Are you avoiding games against stronger opponents? In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dive into a hot community debate: is your unwillingness to seek out tougher competition what’s holding your game back? We also break down the latest drama and excitement from Major League Pickleball playoffs—including shocking upsets, dream breaker chaos, and betting entering the pickleball world. Plus, we share unfiltered first impressions of Selkirk’s newest power paddle, the Boomstick, and why it’s already changing the game. ⏱ What You’ll Learn:

• Why challenging yourself against higher-level players can accelerate improvement.
• How the Columbus Sliders shocked the pickleball world by knocking out the Dallas Flash.
• What betting on MLP could mean for the future of the sport.
• Honest player feedback on the Selkirk Boomstik (and whether it really lives up to the hype).