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One controversial line call is all anyone can talk about right now. PPA Hanoi Cup in Vietnam. Men’s singles, round of 16. Match point. A serve return near the baseline appears well in, but was called out. Just like that, Christian Alshon exits early.

Was it a hook? An innocent mistake? Or is a deceptive camera angle fooling everyone? We go deep on the “Hanoi Hook” below.

In This Issue:
— Help us: take the survey
— The ‘Protect Your Castle’ drill
— 11 great paddles under $150

Looks can be deceiving.

The PPA Hanoi Cup is making headlines left and right, and not just for questionable line calls. The play is intense, the crowds a sight to behold. If you’re wondering how to tune in yourself, we’ve got you covered.

Should you consistently clean the surface of your paddle? Short answer: yes. Do you need a fancy paddle eraser or other such products? Nah. A microfiber cloth and a touch of soap will do. Some folks online have some strong opinions.

PicklePod host and pro Zane Navratil discussed something that’s not talked about enough: having a plan for pressure moments in a game. Maybe it’s a certain shot or combo you rely on, or a specific type of serve. Without one, you’re in trouble.

We put a lot into this newsletter week in and week out, all so you can be more informed on and off the court. Now we’re asking you to return the favor: give us five minutes of your time so we can make this newsletter even better. Pretty please?

The Protect the Castle drill is one of the easiest, most effective dinking technique drills out there.

Here's how it works:

This drill forces you to practice a range of critical skills under pressure.

The beauty of this drill is that it’s actually fun. You're not just mindlessly hitting dinks; you're playing a game with a clear objective. And because you're focused on hitting a specific target, your consistency improves naturally.

You can also play this drill crosscourt. Instead of hitting straight ahead, you hit diagonally across the court. This adds another layer of difficulty and helps you practice your crosscourt dinking, which is essential at higher levels of play.

➡️ Watch it play out.

Now it’s… not.

Gen 1. Gen 2. Thermoformed. Elongated. Hybrid shapes.
Every brand claiming “more power” and “more control” at the same time.

At a certain point, you don’t need more opinions.
You just need a place to actually compare everything.

That’s where Pickleball Central comes in.

They carry pretty much every major paddle—so you can scroll, compare, and land on something that actually fits your game (not just whatever’s getting hyped that week).

➡️ Use our link to browse and you might see a little discount waiting at checkout.

Hooks happen in professional pickleball. Some are egregious and intentional, others more innocent and inconsequential.

What just happened in Hanoi, Vietnam, seems to be a curious coalescence of the two: it appears to be egregious, but was it intentional?

In a round of 16 men's singles matchup at the PPA MB Hanoi Cup, underway now at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena, Christian Alshon found himself facing a tough competitor in Hoang Nam Ly.

Then this happened:

Alshon protested the call. But there were no challenges available on their court. So that was it. Game and match go to Ly.

Ever since, the pickleball masses have proceeded to lose their collective minds.

To our fairly trained eye, judging from the videos and angles we've seen, Alshon's return appears to land well in bounds. Zane Navratil, no stranger to this type of scenario, isn’t so sure.

➡️ You be the judge.

This week, Zane and Nico unpack the Proton situation — the alleged money issues, the ban, and why players are suddenly distancing themselves fast.

And that’s just the start.

They also run through pickleball’s Mount Rushmore of scams (yes, the dollar amounts are insane), Hayden’s meltdown moment, why certain teams can’t close, and a tournament that somehow paid amateurs $600K… which raises a few questions.

Part recap, part reality check.

➡️ Watch the episode here.

Pickleball paddles are more expensive than ever.

Some are worth the cost, the result of years of research and development, proprietary technology and patents, innovative advancements that benefit us all.

But that doesn't mean you have to drop $300, $250, even $200 for a paddle that will deliver maximum performance no matter what type of player you are.

So if it's power you seek or all-court finesse or something in between, we've rounded up 11 of the best options on the market – all for $150 or less.

Better yet, many of the options below will score you an additional discount code at checkout.

Happy hunting.

➡️ Check them out.

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