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MLP Gets Feisty. Stacking Redefined.
Power versus fast hands: which is better?
They say there's "nothing else like" Major League Pickleball. It seems fans agree.
We couldn't help but notice post after post about this week's event on social media over the last few days. As it should be: paddles were thrown, chests were bumped, and the action never ceased.
This footage of ALW pretty much sums it up:
This moment of @AnnaLeighWaters was đ¤đ˝ @MajorLeaguePB@the5spickleball#ALbringingheat#pickleball#majorleaguepickleball
â SarahListerPickleball (@sarah_moralez43)
4:54 AM ⢠Jan 29, 2023
Naturally, we have all the MLP Mesa highlights below.
Also in this issue:
Stacking, adjusted
A new pickleball debate
Let's go!
Nontraditional Stacking
The traditional thinking in pickleball is to put the weaker player on the right side of the court. Position the better player on the left and let their forehand cover the middle.
Recent experiments in game strategy have questioned that logic.
Some partnerships found success by placing the "weaker player" or the player taking less of the court on the left side.
Why? Because if someone is getting heavily targeted and having to play most of the shots, you might as well let them use their forehand.
By shifting them to the left side, you can make them more of a threat.
If the weaker player is being targeted, the left side of the court makes for an easier erne opportunity (more on how to counter targeting here).
They can also shift left toward the sideline so that any ball played to their backhand is likely going to be out of bounds.
This strategy does, however, depend on the proficiency of the stronger player's backhand. Their backhand has to be enough of a threat to protect the middle, otherwise this strategy is not likely to work.
That is why it is only used by certain pros like Riley Newman, James Ignatowich, and Anna Leigh Waters. If you're in a pinch on the court try mixing up the stack to make your team more offensive.
Pure Pickleball Fuel: Why Bars
Why not reach for a snack bar that's as good as you are?
Let's keep it simple: Why Bars are made with ingredients you can pronounce, perfect for before or after exercise.
Their portable, energy sustaining snack allows you to focus on your activity instead of your hunger.
Available in: Apple Almond, Blueberry Bliss, Cherry Chia, Choco Peanut, Super Cacao, Mango Ginger, and Zesty Lemon. Try them today!
MLP Crowns First Champion of 2023: LA Mad Drops
The title of pickleball's most exciting event still belongs to Major League Pickleball. Nothing gets the players and crowd as pumped as the tension-filled, heart-pumping action of MLP.
The NY Hustlers scratched and clawed their way from the sixth seed all the way to the championship match. They sealed a quarterfinal victory over Gary Vee and the New Jersey 5's in one of the most electric matches in MLP history.
Next, they dethroned Ben Johns and Seattle Pioneers in the semifinals in another thrilling Dreambreaker (singles tiebreaker) finish. The Hustlers' opponent in the finals, the LA Mad Drops, had an opposite path to the championship match. The Mad Drops went unbeaten through pool play, earned a bye into the semifinals and became the top seed in the playoffs. Their second mixed doubles team did not even make an appearance until the finals.
In the finals on Sunday night, the Hustlers issued the Drops their first loss in women's doubles. But from then on, it was all Mad Drops. The combined excellence of Catherine Parenteau, Thomas Wilson, Julian Arnold and newly crowned MLP GOAT Irina Tereschenko was too much for the Hustlers to power through. Tereschenko has played in all 5 MLP finals and has won 4 titles.
Congratulations to the LA Mad Drops! They are the first to strike in 2023 and have a head start on Premier Level inclusion and the first overall draft pick.
At the Challenger Level, the Bay Area Breakers swept the Utah Black Diamonds in the finals 3-0. Congratulations to Ewa Radzikowska, Rachel Summers, Christian Alshon and Pablo Tellez. Read more on the results here.
Sports media flocked to the event throughout the weekend. Analyst Darren Rovell praised the Dreambreaker format and two highlights infiltrated SportsCenter's Top 10.
MLP returns for its second event in March in Daytona Beach, FL.
Everything You Need For Pickleball Under One Roof
Rhino Pickleball has paddles, balls and portable nets perfect for players at all levels. It's the best selection of training aids to support player development.
Up your game with court markers, cones, and other fitness accessories that take drill work to the next level.
Debate This: Power v. Fast Hands
What is the better skill to have in pickleball: overall power, or fast hands?
Depending on how you think about it, this could easily be framed as a âchicken-or-the-eggâ scenario; impossible to answer since both obviously have their place. But not according to Ben Johns.
âWhen you put power up against fast hands, sometimes it doesnât matter,â he says in a video on the topic.
âIf you can hit it hard enough and youâre there but donât do anything with the ball, that defeats the purpose of being there in the first place.â
We were interested to know what the community thought about this. Our Twitter poll revealed that most of you disagree, with over 86% saying you prefer fast hands over power.
While those numbers seem to suggest a clear winner, how can you argue with pickleballâs champ?
Are we just blindly accepting that the ability to counter power is more important than power itself? After all, recent analysis of the game suggests that higher levels of pickleball are becoming less about patience and more about aggressive play.
Rallies are becoming shorter. Proverbial triggers are being pulled sooner. If you have the power to crush a ball before your opponent can, youâre more likely to win the point.
This may be even more pronounced in 2023, now that MLP has switched to the fast-paced rally style of scoring, where every rally results in a point earned.
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Headlines & Quick Hits
Find your next game, tournament, or partner here
How a game for all ages became one of the world's fastest-growing sports
Venture capitalists have swapped out tennis rackets and golf clubs for pickleball paddles
MLP Mesa shows pickleball can be just as easy to consume as it is to play
Second largest indoor pickleball facility in the country coming to West Chester
Highlights
How do you not love this team?
Tyler âMoney Longâ Loong
THE POINT of MLP this week
Chicago style đđ¤
A review from the Dink Fam:
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