The internet debates: Anna Leigh vs. Serena

The 'hottest' guys in pickleball. Five signs it's paddle replacement time.

June 11, 2025

Is Anna Leigh Waters more dominant in her sport than Serena Williams ever was in hers? It’s a hot topic in pickleball right now, so we had OG pro Zane Navratil weigh in. His take: A thousand times yes and it’s not even close. His case for ALW, below.

And speaking of scorching takes, a list of the 20 “hottest” guys in pro pickleball has entered the chat, and let’s just say, we’ve got thoughts.

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In This Issue:
— ALW vs. Serena: Who ya got?
— 5 signs it’s time to replace your paddle
— All the brands making paddles in America

If you can’t take the heat…

Our Picks ☝️

👏 Barn Style: How the Amish Ball Out

A group of Amish youngsters may be onto something: Bring a portable net and a few paddles to the worksite and just like that, they’ve got an impromptu game of barn ball. There’s even plenty of room to lob. We’ve got next. 

🤝 New Partners: Selkirk Teams with the NPL

Hot off the presses: The National Pickleball League and Selkirk are joining forces, making Selkirk the official ball, footwear and paddle partner of the Champions Pro (50+) pickleball league. Selkirk TV will livestream all NPL events, too.

🚨 Trade Alert: Rafa Hewett Gets Called Up

In the latest MLP trade, Rafa Hewett was called up to the Texas Ranchers, who sent their third-stringer Michael Loyd over to the California Black Bears. Loyd should see more playing time as a result, but where will Hewett fit alongside Christian Alshon and Eric Oncins?

🍾 Happy 100th: An OG Podcast Hits a Milestone

Congrats to “Dinking Around” with Eddie and Webby, one of the original pickleball podcasts, for hitting their 100th episode. Catch the milestone moment seven years in the making live on YouTube tomorrow night at 7:30pm EDT.

5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Pickleball Paddle

It’s no surprise that pros rip through paddles like crazy — some, like Quang Duong, are lucky to get a full week out of one paddle before needing a fresh replacement.

For us mere mortals, the active lifespan of a pickleball paddle is considerably longer. But at some point, old faithful will feel tired and it’ll be time for an upgrade.

So how do you know when to replace your paddle? Here are a few surefire signs:

✅ Give it a shake. No actually, shake your paddle like a maraca. If you hear a rattle, that’s glue from the core that’s come unbonded. This in itself doesn’t mean your paddle’s a goner, but it could be a sign it’s on its way. Keep an eye (and ear) on it.

✅ Feel the core. Push both thumbs hard into the center of the face. If you feel and hear a noticeable crunching, your core is compromised. This means your paddle is beyond the break-in period and is now just broken. Time to switch it out.

✅ The grit is gone. For amateur players, grit is key to control. Modern paddles prioritize rougher surface textures as a function of performance, but it wears out over time. If your paddle face feels like glass, you’re not doing your game any favors.

✅ Rough around the edges. If the edge guard is loose or peeling off, beware — this can have a big impact on the sweet spot of the paddle. Some super glue could be all you need, but if it’s a bigger fix, it’s likely time to upgrade.

✅ Know your game. Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule here — it depends how often you play, how hard you play, what conditions you play in, etc. But if you’re consistently missing routine shots, it could actually be the paddle.

Before you trash a paddle, check the brand’s warranty policy. Many paddle companies offer a six-month or full-year guarantee on a range of issues. So you could very well get that much-needed replacement free of charge.

This Bar Gets It

You just played three games in the sun. Your legs are toast. Your stomach’s louder than your paddle pop.

This is where David steps in. 28g of protein. 150 calories. Zero sugar. All wrapped up in a bar that actually tastes good.

It’s fuel without the fluff. Whether you’re recovering post-pickleball or need a snack that isn’t a sugar bomb, David’s your guy.

Opinion: Anna Leigh Waters Is More Dominant Than Serena Williams Ever Was

[This segment was contributed by pro Zane Navratil. For weekly hot takes from around the pickleball world, check out his YouTube channel]

There’s been a lot of chatter about who the more dominant athlete is: Serena Williams or Anna Leigh Waters. 

First, it’s a ridiculous comparison, but it’s a comparison nonetheless, and I feel compelled to clarify that, in the smaller pond of pickleball, Anna Leigh Waters is a bigger fish than Serena Williams was at her peak — and it’s not close.

Dominance, in my opinion, is the gap between an athlete and the rest of the field, and Anna Leigh Waters runs laps around Serena Williams here. Obviously, Serena sustained her dominance longer. Obviously, tennis is magnitudes more competitive than pickleball. Of course, Serena Williams’ accomplishments are far more impressive.

But two things can be true at once: Serena is far more impressive, and Anna Leigh is far more dominant.

If you disagree, let me ask you this: Your life’s on the line. You have to choose one player — Serena Williams to win a tennis match in 2013 (her best year, when she went 78–4 and won 11 of 13 tournaments), or Anna Leigh Waters to win a pickleball match in 2024 (when she won 12 of 13 singles tournaments, 14 of 17 in women’s doubles, and 16 of 17 in mixed doubles).

Who do you choose? If you’re a rational human being who loves life, you choose Anna Leigh Waters without hesitation, thus settling a debate nobody asked for.

The Complete List of Brands Making Paddles in America

There’s a sliding scale when it comes to making pickleball paddles in America. You either design it here, assemble it here, or make it here.

For a paddle to be “Made in the USA,” it needs to be manufactured domestically, of course, but "all or virtually all” of its material components need to follow suit as well.

It’s a high bar that few brands are able to achieve. But as paddle prices continue to climb, it’s a distinction more and more consumers seem to be keen on.

We did some digging. Here’s a comprehensive list of the companies making paddles in America:

  1. Avoura – Made in Encinitas, California

  2. Engage – Made in Oxford, Florida

  3. Paddletek – Made in Niles, Michigan

  4. Players Pickleball – Made in Ferndale, Washington

  5. Revolin – Made in Holland, Michigan

  6. Selkirk – Select models made in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

  7. Stafford Paddles – Made in Collierville, Tennessee

  8. Thompson Pickleball – Made in Boyne City, Michigan

  9. TMPR Paddles – Select models made in Buchanan, Michigan

  10. Vulcan – Select models made in Memphis, Tennessee

  11. Whisper Paddles – Made in Memphis, Tennessee

👉 Check out our article for a closer look at each brand.

Your Doubles Partner Has Two Wheels

The Velotric Discover 2 eBike won’t improve your backhand, but it will make getting to the courts way more fun.

Top speed hits 28 mph. Battery can stretch up to 75 miles. It’s got enough juice to get you to open play, your coffee spot, and back again without breaking a sweat.

Comes in mint, pine green, stone gray, and cherry crimson if you’re into a little flavor.

Ranked: The 20 ‘Hottest’ Men in Pro Pickleball

Who are the hottest guys in pro pickleball? (Asked absolutely no one, ever.)

We don’t like this any more than you do, but it’s our job to report the news — so here we are.

The list changes based on reader votes, but currently sitting in the top 10 (in no particular order) we have:

  • Hunter Johnson

  • Roscoe Bellamy

  • Dylan Frazier

  • Connor Garnett

  • Tyson McGuffin

  • Ben Johns

  • Jaume Martinez Vich

  • Michael Loyd

  • Gabriel Joseph

  • Christian Alshon

We’re not sure who did the research over at Ranker, but we’ve got a few questions about some of the dudes on here — and some who didn’t make the cut.

👉 For the full list, with photos, check out our article.

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