable in performance paddles. It also was built with Carbon Fusion Edge Technology delivering a more stable feel, structural integrity, and a level of consistency that set it apart from other raw carbon fiber paddles in the market.

The “Rocket Ship” moment

At first, sales were slow. Early adoption in Australia was promising, but it wasn’t until the U.S. market discovered Six Zero that demand began to accelerate quickly. Paddle reviewers in the U.S. got their hands on the paddles, gave glowing reviews, and the market paid attention. Suddenly, as Dale recounts: “It went off like a rocket ship.”

Demand for Six Zero’s paddles surged through rapid word-of-mouth. Players everywhere were responding to paddles that felt meaningly different from what they had been using before. There was no massive marketing campaign, just paddles that played better and didn’t break down.

Then the copycats came.

As quickly as Six Zero rose, the industry followed. Within just a few, short months, thermoformed paddles started to appear everywhere. It became the standard. Reinforced edges became the expectation.

Dale had unintentionally reshaped the industry, and he had not filed a single patent to protect what he had created. It was a hard lesson to learn and it stung.

As pickleball’s popularity continued to grow, new paddle companies were popping up everywhere—most of them introducing thermoformed paddles. Today, the pickleball paddle market is crowded. As Dale puts it, “there’s a thousand paddle companies out there now… and everyone’s copying.”

The fact is: most paddle companies source their paddles overseas from the same factories. Technologies are shared and copied, and brands just make simple changes to the designs and compete on branding and marketing alone. 

With so many similar options available in the market, demand for Six Zero’s paddles slowed and Dale had to decide what he was going to do next.

The process becomes the advantage

Instead of giving up, Dale doubled down and focused on the system he had followed to create his first paddles.

“If we stop innovating,” he thought, “we become irrelevant.” 

He got back to work building new prototypes, isolating variables, testing—both internally, and on the court—and refining incrementally.

“It’s not about one single breakthrough,” Dale said, “it’s about building a machine for innovation.”

Going deeper: The Ruby

Six Zero pushed further into surface textures (peel ply, weave patterns, etc.), material science (carbon fibers vs. aramid fibers), and more structural engineering. After dozens of additional iterations and prototypes, Six Zero released its next paddle: The Ruby.

If the Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond gave Six Zero credibility, the Ruby gave them momentum.

The Ruby did not stand out because of one single feature. It stood out because multiple design choices came together in a way that felt new—and special—to players.

• The eye-catching, red aramid fiber face was a distinctive material choice that helped create a unique blend of feel, control, power, and unbelievable spin. Plus, it looked so different from all other performance paddles on the market.

• The aerodynamic, flared shape gave the paddle maneuverability and increased swing speed.

• The Carbon Fusion Edge Technology gave the paddle the stability and durability that Six Zero’s paddles were now well-known for.

For many pickleball players, the Ruby was the paddle that made Six Zero impossible to ignore. It felt refined, modern, and purpose-built—rather than trend-driven. While other paddle brands were struggling with crushing cores, the Ruby was durable, and above all, it felt and played amazing!

Six Zero initially struggled to meet early demand for the Ruby. Demand was so high that they would sell out within minutes of receiving new inventory from the factory and listing it online. The scarcity only made players want the Ruby even more!

Six Zero ramped up capacity at the factory and the Ruby became one of the top-selling paddles in the market. Players continued buying the Ruby while other brands released multiple new models in rapid succession. The Ruby was reliable, and that mattered to players.

When Pickleball Central—the oldest, largest and most trusted retailer in pickleball—started carrying Six Zero’s paddles, it gave the brand an additional boost of credibility and further solidified Six Zero as a legit and reputable brand.

Again, Six Zero created something new and special, the market reacted, and other brands followed. In no time, paddles with aramid fiber, or other metallic surfaces, started appearing everywhere.

What’s next?

Over time, performance pickleball paddle technologies continued to evolve. As pro players and recreational players everywhere began craving more power and more speed, brands started to lean into new, “Gen 3” technology with foam perimeters. While certainly more powerful, these paddles had glaring durability concerns. They were also much more expensive to produce, so paddle prices began to skyrocket. It wasn’t uncommon for players to invest over $250 in new paddles. Six Zero could have followed the Gen 3 trend, but that is not how they operate. Instead, Dale went back to what he knew: design, prototype, test, and repeat. He was working on his Next Gem paddles.

In the meantime, Dale made the strategic decision to invest in sponsoring several top pro players, as well as the Professional Pickleball Association. The intent was to show how his paddles could compete at the highest level, and to generate additional awareness for the brand. It was a risky move since the investment was substantial.

