How to win with a weak partner

Major upsets at MLP Daytona Beach. When should you call a rec play kitchen violation?

June 09, 2025

Just because your partner is weak doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. There are tactics you can employ to flip the script and claim a win when everyone counted you out. But don’t take our word for it — pro Eric Roddy opens his playbook, below.

And since we’re feeling studious, let’s dust off the rulebook for a quick pop quiz:

Your partner commits a kitchen violation. What do you do?

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In This Issue:
— The many upsets of MLP Daytona Beach
— How to play with a weaker partner
— RV campgrounds are prioritizing pickleball

See something, say something.

Our Picks ☝️

‼ Surprise: LA Mad Drops Go 5-0

The LA Mad Drops were the surprise of MLP Daytona Beach, going 5-0 and walloping some top teams in the process. Is their women’s team of Parenteau/Kawamoto the new duo to beat? Survey says: Oh yeah.

🥇 Ageless: 92-Year-Old Medals in Tourney

You love to see it: One Reddit user posted about a 92-year-old who medaled in a local tournament’s 60+ division, playing with a paddle that can only be described as…dated. Double knee braces and a smile that’s pure joy. This is pickleball. 

🏟️ Bold: MLP’s Best Event Ever?

The owner of the St. Louis Shock held a press conference declaring that next month’s MLP event in The Lou’s 10,600-seat Chaifetz Arena will be the sport’s best ever. He was light on details but big on promises. Will it deliver? We discuss on the PicklePod.

1️⃣ Record: Fastest Pickleball Hit by a Female

Congrats to Elizabeth Pritchard, who’s now the coolest person at every party ever: She’s got the Guinness World Record, and the plaque to prove it, for fastest pickleball hit by a female at 59 MPH.

How to Win with a Weaker Partner

Play pickleball long enough and you’ll find yourself teamed up with a considerably weaker partner. We’ve all been there, gritting our teeth as Larry dumps yet another sitter into the middle of the net.

This can be frustrating, but there are some strategies for leveling the playing field and boosting Larry’s morale in the process. Here, pro Eric Roddy — a 6.13 DUPR and member of the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers — breaks it down.

✅ Provide cover. Communicate with your partner that you’ll take thirds and fifths, regardless of what side you’re on. This takes the pressure off and allows them to creep closer toward the kitchen while you’re doing the heavy lifting.

✅ Serve big. As the stronger player, you need to dictate play when the ball is in your hands. This means going for your serve more often and targeting your opponents’ weaker sides to force neutral, short returns that you can easily put away.

✅ Control middle. Your teammate isn’t going to win many cross-court dinking battles. Instead, tell them to reset the dinking pattern back to the middle of the court as often as they need to. It’s up to you to find an opportunity to attack.

✅ Drop it. Remember, your job is to help your lesser-skilled teammate get to the kitchen. A controlled third or fifth-shot drop to the middle of the court achieves this far better than a drive. Play to your teammate’s weaknesses rather than to your strengths.

✅ Stay patient. Once you’ve gained the kitchen line, wait for the right opportunity to attack. As Roddy puts it, “Reckless speedups are the easiest way to get your weaker partner killed, which will further hurt their confidence.”

Larry is trying his best out there. So have fun and play smart, and remember, you were once the weaker teammate for someone else. And you likely will be again.

Just Keep Winning

Dory had “just keep swimming.” You? Just keep winning.

Franklin’s C45 has all the feel, spin, and structure you need to show up and show out. T700 Carbon. Laid at 45°. Double thermoformed. UPA & USA Pickleball approved.

Should You Call Your Teammate for a Kitchen Violation, or Let It Slide?

If you’ve ever watched pro pickleball, you know the on-court officials are watching kitchen violations like hawks.

If so much as a shoelace falls over that line when it shouldn’t, they’re all over it.

The same cannot be said for rec play. It’s hard to call an opponent on it, but we’ve all seen a teammate’s toe poking where it doesn’t belong. For the sake of the sport, we should always call this, even if it means conceding a highlight-reel point.

If you see something, say something, right?

That’s the general consensus of a Reddit thread making the rounds, but it’s not all so black and white. Some say call it no matter what, others say mind your own business:

❝ Call it. How are they gonna know if you don’t let them know? Rules are rules.

❝ The first time I will say "watch your feet, you were in the kitchen" after the point, and let it slide. After that I'm calling every violation. 

❝ If a toe is on the line, I just let it go. A full foot over the line, then no.

❝ I call it whenever I notice it. If they don't take it well tell them to go play tennis where they can volley to their heart's content.

❝ I only call it on myself. Life’s too short to have Judy pissed at you.

What do you think — call it when you see it or just let it slide?

The Many Upsets of MLP Daytona Beach

Heading into Daytona Beach, Major League Pickleball’s third event in three weeks, the top storyline was the league’s overall lack of parity: The top eight teams were a combined 42-0 against the bottom eight teams. 

Well, the joke’s on us — there were three big upsets over the weekend which pushed the standings into a tailspin. The best teams are still the best, but the field has undeniably opened up.

✅ The last place Carolina Hogs upset the Texas Ranchers in a Dreambreaker, pushing Texas from fifth to sixth place. The Hogs had another average outing, with mediocre play from the Johns brothers punctuated by flashes of their signature dominance.

✅ The ninth place Utah Black Diamonds continued their momentum from the previous event in Phoenix, upsetting the third place New Jersey 5s in a Dreambreaker. Utah remains in ninth place in the standings, but seems one more big event away from a considerable jump — possibly into the top six.

✅ The eighth place LA Mad Drops toppled the then first place St. Louis Shock in a Dreambreaker, which was the Shock’s first loss this year. This performance proves that LA is a title-worthy team when its full roster is healthy. And their women’s doubles team of Jade Kawamoto and Catherine Parenteau can beat anybody.

👉 Check out our full, match-by-match recap of MLP Daytona Beach.

Amazon Prime Is Sneakier Than You Think

We figured we knew what we were getting with Prime: free shipping and way too many shows to keep up with.

But then we came across this breakdown from Brad’s Deals that digs into the lesser-known perks of Prime—and yeah, some of it’s actually pretty slick.

If you’ve got Prime, cool. If you don’t, this list might change your mind. Either way, we learned a few things we didn’t even know were included.

For RV Campgrounds, Pickleball Courts Now Preferred Over Wi-Fi

For the first time, pickleball courts are at the top of the list for requested amenities offered by private RV campgrounds in the United States.

Historically, Wi-Fi has been the most commonly requested perk for weary travelers looking to relax for a few days. But in 2024, pickleball courts were the top feature added to campgrounds, based on popular demand.

Apparently, 17% of campgrounds that upgraded their offerings last year installed at least one pickleball court, surpassing the 10% that added a Wi-Fi network.

According to an annual report, these amenities now fall just below pickleball courts in terms of camper interest:

  • Wi-Fi

  • Swimming pools and hot tubs

  • Dog parks

  • Kayaks and canoes

  • Bicycle rentals

Off-grid pickleball has an awfully nice ring to it. Suddenly, the open road is calling to us…

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