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Three top pickleball pros woke up in Japan a few days ago to the news that they’d been terminated. Effective immediately. No advance notice. No well-wishes. No exit interview.

And the fate of a fourth — a top-ten female player — currently hangs in the balance. The news has spread like wildfire, but much is yet unknown. We break it all down below.

In This Issue:
— What happened in Japan?
— Tesla made a pickleball paddle
— How to pick a new partner

You’re fired.

It’s almost go-time for the singles matchup of the century between our founder Thomas and far and away one of the greatest pickleball players to ever exist, Anna Bright.

Can the 5.0 do the unthinkable this Saturday in Miami? We’ll say this, he seems unreasonably confident: "It's not about winning, that part's easy. It's about reestablishing my credibility."

Your front-row seat awaits. Grab your tix before they’re gone.

Pickleball partnerships are sacred bonds. So when it comes time to choose a new ride-or-die, what quality do you prize above all? Is it immaculate vibes you seek or unshakeable mental fortitude? Perhaps pickleball IQ trumps all. Please discuss.

Top pro James Ignatowich has left the U.S. and will remain in Asia for the foreseeable future. Well, he used to be a top pro. Until the UPA fired him a couple of days ago. We told you this was a big story. The whole sordid tale unfolds below.

The Waters family certainly knows how to market a superstar, and their new Bernedoodle puppy, Archie, is no exception. The admittedly very adorable fluffball has its own Instagram page — and maybe more followers than you. Archer Legend Waters. Do those initials look familiar?

Knowing when to attack at the kitchen line is a critical skill as you face better and better opponents. But knowing where to attack is what separates good attempts from points scored.

PPA pro Eric Roddy is an assassin in the short game. It’s not because he’s the most skilled or powerful player out there; it’s because he knows when to go on offense — and how to hit every shot with intention.

If you’re playing left side facing a righty across the net, here’s your plan of attack:

✅ Always go down the line. Chances are good the opponent cross-court from you is also right-handed, meaning he’s pinching middle, paddle in when you’ve got the ball. Speeding up here is an unnecessary risk. Whenever you can, attack straight ahead, down your sideline instead. Even if they get it back, you’re in the power position for an easy put-away.

✅ Aim paddle side hip or shoulder. It’s nearly impossible for your opponent to generate any pace on a ball sped up to either of these locations. The arm just doesn’t bend naturally that way. The best part: hit your spot and 75% power is more than enough to result in a weak return.

✅ Low through the middle. Once you’ve established these targets on the opponent across from you, they will be forced to adapt and overcompensate. The most common way to protect is to slide towards the line, which will expose the middle of the court between your two opponents. When this gap opens up, attack it, hard and low.

You want to have all three of these targets in your repertoire ready to use at any time during a match. Variability is key to your success, too — mix your attack locations, and the speeds of each attack, for the best results.

Look at these three.

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In what is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories in pro pickleball this year, maybe ever, the UPA announced Wednesday that it had terminated the contracts “effective immediately” of James Ignatowich, Vivian Glozman, and Ryan Fu.

At issue is an event the three players participated in overseas and whether or not they sought the required approval ahead of time.

With very few exceptions, all UPA-signed pros — that is, players who compete in MLP or PPA events — have strict exclusivity clauses in their contracts. Participating in any non-sanctioned events, be it exhibitions, clinics, meet-and-greets, you name it, requires express approval from the league.

The involvement of Ignatowich, Glozman, and Fu in a clinic in Japan this week apparently crossed this line — so much so that the three players woke up in Tokyo to the news that they’d been fired from professional pickleball.

Crazier still, they reportedly weren’t given any advance notice that it could be coming.

This story is, to put it in journalistic terms, totally and completely bonkers. More information is coming out in real time. As soon as we think we know something, a different angle or perspective pops up that changes everything.

But here are a few things we do know, at least right now:

One other massive ripple in all this: Parris Todd was also at the Japan event.

She was a late addition after a different player bailed out and reportedly did seek some type of prior approval, though details of that remain murky.

The UPA is reviewing her status — possible ramifications for her involvement could include a fine (we’ve heard $50,000 is in play), multi-event suspensions, or even termination.

➡️ Believe it or not, there’s a lot more to this one. Get the full story.

If the last story left you thinking about things suddenly in short supply… good news Here’s one set of three you can always get your hands on.

Franklin X-40s are the go-to ball for a reason. Durable, reliable, and the perfect backup to have in your bag.

Pick up a 3-pack and stay stocked.

Bad news, kids: you’re going to need to stretch that 2025 pickleball paddle budget just a smidge further…

Introducing the collab exactly nobody saw coming — The Tesla Plaid Pickleball Paddle by Selkirk.

Designed in a wind tunnel, fine-tuned through over a year of meticulous testing, and for sale starting today in extremely limited quantities, this is one pickleball paddle you might be tempted to display rather than play with.

But don’t think for a second this thing isn’t intended for the court. Features include:

“This project is personal to me. What started as a fun idea between friends evolved into a full collaboration,” Tom Barnes, Selkirk Director of R&D, said. “The Plaid Paddle reflects the best of what both companies do. It’s engineered for players who want equipment that performs at the highest level.” 

It’s also engineered for players with deep pockets — the paddle went on sale about an hour ago, and retails for $350.

➡️ Get it before it’s gone.

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