Here lies Christian Alshon’s former username: @tweenerking. 

I never thought I’d see the day.

The man who branded himself based on his trick shot between the legs has decided to switch things up.

Alshon has officially retired that moniker and changed his username back to his original birth name, @christian.alshon.

Alshon announced the change on Monday, and it truly marks the end of an era.

“There comes a time in every man’s life where they need to find themselves. I wanted to be the guy who hit a bunch of trick shots, but I also wanted to be an extremely serious, hardworking pro athlete and be No. 1 in the world. I’ve been going through an internal battle when it comes to who I am in pickleball. I am the “Tweener King.” I earned that title, and no one can take it from me,” said Alshon via Instagram. “You can’t get mad at a dog for barking, and then get mad at me for hitting a tweener. It’s who I am.” 

It was Alshon's username from July 2023 to October 2025.

Tweeners helped put Alshon on the map and grow his following, but he hasn't been hitting as many of those shots as of late. 

Alshon wants to be taken seriously as a pro athlete, and he has many more tools in his arsenal to showcase, especially as he gets closer and closer to that coveted World No. 1 spot in men’s singles.

It’s time to let his overall game shine.

Does this mean we’ll never see any more tweeners from Alshon? Will a new “Tweener King” assume the throne? What is this new era of pickleball tweeners going to look like? Will he challenge Tyler Loong, the “Erne King” and try to become a different king? 

Honestly, I never liked the name “Tweener King.” It felt pretty juvenile. I also hate the word “tweener.” It’s awkward and sounds weird. And yes, the name “pickleball” is a weird name for a sport, but “tweener” is just a step too far in my book. 

It’s great for pros to have signature shots that put them on the map, but if you think about the best in the game, it’s not just that Ben Johns or Anna Leigh Waters have one signature shot – they have so many. Practically every shot is their signature shot. It’s why they’re at the top. 

But in all seriousness, I think Alshon changing his username was the right move. For pickleball fans who want to follow him on social media, his new username will make him much easier to find. 

Interestingly enough, Anna Leigh Waters recently changed her username to her full birth name as well, so @anna.leigh.waters is even easier to find. 

Rest in pickleball peace, @tweenerking. You were a good king.