All the while, players and reviewers everywhere were wondering: “What will Six Zero come out with next—and when?”

Next level engineering

While Six Zero had already developed a first-of-its-kind, integrated lab and workshop in Australia to create rapid prototypes, Dale was concerned that the quality of mass-produced versions would suffer from shortcuts and workarounds at the factory level. So, he started spending a significant amount of his time on the factory floor at the manufacturer overseas. Over the next several months, he made more than twenty trips to the factory and worked hand-in-hand with them to ensure every paddle that came off the line met the highest quality  standards possible.

His new paddle concepts required processes and tools that didn’t exist anywhere else, so Six Zero worked with their manufacturer to design and build new machines from scratch. Custom jigs eventually became advanced robotic systems which required workers to learn all-new skillsets—all in the pursuit of greater precision, consistency, and scalability.

A pickleball court was constructed on the roof of the factory so on-court feedback could be gathered quickly and combined with lab-grade measurements inside. Then, AI systems took all the data and analyzed it to inform the next iterations.

Every prototype was pushed to its limits. Thousands of data points were collected—measuring deflection, swing weight, twist weight, and core performance. Durability was tested aggressively, with machines firing over a thousand balls, at speeds up to 100mph, at the paddles to see if they would hold up under real pressure. The goal was simple: maximize performance right up to the legal limit, without sacrificing longevity.

Something powerful started to emerge: a living archive of over 1,000 paddle prototypes. Each prototype became a data point. A lesson. A step forward.

Quality assurance and control were embedded at every stage of production. Each station in the factory would perform its own checks, and every single paddle was inspected, verified, and tested before it was deemed ready.

The Next Gem era

With lessons learned from his previous releases, Dale made sure to apply for patents on each of his new technologies.

In the latter part of 2025, Six Zero released their Next Gem Paddles (the Black Opal, the Coral, and the Ruby Pro). The new paddles featured patented—or patent-pending—technologies which included advanced core materials, multi-layer constructions, and refined energy transfer systems. 

“It’s no longer just about materials,” says Dale “It’s about how the entire paddle behaves as a system.”

Diamond Tough Surface 

All three paddles in the Next Gem family feature Six Zero’s patented-pending Diamond Tough surface. Infused with real diamond particles, this next-generation face material dramatically extends the life of the paddle’s texture, ensuring elite spin capabilities match-after-match.

Power Gel: Innovative Layer Technology 

Also included with all three paddles is Six Zero’s proprietary Power Gel layer—a custom-developed gel layer below the paddle face that maximizes both pop and power.

Shock Shield Handle Technology 

Each paddle in the Next Gem family also features Six Zero’s Shock Shield—a patent-pending silicon injection system built directly into the handle of the paddle. Designed to dampen vibration and improve connection between paddle and ball. 

FlexTech 45 Technology 

The Ruby Pro features Six Zero’s FlexTech 45, which improves dwell time and spin by offsetting the weave pattern of the face by 45 degrees. The result is greater precision, extended ball interaction, and a more responsive feel across all shot types.

12 Gauge Premium Core 

The Ruby Pro also features a custom-designed 12 Gauge polypropylene core, with an oversized 12mm cell size, for increased dwell time and superior control.

G4 Aerospace Solid Foam Core

The Black Opal features Six Zero’s proprietary G4 Aerospace Foam Core—a floating solid construction core that optimizes energy transfer and creates a highly responsive sweet spot.

Tectonic Core Suspension System

The Coral boasts Six Zero’s patented Tectonic Core Suspension System, which integrates an advanced floating core within a precision-tuned suspension structure. This system adapts on impact and optimizes energy transfer to create both smooth control and clean, efficient power.

Innovation—within the lines

Despite pushing boundaries, Dale remains grounded in one principle: “At Six Zero, we innovate within the lines.” The goal isn’t to break the game, it’s to improve it. Even as Six Zero grows globally, the core philosophy hasn’t changed. It’s still, engineering-first, iteration-driven, and curiosity-led.

“This is still a backyard operation,” says Dale “and we’re trying to take it to the big guys!”

What comes next

Six Zero isn’t finished. Dale is still prototyping, testing, working with engineers, and exploring new manufacturing methods. True to his nature, he continues to ask: “What can be done better?”

Final thoughts

From Africa, to pickleball; from thermoforming, to Diamond Tough; the story hasn’t changed one bit. Dale Young doesn’t chase markets—he finds problems… and fixes them. 

Six Zero did not start as a company chasing a quick profit. It started as a curiosity. And as long as that curiosity remains, the next Six Zero innovation is already in progress.